A collaborative team of artists, educators, technologists and engineers, Hack.Art.Lab (H.A.L) provides an environment for
learning and exploration through nonconvention. By connecting professional and nonprofessional artists, technologists and
youth, we explore learning models, then create projects offering new perspectives in art, technology, and society. We strive
to develop activities that encourage our natural curiosity and playfulness through creative engagement with science and technology.
Kristin Beal-DeGrandmont, John Harrison, Lauren Hirsh, Ann Resnick
Cadence
It is difficult to wrestle a project into a preconceived shape with strict parameters and defined edges. Fuzziness
abounds--control is slippery. Things take on a life of their own.
Cadence was a sound/video piece installed as part
of Hack.Art.Lab's rEvolve exhibit at Diver Studio in Wichita KS from November 31 through December 4, 2008. The project drew
the viewer to be an active collaborator --- one among a team of artists, musicians and engineers --- to produce a unique set
of works that explore the lifecycle of a creative project with an unpredictable outcome.
Using a microcontroller, sensors,
pre-recorded audio, and a computer readout, Cadence threw participants into the very same process begun by the original team
of creators. On entering a small dark room on the second floor of the gallery, participants saw a bicycle with an LCD display
mounted in the front instructing them to sit on the bicycle. Once they sat, they were thrown into a controlled world, forced
into the role of a creator. The display in front of them would tell them to pedal and read aloud, and the speed of their pedaling
affected their experience aurally and visually. Surrounded by three speakers in the room, they experienced shifting sound
manipulations of their own voice as well as a repeating cadence of key words from the creators. Meanwhile a camera and microphone
captured their sounds and movement.
On another floor of the gallery, people watched the resulting live created video
and audio created by the camera and microphone. This video was also captured as a series; each rider automatically generated
a new video.
On opening night, 98 people rode the bicycle, thus generating 98 videos. You are watching one of the videos
of this series.
Cadence was originally conceived by John Harrison, who also wrote the software supporting the project.
The project underwent major change, development and extension in collaboration with Kristin Beal-DeGrandmont, Lauren Hirsh
and Ann Resnick, all of whom also contributed to the mechanics and logistics as well. Tom McGuire provided the microcontroller
and supporting programming. Cadence was powered by a Logochip and three networked computers each running PureData, Gem, and
PDP/PiDiP on the ubuntu distribution of Linux. Sound was generated through an M-Audio Delta 1010LT soundcard.
Founding Members:
Kristin Beal-DeGrandmont: Artist. Adjunct Faculty/ Friends University, Newman University, Butler Community College. MFA,
Virginia Commonwealth University. BFA, Wichita State University.
Curt Gridley: Graduate student in Aerospace Engineering, WSU; Founder, Amber Wave Systems, Inc. and Aerowhon, LLC.
John Harrison: Concertmaster, Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Founder and Director, CRATEL (WSU), Engineer: PWI, Inc. Research
work and Master’s Degree, MIT. Recordings with New World Records, Koch International Classics.
Lauren Hirsh: Teacher, Vocal Music, Wichita Public Schools. President, WSUiR.BME, Wichita State University..
Tom McGuire: Artist, Chief Engineer, PWI, Inc., Inventor.
Keith Neufeld: Manager of Data Operations and Network Services, Wichita State University; Board member and violist, Newton
Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra.
Steve Witherspoon: Educator; Marketing and Secondary Education Bachelor Degrees from Wichita State University; President
of MindScapes Academy, Inc.
