PlayaMonkey's Super#1 Fun Camp

Public Interaction Art Installation: PlayaMonkey Super Fun Blinky Brain Challenge

The camp itself is an interactive art project -

With this camp, we celebrate the evolution of our camp structure, composition, and decoration, over the many years we have participated in playa activities (10+ years for many of us).

In the past, we have brought many types of art to the playa, including visual art (painted designs, sculptures, lights/lasers, video projection), interactive sound art, large-scale installations (domes, beacons, and shade structures), and wearable performance art in the form of daytime costumes and illuminated evening wear.  These designs have been adapted over time, gaining new features or merging with other projects, in an ongoing effort to enhance the playa experience in new ways.

We have also learned that playa-proofing is not just a matter of making things that will survive the weather.  It can also be challenging to create an interactive art piece that will not be damaged or destroyed by overly curious participants.  Despite having (mostly) good intentions, some playa citizens will approach a piece of art with a monkey mentality, seeking to deconstruct and reconfigure the pieces, whether that was the intention of the artist or not.

This year, rather than trying to suppress this tendency, we will embrace the "playa monkeys" by offering a piece of art that encourages inquiry, experimentation, and even reconfiguration.

The centerpiece of the project will be a large panel with a variety of weatherproof control switches, knobs, levers, pushbuttons, and other input devices, such as sound and motion-reactive sensors. These switches will be joined to illuminated decorative elements throughout the camp - primarily low voltage custom LED lighting that has been recycled from previous projects. Many of the wires entering the control box will be accessible, and can be moved between plugs.

A sliding switch might control the brightness of one element, or the color of another.  A keypress could initiate a traveling burst of color that would spread through several parts of the camp.  Some lights might be activated by jumping, or clapping, or making funny monkey noises.  Some switches will respond after a delay, and some will require that they are pressed in a particular order or multi-button combination to have an effect.  And of course, many of the switches will do nothing at all.

It is intended that the panel will act as a game, where the participants try to create interesting light effects without any instructions or explanation for how the device works.  People can also be involved by enjoying the light show, or by trying to decipher the "rules" by which the control panel activates the lighting.

This will be integrated into our overall camp layout, which consists of a ring of large vehicles (RVs and buses), and a large parachute covering the entire ring, suspended from a central tower structure. Part of the interior of this ring will be used for tents of camp members, and the rest will be a shared chill space, with a large carpeted area and places to sit down.  Most of the decorative lighting will be visible from the interior portion of the shade structure, though some parts (such as our lighted beacon) will be visible from the outside.

The PlayaMonkey theme will be extended through the use of jungle style decorations (some with luminous properties, some providing a pleasant atmosphere during daylight hours). We encourage our campmates to contribute comfortable seating, jungle decor, or exciting lighting elements.

warnings!

playamonkey wuvs you.