A community art assignment
This repository contains the source code for a live painting experience using computers and projectors. The code in the web directory enables participants to paint the surface of a virtual pyramid. It's written in JavaScript using three.js and p5.js. Pure CSS made the interface look good. The code in the rpi directory synchroinzes a set of projectors that project paintings onto the surface of a real pyramid. It's written in Python and uses the py5 and Keystone packages. Firebase is used for messaging and image storage.
com·mon | ˈkämən | shared by, coming from, or done by more than one
pas·tiche | paˈstēSH, päˈstēSH | an artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces taken from various sources
em·pa·thy | ˈempəTHē | the ability to understand and share the feelings of another
The idea for Common Pastiche evolved through conversations about perception and ways technology can help us understand each other. Early iterations focused on style transfer and "seeing" the world through the eyes of others. This led to more research on empathy.
The word "empathy" was created in the early 20th century as a model for art appreciation. In that context, empathy described the act of projecting one’s feelings into an artwork in order to appreciate it. At the same time, we know that art often serves as a window into the feelings of a subject or artist. The job of the artist, then, is twofold: they must open a window for the viewer and construct an object for projection.
This is our little meditation on empathy. Making art, and sharing that experience with others, makes us more empathetic. I'm grateful for the opportunity to explore new media with friends and to share it with our community. Thank you Catherine Stroud, Chris Shinn, Jean Shon, and Troy Buhler.
The project was funded by the City of Galveston's Cultural Arts Commission in July 2022. Its first run was held at the Galveston Arts Center in August 2023. Thanks CAC and GAC!
The web directory can be deployed to a Firebase project with Realtime Databse, Storage, and Hosting enabled. Later iterations will include authentication.
The rpi directory can be deployed to a Raspberry Pi running a 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS. I used RealVNC to remotely manage four Pi's with 8GB of RAM.