Monday, April 2, 2007

Proposal

“All play moves and has its being within a play-ground marked off before hand either materially or ideally, deliberately or as a matter of course . . . The arena, the card table, the magic circle, the temple, the stage, the screen, the tennis court, the court of justice, etc., are all in form and function play-grounds, ie., forbidden spots, isolated, hedged around, hallowed, within which special rules apply. All temporary worlds within the ordinary world, dedicated to the performance of an act apart.’

Johann Huizinga Homo Ludens: A study of the play element in culture

For sometime, I have been very interested in the meaning of competition in our society. With a past as a collegiate athlete, I am curious about how games and sport serve as a means of expression and release from the pressures of daily life. It is the ability of sport to mean much more than the simple actions on a field, but as a form of identity and social interaction.
Dedication toward these ends has also focused on an interest in games as a method of interaction. By defining the rules for action within a space, I am able to facilitate an experience that explores how we engage our environment and the others inhabiting that area. At times, projects follow the rules for engagement, but typically, they tend to break those rules to establish a new system connection, allowing for new associations. The project that I am proposing to Art In General will brings these thoughts together.
My proposal consists of creating an interactive form of handball.
More specifically, I want to develop technology that will allow for a viewer to define the action and rules of the competition. Using a computer interface, people will be able to redefine the game on the fly, forcing the players to react and change strategy. This will be accomplished through the use of a program that organizes video, sound, and lighting for theatrical productions.
This interaction will take place as a part of an initiative through out the city of New York, being staged at local courts through out Manhattan. The project will travel through out the city displaying the technology for local handball players and allowing them to experience the new game. I also hope to engage members of the New York Handball Association to collaborate in the projects development.
The culmination of this production will be a series of performances that will take place through out the city. The final performance will be an open competition, inviting teams to organized and then compete in a series of games to for the title of champion.

TimeLine/Budget

TIMELINE

May 2007 - Begin Organization of Equipment, Contact software developers and researchers
Sept 2007 - Start development of motion capture and web integration
Jan 2008 - Begin to test software and design performance
Feb 2008 - Have organization/design of user interface fully developed
May 2008 - Begin performances
June 2008 - Competition

BUDGET

$1000 - Motion Capture
$1000 - Interactive Medai System
$1000 - Artist for Design

Additional support is being applied for through Art in General, Franklin Furnace, National University of Singapore Mixed Reality Lab, Creative Time

CV

Matthew Slaats
18 Underhill Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
845.454.0313
mbslaats@hotmail.com
www.matthewslaats.com

Education
M.F.A 2005 Integrated Media - University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.A. 2005 Art - University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.A. 1999 Archaeology and Art - University of Evansville
Area(s) of Specialization: Interactive Art, Performance, Installation Art, Video, Sound, Gaming

Professional Experience

2007 – Westchester Community College – Valhalla, NY
Adjunct Faculty – Game Design, Dreamweaver

2006 – Dia:Beacon – Beacon, NY
Gallery Assistant

2006 – Theatreworks Singapore
Assitant Project Manager - Singapore Arts Festival – Video

2002 – 2006 - University of Wisconsin Theatre Department - Madison, WI
Teaching Assistant - (instructor of record)
Backstage Laboratory - Fundamentals of Stage Craft

2003 - University of Wisconsin Art Institute - Madison, WI
Production Assistant/ Technical Coordinator - The Last Supper –Richard Gough

2001 - 2002 - Virginia Commonwealth University Theatre Dept. - Richmond, VA
Scene Shop Foreman/Facilities Manager
Technical Laboratory - Basic Scene Design Lab - Facilities Manager

2000 – 2001 - Wisconsin State Historical Society Museum - Madison, WI
Assistant Exhibit Technician/ Visitor Service Representative

2000 – 2001 - Kings Foot Gallery - Madison, WI
Gallery Technician/Assistant

1999 - 2000 - Franklin College - Lugano, Switzerland
Residence Director/Admissions Assistant/Sports Director

1997 - Arista Story Editor Workshops - London, England
Intern – Logistical Assistant

1997 - Imagine Films Limited - London, England
Intern
Teaching Experience
2007
Adjunct Faculty - Westchester Community College – Media Arts
Game Design and Quick Start Dreamweaver
2006
Visiting Artist – University of Wisconsin – Non Static Forms
2002 - 2006
Teaching Assistant - (instructor of record) - University of Wisconsin Theatre Department
Backstage Laboratory - Fundamentals of Stage Craft
2004
Drawing 1 - Teacher Substitute - UW-Madison
Art Survey 208 - Teacher Substitute - UW-Madison
2003
Two Dimensional Design - Teacher Substitute - UW-Madison

