Tentnology

Tentnology, 2010
(12’ x 12’) Materials: digital projectors, speakers, tent, decals, portable satellite dish, WiFi antenna, wood, artificial tree.    

Tentnology (2010). The first variation of this installation was included in  “Convergences: New Sculptural Media” group exhibition of works integrating media with installation and sculpture, presented by NewTown at the Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena. Tentnology is a multi-projection installation satirizing a contemporary urban camping experience. A tent with a WiFi antenna is erected against a projected video backdrop of US National Park footage featuring landline and cellular "stealth" towers. A camper, whose silhouette is visible inside the tent, is chatting to a friend on his cell phone, blogging on his laptop, and watching satellite TV. A  virtual campfire is projected onto a stack of real firewood. He brought along his portable cell tower to provide a consistent 5-bar signal. A satellite dish streams favorite shows at Hi Def and a generator powers everything. (Exhibition photos by Armory Arts.)

Tentnology 2.0, (2012)
This is a variation of the original Tentnology with a new camper video featuring a woman inside the tent posting squirrel pictures to Pinterest while watching the "Social Network." Lying on top of a pile of firewood is an iPad displaying a flickering campfire app. This piece was installed outdoors in a group show called "Untamed (Parking) Spaces" presented by NewTown at Side Street Projects, for ArtNight Pasadena.    

Documentation video of "Tentnology" installation at the Armory Center for the Arts, by Beth Block.