InterPlay: Hallucinations

1. InterPlay:Hallucinations A Telematic Performance Form Jimmy Miklavcic, Beth Miklavcic Another Language/University of Utah CHPC

2. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Introduction Another Language Beth Miklavcic – Artistic Director Jimmy Miklavcic – Executive Director • Mission • Combine different art forms in innovative ways, and to broaden access to community arts education with the aid of today's communications technology • Modus Operandi • Telematic collaborative performances • Internet 2 & web site as virtual venue • Lectures, demonstrations, interactive digital newsletters • Location • Salt Lake City, Utah • http://www.anotherlanguage.org

3. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Introduction artgrid • Informal consortium of sites on Internet2 that utilize the Access Grid technology as an artistic medium and performance venue. • Current members of the artgrid consortium include: • University of Utah Center for High Performance Computing • Arctic Region Supercomputing Center at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks • University of Maryland • Envision Center for Perceptualization, Purdue University • University of Montana • Electronic Visualization Laboratory, University of Illinois, Chicago • National Research Council, Ottawa, Canada • Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada

4. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations artgrid artgrid • Create a viable communications environment that addresses artistic research • Create spaces, both real and virtual, that accommodate creative multimedia and telematic performance • Stabilize video streaming technology for use in performance and communications • Incorporate scientific technologies into the creative & performance process (i.e. motion capture, virtual reality) • MARCEL Network – International counterpart

5. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations InterPlay InterPlay • A multi-site telematic collaborative performance or distributed real-time abstract/surreal cinema. • Each site processes, mixes, encodes, and streams their content unto the network. • Manipulate individual events and weave them into multilayered, distributed tapestry of images.

6. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations InterPlay Participants • University of Alaska – ARSC • William Scott Deal – Composer, Percussion • Miho Aoki – Computer Animation • Paul Mercer – Node Engineer • University of Maryland • Nadja Masura – Video • Brian H. Buck – Dance • University of Utah CHPC / Another Language • Beth Miklavcic – Author and Director – The Surface of Things • Aaron Henry, Tony Larimer, Marie Larimer, Priscilla Steed - Performers • Jimmy Miklavcic – Director of Hallucinations • Sam Liston – Node Engineer, Audio • Erik Brown – Camera Operator • Kent Christensen – Video Documentation

7. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Artistic Concept • Explored hallucinations within social, political, visual and audible contexts. • Each of the primary artists chose their own context on which to base their expressions • Beth Miklavcic – The Surface of Things, social hallucinations. • Scott Deal and Miho Aoki – Perceived communications and encounters. • Brian Buck – Moebious Strip • Nadja Masura – Hallucination inside the political and commercial machines.

8. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Artistic Content • Alaska • Scott Deal • Primary music for the performance • Live percussion – electro acoustic • Five compositions – ranging from ethereal to percussive • Started and ended with electronically processed snare • Miho Aoki • Two animations • Klaatu – music controlled motion • Objects and characters in the animation were • controlled by one of Scott’s compositions • Interactive animation

9. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Artistic Content • Maryland • Nadja Masura • Video works – processed images representing political • and commercial icons • MAX/MSP and Jitter • U. S. flag, burger, political figures, etc. • Performed with three foot doll • Brian H. Buck • Motivation of movement based on Moebious Strip • Costumed in green with hole revealing red shirt • underneath • Performed in white cinderblock classroom

10. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Artistic Content • Utah – The Surface of Things • Beth Miklavcic – Author and Director • Cast • Beth Miklavcic – Opponent A • Aaron Henry – Opponent B • Tony Larimer – Judge • Priscilla Steed – Opponent C • Marie Larimer – Judge 2 • Stereotypes, first impressions and our real selves • Work in four parts • Both Opponent A and B had cameras that enhanced each • character’s POV • The Judge passes judgment on the ridiculousness of the • encounter, more concerned about getting to his whiskey

11. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Artistic Content • Utah – Direction • Jimmy Miklavcic – Director • Monitored all video streams, local and remote • Coordinated the visual experience, pairing any of the video feeds through three Sima video mixers • Total of ten live video feeds to the grid • One stream to WM9 server • Sam Liston manipulated Utah’s local display • Alaska and Maryland controlled their own displays

12. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Technology Three variations of AG configurations Maryland

13. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Technology Alaska

14. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Technology Utah

15. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Technology Spaces

16. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Technology Technology Utah

17. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Technology Technology Utah

18. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Performance • Rehearsal Local • Beth and Aaron – choreographed camera movement • Seven drafts of the script – The Surface of Things • Tony Larimer joined in April Remote • Difficulty in scheduling due to opposite time zones • Began coordinating Scott’s music with Beth’s Surface of Things • Surface of Things required several cues • Back stage communications consisted of hand signals • Full cast rehearsals began Monday before Friday performance

19. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Performance • Performance Friday – April 23 • Local audio began to deteriorate just before performance • Audience choice – stay or come back Saturday • Multicast problems, switched to Unicast Saturday – April 24 • Replaced audio system and AP400 with XAP800 Sunday – April 25 • Minor audio issues

20. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Conclusion Third performance, first with remote collaborators Successful in incorporating fragile technology into artistic process Opportunity for the audience to experience an emerging art form Great working relationship and friendship grew out the process Desire to build on the newly laid foundation Consistent testing of the technology is crucial Continue development of Enhanced Performance Grid Node Must reevaluate and modify traditional performance process

21. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Future Plans • All are committed to continuing the InterPlay process • Establish Access Grid network and Internet2 as a viable venue • Monitor new developments in AG technology • Establish an Art on the Grid venue server, simulate theater structure • Next performance – InterPlay: Loose Minds in a Box • Supercomputing Global 2005, Seattle WA • November 17, 2005 • Eight sites, Virtually Reality, Motion Capture, Remote MIDI Control

22. anotherlanguage InterPlay:Hallucinations Acknowledgements University of Utah Center for High Performance Computing University of Alaska Arctic Region Supercomputing Center University of Maryland Another Language Board of Directors and Members Access Grid Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks Program Salt Lake City Arts Council Utah Arts Council www.anotherlanguage.orgartgrid.chpc.utah.edu