Grants/Fellowships
2003 Alfred K. Murray Grant

Research
Augmented Reality Gaming - University of Wisconsin
Department of Curriculum and Instruction - Prof. Kurt Squire - advisor
Development and Implimenation of Gaming technology in Learning environment

Commissions
2005 Campus Art Collaborative - University of Wisconsin Madison


Publications and Writing
2006
N-Media – Art in the Right Place: Singapore Biennale 2006
Wisconsin State Journal - Games Learning and Society Conference
Capital Times - Doug Moe – My Name is Madison Project
2005
Shaken Naked Arts Journal – contributing writer
Con Art Zine – www.conart.org - Word Games and Lil Bo Peep Game
Isthmus - Breese Stevens Field Projcect
The Daily Page – www.thedailypage.com - 1v1
Wisconsin State Journal - 1v1

Conferences
Games, Learning and Society 2006
Topic - Augmented Reality Gaming - Designing in Context

Presentations
2006
National University of Singapore – Mixed Reality Lab
Interactivity and Context



Exhibition, Performance, Screening Record (*solo shows marked by asterisk)
2006
A Response to Tatlin’s Tower – Flux Factory – New York, NY
My Name is Madison - GLS Conference – Madison, WI
2005
Matthew Slaats - 1v1 - MFA Exhibition/Performance - 7th Floor Gallery - University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI
Con Art - Little Bo Peep Game and word game - Madison Zine Fest - Madison, WI
Ancient Technologies, Dramaturgy, and Games - The Kitchen - New York, NY - Artistic Director - Ong Keng Sen
*Breese Stevens Field Project - MA Thesis Exhibition - University of Wisconsin - Madison
Audio Tour - 7th Floor Gallery - University of Wisconsin - Madison
Bocon – Sound Designer - University Theatre Productions - University of Wisconsin – Madison
Campus Art Collaborative - University of Wisconsin – Madison
2004
*Games of Irrationality - 734 Gallery - Madison, WI
Ironworks Group Art Show - Ironworks LLC - Madison, WI
Nothing At All - Bogdan Achimescu - Madison, WI and Charlottesville, VA
UW Light Show - University of Wisconsin Glass Department– Madison, WI
Art Happens - NE Wisconsin Art Council - Green Bay, WI
2003
The Last Supper – Richard Gough - Cast member - University of Art Institute UW Art and Theatre Department
UW Student Art Show - Porter Butts Gallery - University of Wisconsin - Madison
*In Between Spaces - UW Graduate Student Council Gallery - University of Wisconsin - Madison
2002
UW Light Show - University of Wisconsin Glass Department - Madison, WI
Art’s Night Out - City of Madison - Madison, WI
2001
So Heavenly Minded (viewing) - WYOU – Public Access TV - Madison, WI
Electronic Media Digital Bazaar - University of Wisconsin – Madison, WI
2000
UW Student Glass Show - King’s Foot Gallery – Madison, WI
Student Art Show - Franklin College - Lugano, Switzerland
1999
Student Show (juried) - University of Evansville - Evansville, IN
1998
Fall Student Show - University of Evansville - Evansville, IN

Artist Workshops
2005 The Kitchen Summer Institute Program, New York, NY
Ancient Technologies, Dramaturgy, and Games
Artistic Director - Ong Keng Sen
2004 Urban Glass - Hot Casting - Gene Koss





Professional Service
Participant in Study Circle on Race by the City of Madison and Urban League of Greater Madison
Member of the College Art Association and Glass Art Society
WUEV – radio DJ for blues and jazz segments
VP of University of Evansville Habitat for Humanity Chapter
Student Art Association
Volunteered with Wisconsin Public Radio, WCVE Richmond Public Radio
Volunteer for College Art Associations 2002 Conference
Organizer and Writer for Richmond Independent Media Center
Participant in UW-Madison Visual Culture discussions
Graduate Student Representative –UW Art Dept.
Writer/Columnist for Shaken Naked Arts Journal

Technical Abilities
Video
Editing with Adobe Premiere, Sphereous, Final Cut Pro and Avid
Vast knowledge of all video equipment and peripherals
Sound
Knowledge and experience with vast array of materials and equipment
Editing with Sound Forge and Pro Tools
Sculpture
Knowledge and repair experience with various wood working tools
Experience with metal casting and plastic casting techniques
Skill to work in metal fabrication and carpentry
Computer Knowledge
Auto CAD, PhotoShop, Dreamweaver MX, Director, Max, Jitter
Printing
Basic knowledge of seriagraphy and etching processes
Knowledge of computer printing processes

Any Taker - 100m

Breese Stevens Field Project - Radio Towers

Breese Stevens Field Project - Playing

1v1 - Team

Sunday, April 1, 2007

1v1 - Performance View 1