Monolith
Im a Chicago based multimedia artist interested in interactive visualizations. I want to launch a virtual cultural center and studio; an interactive, digital museum for stories, cultural products, and virtual performances. To support this ive founded a design studio aimed at working with small businesses and creatives in underserved communities. I'm looking to encourage a robust movement that fosters the arts and the local businesses that make up the cultural and social fabric of minority communities. I'm starting with a collection of works based on environmental data from communities of color negatively affected by industry, using this as the framework I am looking to platform the work of creatives from these communities. I am doing this through a series of virtual environments and venues, connected by a virtual museum. Each of these surreal 3D environments is created from abstracted street map illustrations and drone photography of the affected areas. I would like to create virtual gathering spaces for local narratives through both the exhibitions in the museum and interactive performances in the environments/venues linked to the museum. The following is a timeline of the project's devolopment.
Stills
Pittsburgh | Braddock
A bridge structure leading to an ensnared figure partially made of/textured by Pittsburgh glyphs.
Detroit | River Rouge
Further reading & map data sources:
Chicago | South/West Sides
Continuation of New Nature
Beirut Explosion
( In Progress: Game/Platform Design Concepts )
UPDATES : : PRODUCTION
Cultural Center/Venue
I began to make 3D environments to showcase the Glyphs. These surreal environments were often made of and textured with the glyphs. While building them It felt as though I were exploring them as I would teh abandoned sites they were based on. I want to bring this exploration to others as I would often bring my friends to abandoned industrial sites, a guided tour of sorts. The first variation of this new guided exploration was a VR/360 animation flying through these 3D scenes. I wanted the viewer to have more freedom to explore though, more space within these environments to learn about the real circumstances of the communities in the familiar symbols they were looking at.
To do this I have been expanding the animated scenes into fully interactive virtual worlds that will serve as levels in a video game. The plot of the game will be based in a virtual venue, a cultural center from which players can explore exhibitions presenting the data visualizations and footage before transporting the players into the 3d environments that grew from them. The architecture of the game will be open ended so as to allow for me to continue adding levels to explore and virtual exhibitions to present the reality they reflect.
To do this I have been expanding the animated scenes into fully interactive virtual worlds that will serve as levels in a video game. The plot of the game will be based in a virtual venue, a cultural center from which players can explore exhibitions presenting the data visualizations and footage before transporting the players into the 3d environments that grew from them. The architecture of the game will be open ended so as to allow for me to continue adding levels to explore and virtual exhibitions to present the reality they reflect.
Diawara
The first external level consisting of the reminants of 'Dia' an earth crystal reliant culture. Their crystals power various relic technology, once that level's challange is completed the hangar can be acessed via scale shifting abilities. (level based on the beirut explosion glyphs)
The first external level consisting of the reminants of 'Dia' an earth crystal reliant culture. Their crystals power various relic technology, once that level's challange is completed the hangar can be acessed via scale shifting abilities. (level based on the beirut explosion glyphs)
Eddies Archive
The second half of the Cultural Center, an archive documenting/explaining the real world locations behind the Glyphs, runes and symbols in the game via textiles and interactive galleries.
Archive Construction
Dia Gate
Powers the archive and hangar, aquired/powered from the Diawara level. A portal to the ruins of a hybrid culture that formed as a response enviormental erosion.
Powers the archive and hangar, aquired/powered from the Diawara level. A portal to the ruins of a hybrid culture that formed as a response enviormental erosion.