In summer 2020, young people aged 13-19 came together online to bring their world's alive through augmented reality. They learned how to animate their own art works and connect their digital animations to physical prints of their works using free web-based software. After creating more than 40 works of augmented reality, they sent out hundreds of postcard prints to friends and family across Toronto and around the world to give audiences an art experience to enjoy from the safety of their homes during times of isolation.
Classrrom Among the Stars (2020) by Atina AliNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
Group picture of program participants on zoom (2020) by Never Gallery ReadyNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
Participants play with their video conferencing backgrounds, using images that represent their "happy place".
Imagine and Experiment
Participants from Toronto's North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke neighbourhoods first learned about augmented reality and together imagined the possibilities: What if pictures, drawings and symbols could be portals into alternative realities and multimedia experiences?
XBOX Just Cause Augmented Reality (2020) by Nii Aduam GammerNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
What if we added video loops to the every day objects and images in our collection?
Apple Tree 3D AR animation (2020) by Jenny PhungNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
What if we mixed painting and photography?
Fabric AR (2020) by Shruti JuvekarNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
What if we attached pixels to fabric?
Drawing AR (2020) by Jenny PhungNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
What if our drawings could pop-off the page?
Bringing images alive
After understanding the basics of how to answer these questions through the magic of augmented reality, participants learned to bring their artworks to life by making characters, lines and shapes move through frame animation.
Evelyn's studio AR animation (2020) by Evelyn Margaret TurnbullNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
Comet (2020) by Zoe HallNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
In this work, participant Zoe Hall's painting of the night sky was transformed into a light show of comets racing across the canvas surface.
Mixed reality viewing experiences
Once participants created the videos and animations that brought their artworks to life, it was time to attach their digital works to the pictures, paintings and drawings that inspired them to begin with.
Shapezzzz - augmented reality painting (2020) by Erica HuangNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
Erica Huang's painted shapes pop off the canvas and dance while a little digital marble navigates the 3D maze.
Freature video of participant: Ashwah Aslam (2020) by karen darricades, Cathleen Calica and Bayan A.ChacraNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
Mail ARt
Sending people art through the mail (snail mail, not email) has been an art tradition since the 1960s. This time with an augmented reality twist, participants mailed their magic to friends, family, teachers and mentors in Toronto and around the world, through the post. Participants were mostly unfamiliar with the process of sending mail through the post and were as delighted as mail art recipients to share their work in this new way.
Freature video of participant: Fatima Mujahid (2020) by karen darricades, Cathleen Calica and Bayan A.ChacraNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
Atina Ali sending Mail ARt through Canada Post (2020) by Atina AliNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
Solar System (2020) by Rithika RayuduNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
Evelyn's Leaves augmented reality viewing (2020) by Evelyn Margaret TurnbullNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
Mixed Reality ARts Mail Art recipeints (2020) by karen darricades, Cathleen Calica and Bayan A.ChacraNever Gallery Ready (NgR)
A City of Toronto Cultural HotSpot SPARK project:
The Mixed Reality ARts project was delivered in partnership with the City of Toronto.
Special Thanks to:
Cathleen Calica, youth mentor and project co-facilitator
Bayan A.Chacra, video editing assistant
