Interactive Digital Environment

Morgan and Ian worked with the whole school to generate a large body of work that explored the environment surrounding the school. The initial starting point for the project was to provide the children with and opportunity to explore and re-examine the school's recently constructed outdoor play area. From this starting point, the project expanded into the wider community to investigate both urban and rural environments.

Morgan worked with the children to record and explore the contrasting sounds taken from the local area. Ian worked with the children to generate digital photographs, video footage and drawn responses to each area. This project allowed both artists work together with classes allowing the two artistic specialities to run in parallel. As a result the project was allowed to evolve throughout the time at Gladehill. A year 6 class were able to explore outside the school grounds visiting Bestwood Country Park (rural) and Arnold town (urban) collecting audio and visual information. One of the highlights of the visits was an opportunity for the children to 'play' a local supermarket using sticks to create sounds from the products and building.

Barret Hodgson joined the project at a later stage to help draw the visual and audio work, produced by the children, together to create an interactive installation.

An entire classroom was and transformed into a digital interactive installation. Two projection screens displayed live projected video and photography. The children used Midi interfaces to mix images and apply visual effects to control these images. A surround sound system was installed and the children using Midi equipment also controlled the audio recordings. The children controlling the installation responded to the movement of visitors to the installation space. This was achieved by creating a grid on the floor. As visitors passed through the grids squares the children where prompted to react by altering the sound or images.

The project ended with the sharing of skills between artist’s and staff. The staff expressed a need for basic training in the use of digital video and the use of Midi keyboards in conjunction with sound recordings.