Youth Artists of Napa Valley

Youth Artists of Napa Valley

Part 1: Discovering, not seeing

The Concept

My installation concept deals with the lack of arts programs in the Napa Valley, California region. Currently, most of the classes that are not science or math related (i.e. music, art, physical education, etc.) have been removed from the curriculum, leaving no good outlet for creative thought in schools. My goal for this installation is to get people to see the talent at each school and recognize the importance of including the arts in every kid’s education.

The Experience

The interesting part of the experience is that you aren’t going to be able to see the art on display if you are standing near it; you have to actively engage in using the viewfinder. Reminiscent of this idea of looking and not just seeing, the talent and creativity exists among the students, it’s just a matter of realizing the value and importance of it in relation to schooling and becoming inspired to do something about it.

In order to get the greatest pool of potential artists, I decided to incorporate two different ways someone could submit work. 

Method One: Scanning

Step 1: Locate a scanner inside your school, most likely close to the main office (these will be in each school participating). After scan, user will be prompted to answer questions about themselves and their work.

Step 2: Submission sent through scanner will be received by regulator

Step 3: Regulator will add or not add the piece to the installation wall via the viewfinder system. From there, users can view the piece online and through the viewfinder. 

Method Two: Uploading

Step 1: Open the application/website containing information and pieces made for “Youth Artists of Napa.” Upload an image of your work, and fill out the information requested.

Step 2: Submission sent through upload will be received by regulator

Step 3: Regulator will add or not add the piece to the installation wall via the viewfinder system. From there, users can view the piece online and through the viewfinder.

In order to get a clearer understanding of the projects components, I've answered several questions about the technical and conceptual features of the Youth Artists of Napa Valley project below. 

How do people interact with it?

People have multiple ways of tapping into this experience. To get a more involved and deeper experience, users or people will approach the viewfinder and scroll through the different collages of pieces. They will feel the wealth of creativity around them by being situated next to the school that the student artists work and study at. Another way people can interact with it is by going on the website that holds all current and past pieces of art made by students. They will be able to learn more about the student, what they’ve created in the past, and upload their own work for potential inclusion in the installation. As stated before, all work will be pre-screened by whoever is regulating and organizing the installation. My hope is that these viewfinders will be set up all over the county so that all of the creativity gets a voice.

Whom does it serve and how?

The installation serves the kids in the school system who do not get to express their creativity in the arts due to a lack of programs and classes in the schools. It also serves the greater community, as the school district heads and writers of the curriculum will see the untapped talents of students through these art installations and consider the importance of having this artistic and creative outlet in the school curriculum. They may also reconsider the fund distribution and see the creative areas of music, art, and dance to be just as important to every child’s education as math or science.

What technology is used?

The viewfinder will contain a small transpared slide in front of a mini projector within the viewfinder structure. It will also contain a small arduino or computer that will regulate data coming in through an external source and project its output. The data will be regulated by a teacher, parent, or outside person with a vested interest in arts in education. They will select pieces to be displayed and will add them to a computer generated collage that will then be displayed in the viewfinder. There will also be a feature within the code that will create the various slides (displaying age filter, date filter, etc.).

What is the installation?

My installation is a large visual display of student art that can be experienced, when in the space, only through a viewfinder. The viewfinder will allow users to scroll through the different collections of art pieces based on their theme, the date of completion, and the age of the person who submitted the piece. The art viewed through the viewfinder will be visualized on a wall close to or on the school grounds of several elementary schools. I intend for these viewfinders and installations to be placed in each elementary and middle school in the Napa Valley school district, to reveal the scale of the talent and untapped creativity of students. 

Above is an example of what a user might experience while looking through the viewfinder. A transparent slide inside of the viewfinder will have images controlled through the arduino or small computer projected onto it which will then be visualized in space.