CREATOR NETWORK 

All photos by: Dana Pacifico

This project is part of Not Impossible Labs.

Press: FreeThink Video

Objective: Develop and provide access to a creative platform that drives forward the use of haptics to both expand inclusivity in the arts

and drive haptics as an art form in and of itself.

Challenge: Introduce an inaugural group of artists, who are representative across a spectrum of mediums and a spectrum of level of hearing, to the new Music: Not Impossible (M:NI) creative platform—five-piece haptic wearable, modular software that connects to Ableton Live or preferred DAW, and LoRa-driven communication system—and showcase their original, haptic-layered work in a public setting, introducing to artists and audiences the exciting, innovative, unique, immersive and radically inclusive power of Music: Not Impossible.

Role: Co-Founder, Project Director, Content Director

Team: Daniel Belquer, M:NI Founder, Creator Network Founder + Director; Sophie Oreck, Event Director; Amber Galloway-Gallego, Deaf Community Advisor; Francisco Colasanto, Technology Lead

Hypotheses:

Artists would recognize the M:NI platform’s haptic capabilities as a new tool for artistic expression and a way to enhance and / or layer their work by providing a more immersive and inclusive art.

Audiences, regardless if hearing or deaf, would seek out this innovative and immersive experience.

The deaf community would have an opportunity to feel more connected to a live experience otherwise often limited in its level of accessibility.

Creator Network Haptic Art Experience:

The Creator Network is a group of multimedia artists, composers, engineers, developers, producers and makers who use Music: Not Impossible’s creative platform—5-piece vibratory wearable, modular software, LoRa communication system—to develop enhanced sensory experiences pushing towards radical inclusivity in the arts. Contributing to establishing haptics as an art form and Music: Not Impossible (M:NI) as an instrument, all participants believe in the power of M:NI to break boundaries and provide an additional form of connection and expression for all to enjoy.

The Creator Network Haptic Art Experience is a celebration of the innovative programming that resulted from our inaugural experiment providing the M:NI creative platform to artists beyond Not Impossible. Haptic expressions, experiences and compositions that were developed in the months leading up to March 7th are now shared with the public for the first time, showcasing the power of haptics to create new and enhanced existing media and performances that can be experienced by all.

Radical Inclusivity: In an effort to be as accessible and inclusive as possible, the Creator Network (CN) team worked with longtime collaborator and inclusivity advocate Amber Galloway-Gallego. She spent time with each participating artist, advising how his/her artwork could be as inclusive (of all abilities) as possible. Amber and her team member Kelly Kurdi took turns performing through the entirety of the show. Aarron Loggins, a deaf performer, was the MC, flipping the typical scenario of an interpreter reacting to a speaking MC to one where the MC leads by signing and an interpreter voices.

Participating Artists: Ten artists participated in the Haptic Art Experience. The program can be viewed HERE.

These artists developed original works that included the following mediums and crafts: robotics, projection mapping, original musical score, original video / CG, olfactory stimulation, virtual reality, live musical performance, original recorded music, visual design, reactive lighting, light design, dance / movement, and more.

Brand identity + design: Cinco Designs

Process | Launch of Creator Network:

Dec 14 - 15, 2019 | Two-day workshop at the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) was carried out for artists who would potentially participate in the Haptic Art Experience

Dec 16, 2019 - Jan 14, 2020 | Creator Network team fielded proposals from artists who had attended the workshop and others who were unable but interested in participating. The Creator Network team assessed proposals before deciding on the final selection of artists who would be showcasing. Criteria included the CN team’s confidence in feasibility of the project, artistic vision, proposed use of haptics, and budget. (All participating artists received stipends for materials, travel and additional collaborators, but did not receive commissions.)

Jan 14 - March 3, 2020 | Creator Network worked closely with participating artists as they crafted and finalized their complex and multimedia pieces.

March 5 - 6, 2020 | Tech set-up, review and rehearsal

March 7, 2020 | The Music: Not Impossible Creator Network Haptic Art Experience launches at the Museum of the Moving Image with two shows each at a capacity of 125 attendees (capacity based on quantity of Music: Not Impossible wearable prototypes that each attendee wore).

Learnings:

The Creator Network Haptic Art Experience received 200x the amount of registrants as capacity would allow without any outreach beyond two email blasts carried out by Not Impossible Labs and the Museum of the Moving Image, as well as participating artists posting on their social media channels. Two shows were offered rather than one to accommodate more attendees.

The technical challenges were overwhelming and called for more technical support and set up leading into the 7th; however, the team pulled it off with minimal technical difficulties during the show.

Feedback from attendees + artists:

• “All of my deaf friends were bowled over by the overall experience and wanted more. Excited to see this continue its evolution.” - Deaf filmmaker + participating artist

• “I can’t really describe how I feel. Something like I’m in a different dimension.” - Deaf attendee

• “Thank you for making this such a rich experience.” - Participating artist

• “Y’all were all so beautiful and talented and creative… thank you for dreaming big and making art that communicates without boundaries!” - Accessibility lead

• “Words can’t describe how grateful and honored I am to be part of such a wonderful group of humans and creators.” - Participating artist