Day 368 @ ITP: The Code of Music

Assignment #1:
Pick a piece of music to share with the class during introductions on Monday. It can be anything you want: a song you heard in a cab last week, an experimental piece you recorded in college, a sample of the music you grew up with, a piece from your favorite composer/performer. It can be something you find intriguing, inspiring, annoying, whatever else.
 

"ISLAS RESONANTES" BY ELIANE RADIGUE
Please listen from 8:30 to ~9 minutes :) Here is a link to start at this point: 
https://youtu.be/1RrsiGmLp_E?t=8m30s

 

Day 352 @ ITP: Video Sculpture Final Project

"Algorithmic Flower"

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CONCEPT
To take the projects I had done in this class so far to another level and also inspired by Gabe's suggestion to incorporate data, I decided to combine my interactive Jitter patch and video mapping projects into a new project where the sound and visuals are controlled randomly by data.

PROCESS
First I made a Max/Jitter patch that plays MIDI notes and selects colors based on an algorithm:

For the sound, I sent the MIDI data to Logic, where it automatically triggered notes on a software synthesizer. For the visuals, I used Syphon to pipe the colors being automatically generated from the Max/Jitter patch into MadMapper, where I assigned the colors to many circles or "petals" in rings. The first ring closest to the center is the original color coming from Jitter; the second two rings are inverted from the first then adjusted slightly to be different shades. For the center of the flower, I used the Chrome extension Fatkun Batch Downloader to collect the images from the first page of an image search for "wildflower." In MadMapper I set the images in a folder to be triggered by the audio input from Logic, which controlled the speed at which the center flips through the images. Between notes it stops and rests on a random image from the collection. For the presentation, I projected the flower onto a wall with the center mapped onto a thick panel of circular wood, with the "petals" radiating out around it.

DOCUMENTATION VIDEO

REFLECTION
Through working on this project I learned how to make an algorithmic Max patch to control sound and video with MIDI, and how to send video/images and MIDI data to MadMapper. There are many possibilities that could stem from this.

Day 335 @ ITP: Video Sculpture

Interactive Color Wheel Grid Installation: "Rubik's Color Wheel"

I got 9 wooden squares to recreate the grid that I originally used in our classroom and hung them in my studio. I used a level hung them first using push pins, then nails, then velcro, but I think they still were not perfect. It would be easy enough in the future I think to develop a better system for hanging them, but it is close. 

While in the first version of this project I triggered the colors manually, for the second version they are being triggered with a small MIDI keyboard. The idea for this version is that it would be interactive (maybe for kids, in a children's museum) and played like a musical keyboard that lights up different squares on the grid. I had my friend play it for the documentation to show how it works. See below for the video.

Color Organ / Video Paintings Installation: "The Synchronizer"
I decided to install the piece on two gesso boards, which are sold as "liquid art" surfaces, and present it with a keyboard on a keyboard stand in front of it at Gabe's suggestion. I was thinking this could either be a permanent installation where the viewer can play to activate it, or it could be used as a backdrop or "video sculpture" to accompany a live musical performance. My friend also kindly lent her time to play it for the documentation. See below for the video.