Interactions Vernissage

Secret Swap to be covered by NMP

Interesting development for the Secrets Project. I have been asked to do an interview for a future issue of Montreal's own Nomorepotlucks.org on the secrets project! Stay tuned!

http://nomorepotlucks.org/cover

Interactions Photos!

Getting in all working...

Kathy making music.

Artits lost in thought and conversation

Explaining Bluetooth and recieving secrets...

Kathy's project on three screens!

Brit and Heather

Thierry and Jordan

Brandon checking out Aisha's project

The Lone Wolf

Magic magic magic!

It finally happened! The vernissage went off without a hitch. Posters went out, websites went up, mass emails went around and of course, the Facebook event collected lists of invitees.

After weeks of travelling to Concordia University to use the phd labs to convert the secrets into 3pg files and upload them to the server, we were set. We set up the device at SNAP! The Loft and right away the programme started. Folks who enabled their mobile devices on Bluetooth were able to recieve secrets and other compressed video files. The main setback was that unfortunately, most mobile phones were unable to receive the secrets. I ended up recommending this blog to those who were still serious about getting the gossip or even just passing some time with some reading about our local queer community. There was lots of positive feedback and I send a big thanks to everyone who supported the project.

Check out the website!

http://www.wix.com/coms570/interaction

Secret Swap Part 2

Lesbian secret swap continues in January. I am marinating on an idea about leaving secrets in envelopes under park benches (I'm thinking Parc La Fontaine, actually. Queer hockey is coming up....) and having people send in secrets that way.

Please submit comments, thoughts and opinions.

A big thanks to everyone who encouraged me to run this social experiment from the margins: We`ll see you at Interaction, January 29, 2010.

Step 8: Ethics

So, I had a few conversations about ethics in the context of this project. I have been a student at Concordia all semester, I should have had participants sign consent forms. Unfortunately, that was just not possible. I'd much rather get in lots and lots and lots of trouble, get kicked out of the programme and lose all my credits than get any single of my participants to sign anything. The point is anonymity. The point is trust. The point is getting queer girls to email secret swap on a whim. When they make a conscious decision to email in a secret, I believe their participation is essentially their consent.

Step 7: The Show

My inspiration to co-curate this show definitely comes from my background in the Social Sciences that was heavily influenced by the Fine Arts. Having studied Quebec culture extensively in undergrad mostly by looking at art (music, fine art, film, etc) and written papers on bands in the Montreal scene and studied the first female artists in Quebec, I have always wanted to expand my understanding of Quebec culture by engaging with art culture in Montreal. With a decade of community based activism heavily concentrated in women's and LGBTQ rights and issues of Diversity, I knew that this art show has the potential to expand my portfolio and launch me and my peers into the scene in which we aspire to work.

Step 6: The Display II

Secrets will be sent out using Concordia's Bluetooth device during the Interaction vernissage. When cellphones and blackberry's are set to "discoverable" can receive text messages. As a commentary on the use of technology to transport sensitive information like secrets to members of certain communities and circles of friends, lovers and acquaintances, this demonstration of interaction serves to challenge the lesbian community about the way they communicate with each other and what is considered to be "worthy" of sharing with peers.

Bring your iphone, blackberry or mobile to the vernissage to get in on the fun.