Project 2

May 5th, 2020

Kamryn Smith FMX463 Multimedia Installation Art: Final Project Blog Post

Titled:2020 Projection

1.) Precedent Work / Artist:

In the brainstorming process for Project Two, I was thinking of different artists and their routines in making art. I knew I wanted to incorporate some kind of story-telling into my projection. Famous talented sing/songwriter Halsey incorporates many of the artistic styles I wanted to follow in this project. Art does not fit one into one expressive style. Halsey is not only a talented singer but also a talented painter. She has expressed her art through various outlets, and that is why I have researched her work for Project Two.

Over the past five years, Halsey has released three albums. Her first album was recorded and edited directly in her home, which is crazy! Her following albums were recorded in studios. She rose to success immediately and has been able to explore various artistic outlets with the resources she has rightly earned to deserve. Her second album “My Hopeless Fountain Kingdom” is her greatest album thus far. The album was released in June of 2017. Without any doubt, her album is a story from start to finish. I remember listening to it for the first time and thinking that every album I would listen to moving forward would be from beginning to end. Each song following one another was like a chapter in a story. In my presentation, I plan on projecting a series of photos and videos that represent the year 2020 so far. This year has been unlike any year I have experienced in my life. Through displaying visuals from Kobe Bryant, The Australian Wildfires, WW3, Tiger King, and COVID-19, I will be telling a story. Therefore, that is why I have chosen to discuss Halsey and her artistic approach. 

Even though I am not producing an album for this project, I am planning on incorporating many of Halsey’s artistic pursuits in my project. I would like to add audio to follow along with my projection installation, but most importantly I want my projection to be followed like a story. I believe this year is the most unique time I have lived through so far in my life. Using Halsey’s artistic style will help me accomplish the goal of following a story. I will be gathering various sources of media and will transform them into a successful adaption for projection using Aftereffects. I will be following a story guideline. I will be featuring events from this year from the beginning of the year to the most recent. I hope my viewers can follow along and realize I am trying to project this year’s struggles through storytelling. 

As stated previously, Halsey also includes other forms of art, such as painting and drawing into her craft. To promote her new album Maniac, she created various paintings to promote her new music via social media. By creating visual pieces of art to follow alongside music is essential in the process of storytelling. Although I will be steering clear of creating my own paintings, I believe the images and videos I will be projecting will take the place of those “artistic paintings.” I will make sure that I am including audio that follows along with the story I am trying to tell. I do not plan on playing Halsey’s music in the background. 

In conclusion, Halsey’s approach to creating art and sharing it with an audience is fascinating. The way she is able to share her art on multiple platforms is not only impressive, but essential in how one understands the piece. I believe that storytelling is very important in the project I am creating. Showing memories and important events from this year are like a story. Each event is followed by another, like a chapter in a book.

2.) Precedent Images (Remainder of Images Will Be Shared Through A Folder)

This photo shows one of the most important historical events that has occurred this year. Kobe Bryant died in a plane crash and left a historic handprint on the world of Basketball.

 This photo shows one of the most important historical events that has occurred this year. 
                               Tiger King is the most successful documentary to air ever. 

 This photo shows the most important historical event that has occurred this year. COVID-19 has taken over the world and has forced the globe to shut down in the hope of reaching defeat. 


4.) Concept:

For Project Two, I will be creating a projection on my fridge. Originally I was going to create a projection in my car, but due to these unforeseen circumstances, I had to change my project location at the last minute. The projection will show a variety of important events that have impacted society this year. Displays could vary from CoronaVirus updates, the death of Kobe Bryant, to any other big news/trends so far this year. By reflecting on this series of events, I believe it is beneficial because a car is moving and the world is constantly changing. (change of location) The car will drive the viewers through 2020 and share a glimpse of what we hopefully have to look forward to! Using a car to project my installation is almost like telling a story. A car is meant to be used to travel, and my projection will be traveling through time. I will be using AfterEffects for projection mapping and am also hoping to incorporate some form of audio for the background.

5.) Location

I will be doing my installation in my garage. I have chosen this location because that is the only place I can project onto a car and also now an outdoor fridge. Due to the current pandemic, I do not have the option of going anywhere but at my house. I believe that doing my project in my house is very important and telling to my viewers. This year has been tough thus far, but we will get through it.

6.) Installation Objectives

By projecting various elements of media, I will be seeking my viewers to feel a variety of emotions. While many of the events that have taken place this year are unfortunate, I want to show that we will all get through it. The main goal of my project is to inform my audiences of the issues at hand, and the work we have to do to come out on the other side.

6.) Rendering

 6.) Plans:

7.) Budget / Resources

Materials: Fridge

Hardware: Computer, projector, display, power cables, HDMI cables, adapters, etc.

Content: Self-filmed, self-animated, youtube, public use, projection mapping, etc.

8.) Additional Commentary

During the process of creating my projection for Project 2, I learned a ton of different Softwares. While I am still a beginner at those applications, I tackled them to the best of my ability during this process. After creating a rendering of my fridge for my project, I began playing around with the various media I would be incorporating in my projection. I created vector shapes in illustrator and transported them into After Effects. By creating vector shapes, I was able to place my media clips inside the shapes perfectly. While the shapes were in AfterEffects to help me, I had a difficult time aligning the media perfectly to the entire form. After many hours, I was able to fit the media in the shapes. After I had the clips inside of the vector shapes, I focused on creating vector shapes for the fridge. The vector shapes for the fridge also displayed media clips as well. Through the process of creating this project, I learned the most using AfterEffects. I learned Resolume for Project One and challenged myself to tackle another application. I believe that my final version of my projection was a successful outcome. I am going to continue to explore various media applications and multimedia projection in the future. (Just hopefully not stuck in my house!)

9.)DOCUMENTATION ( Rendering + MasterClip)