The VENUS PROJECT was formed in the spring of 1989 as an independent cyberart coalition whose members embraced the techno-aesthetic philosophy of a positive human/computer synergy. The expression of this philosophy was the use of technology in playful, educational opportunities for interaction SHARED with others. The VENUS PROJECT members included Bob Nagy, Karen Pitman and John Witham.
VP-1
The first public exhibit the VENUS PROJECT designed was for the 1989 RoboFest 1 show at Discovery Hall in Austin, TX. The exhibit was a computer mediated interactive environment for producing musical sounds by body movements and for manipulating computer graphics with those sounds. The participant donned a helmet that actuated MIDI controlled synthesizer sound module. Pressure sensitive areas beneath the feet of the participant were also connected to a sound module. The graphics display was driven by software that changed the output based on the audio pitches and the interrelation of the audio signals.
VP-2(Sonic Silhouette)
The second VENUS PROJECT work designed for exhibit at Discovery Hall was featured in the 1991 RoboFest 2 show which opened in February of that year. In this installation, body movements were tracked by an overhead video camera and digitized into the computer. A graphical interface to the audio synthesizers in the form of a grid caused musical sounds to be produced. This system acted like a virtual instrument that was played by dancing or moving inside the digitized space.
VP-3(Musicgraphic Hyperinstrument)
Designed for the BERZERKWERKS installation at the Austin Children's Museum in August of 1991, this exhibit featured several virtual worlds the participant could "enter" through the video camera and digitizer. These worlds created, created using the Mandala System authoring software, enabled the user to create sounds, triger animations and to paint by moving and "touching" virtual objects. Also activated by these virtual objects were lights and fans in the room surrounding the exhibit which acted on wind sculptures and other installations in the show.
This exhibit was modified and renamed VIDEO PLAYSCAPE and remained on display at the museum after the close of the BERZERKWERKS show.
Mandala Interactive Computer Graphic Scene
VP-4(Living Systems Interactive Video Environment/L.I.V.E.)
In February on 1992 VENUS PROJECT artists were commissioned by the
Austin Childrens' Museum to use the Mandala System to design scenes for the VIDEO PLAYSCAPE which represented the Human digestive System. This exhibit made an educational game of the process of digestion and featured an interactive tour of the digestive tract with animations, sound samples and music.
VP-5(Performance Interfaces)
In April and May of 1992 the VENUS PROJECT designed and performed with several new virtual interfaces for control of audio synthesizers along with Craig and Charlene Sansiott's robotic band SHRINKING ROBOT HEADS. Their debut performance for the combined organic and inorganic groups was held at X/XX2 Experimental Musical Festival held on April 4, 1992. The performance featured an ensemble of six live (organic) musicians as well at the Robot band members. The interface was used to play synthesizers as the performers moved inside a digitized space. VENUS PROJECT interfaces were also designed to be used in performance at MAYFEST in Tulsa, Oklahoma and at RoboFest 3 in Austin that year. In both of these events the interfaces were also to be used experimentally by the audience.
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