Phage and Collection (Technical Director) (1999-2004)

Interactive Media Group, Rochester Institute of Technology (2004)
Department of Media Study, University at Buffalo (1999-2004)
Collaboration led by Mary Flanagan

About

Phage and collection are digital art pieces for personal computers. Both applications scan a user's personal computer for media content, including images, video, text, and sound. After processing, the applications present the user with the results in the form of a dynamic, spatialized, and three-dimensional world. The pieces are designed to model and expose the representation of the private relationship with the computer to the public. Whereas Phage is a stand-alone art piece, Collection provides a networked performance. Contributions as technical director included the design and implementation of the scan algorithm, the visualization algorithm, and the development of a communications protocol for media content. Phage and Collection have been shown at a number of digital art exhibitions. Phage has been mentioned in Newsweek Online and Collection has been exhibited as part of the Whitney Museum of American Art Biennial Exhibition (March 8-May 26, 2002) exhibition as well as the Guggenheim exhibition entitled Seeing Double: Emulation in Theory and Practice (March 18-May 26, 2004).