A Gallery Space Populated By QR Codes Gives Visitors A New Artistic Experiences
Background: In Spring 2021, Western Kentucky University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Potter College of Arts & Letters (PCAL) established a specialized STEAM Lab. The WKU Extended Reality (XR) Research Lab is a student-based, interdisciplinary research team focusing on the implementation and education of extended reality systems.
After being brought together by the XR Lab, four founding XR members independently curated their university’s first-ever augmented reality gallery to bring more representation to the digital arts.
Challenge: Because modern audiences have become desensitized to computer-based arts, there is now a stigma that digital arts are not as “profound” as the fine arts.
Approach: By featuring this work in a traditional gallery space, the intention was to show that these mediums are just as thoughtfully and emotionally executed. Student and faculty works ranging from graphic design, illustration, animation, 3D/CAD models, and screen prints were considered eligible for the show. Over 25 works in total from creatives from a wide range of disciplines were collected and transformed into corresponding QR codes that guests could scan on their smart devices in the gallery space.
Software: MyWebAR, Adobe Creative Suite
Collecting Submissions
Curators collected works ranging from 2D & 3D animation, illustration, 3D modeling, graphic design, and pre-exposed screen prints from academic concentrations including graphic design, computer science, computer animation, advertising, user experience, game design, illustration, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, and studio art. Submissions were collected over the course of a week by word of mouth to better manage applications.
Once students and faculty expressed interest in submitting, their working files were collected and prepared to be brought into augmented reality. 2D, layered pieces were brought into their respective program and exported layer-by-layer as .png’s. 3D models and 2D animations were brought directly into MyWebAR.com. This program was selected because of its intuitive user interface and ease of access. Through this program, each piece was digitally cataloged in the MyWebAR library and given a corresponding QR code.
Promoting & Branding The Gallery
Using the team’s graphic design and advertising expertise, digital and print flyers were used to promote the event. A custom icon was created to make the project more cohesive and attention-grabbing. 75 flyers were printed and distributed throughout campus, specifically in areas of high foot traffic and places relevant to the contents of the gallery (main STEM buildings, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences offices, main art buildings, College of Arts & Letters offices, etc). Digital graphics were posted on Instagram because of the social media’s shareability and accessibility to a larger audience. Likewise, visually stimulating graphics were created to place in the gallery space that introduced the importance of AR and what a STEAM gallery means for the university, explained how to use a smart device to view the gallery, and a thank you to those who supported the project.
Once submissions were gathered and the event was promoted, the final step was the gallery setup. Each piece’s QR code was enlarged and printed on cardstock that was paired with a title card. Depending on the media, certain QR codes were mounted on the wall while others were mounted on the tops of pillars. A guestbook was placed near the doorway to encourage visitors to sign in and leave feedback, which is how we collected aspects of our quantitative and qualitative data.
Gallery Outcomes
Following the teardown of the gallery, the guestbook was used to predict the success of the show as well as the number of attendees. An estimated 170+ visitors attended the show and 50 pages of the guestbook were filled with testimonials. Quotations such as “Very cool installation! Raises serious questions about the future/the nature of art and how AR can start to intersect with that world. Really excited to see what comes next & how this can be enhanced in the future,” suggest that the audience response was overwhelmingly positive and that there is much interest in future AR/VR galleries.
Further qualitative data came in the form of news features centered around the gallery. WBKO, Spectrum News, and the College Heights Herald were the main news outlets that reached out for interviews and a press release was sent to local, national, and international news outlets for further coverage.
Special Thanks: Mark Simpson, Kristina Arnold, Chris DiMeo, Diego Minaya, & Sarah Terry
