VPAP Philadelphia

Art- and tech-savvy Philadelphians will be whipping out their smart phones to view a virtual art exhibit this fall. The first outdoor virtual art exhibit is coming to Philadelphia October 7, 2010. Breadboard, NextFab Studio and Virtual Public Art Project (VPAP) are collaborating with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy and DesignPhiladelphia2010 to host the first VPAP exhibit in Philadelphia as part of Design Philadelphia 2010.

VPAP: Philadelphia locations (to view a larger Map click this image)

Download the VPAP App to view virtual art

The VPAP Philadelphia project will include an informative multimedia exhibit at Breadboard’s Esther Klein Gallery (3600 Market Street) that introduces the Philadelphia community to the technology behind Augmented Reality and virtual art, and to recent VPAP projects in other cities around the world. VPAP Philadelphia will also locate eight unique virtual artworks (created by Philadelphia artists) at various locations around Philadelphia. These works will be viewable through the camera on any smart phone equipped with free downloaded VPAP application software.

Breadboard is a new University City Science Center program that promotes art and design at the intersection of science and technology. VPAP is a new organization that is literally pushing the boundaries of public space and art via free Augmented Reality platforms easily accessible through smart phone applications. DesignPhiladelphia is the nation’s largest celebration of its kind, a city-wide initiative showcasing the role that design has played historically in Philadelphia, and unites the creative disciplines – from architecture to interior design, fashion to product design, multi-media to graphic design.

“Philadelphia has an incredibly strong cultural sector, as well as a long tradition of design and technology innovation. This program brings those strengths together in a very exciting way,” said Gary Steuer, Chief Cultural Officer for the City of Philadelphia, and Director of the City’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. “My Office looks forward to partnering with Breadboard on this and other projects that unite science, art, design and technology in extraordinary ways that both serve our community and shine a national and international light on what we’re doing here.”

VPAP uses emergent Augmented Reality platforms to create virtual art in public spaces by merging computer generated imagery with physical, real-world locations. The finished projects can be viewed using the iPhone 3GS and Android phones.

Breadboard will sponsor a suite of supporting workshops and events at NextFab Studio as part of DesignPhiladelphia 2010. These workshops will generate opportunities for Philadelphia artists and individuals to gain more in-depth understanding about virtual art and Augmented Reality and/or work on content to submit digital art work for consideration in the upcoming VPAP exhibit.

Artists and individuals interested in submitting work for the VPAP Philadelphia exhibit may contact bbprograms@sciencecenter.org (subject: VPAP)

VPAP:PHILADELPHIA MAP
VPAP ARTISTS LIST: Fall 2010
Download the VPAP App to view virtual art
VPAP Artist Guidelines
Q&A with Chris Manzione (VPAP founder)

September 1st VPAP Event

September 18th VPAP Event

VPAP Public Events and Timeline

September 1, 6:00-8:00 pm at NextFab Studio (3711 Market Street, Philadelphia)
Public talk & demonstration with Chris Manzione, founder of the Virtual Public Art Project.This event will include a Smartphone walking tour to view temporary VPAP virtual content geo-tagged along the Science Center’s Market Street corridor

September 18, 10:00 am-4:00 pm at NextFab Studio (3711 Market Street, Philadelphia)
Special all-day VPAP Workshop: an Augmented Reality workshop where individuals can work one on one with VPAP personnel and learn how to create virtual content that can be viewed using smart phone applications. This event will also serve as a primer for individuals wishing to submit content for consideration in the VPAP Philadelphia exhibit.

September 18, 12:00 -1:00 pm at NextFab Studio (3711 Market Street, Philadelphia)
Special presentation by Christian Meinhardt (VPAP software developer): Practical applications and how to guide for artists and individuals interested in submitting content for VPAP Philadelphia exhibit.

October 7 at City Hall and Science Center locations
VPAP Philadelphia launches virtual art exhibit (in collaboration with start of DesignPhiladelphia’s sixth year). Virtual artwork created by Philadelphia artists will be viewable through free smart phone applications at City Hall and Science Center locations.

October 15, 5:00-8:00pm at Breadboard’s Esther Klein Gallery (3600 Market Street, Philadelphia)
Opening Reception for The Virtual Public Art Project: an indoor multi-media exhibit that introduces the public to VPAP and the technology behind virtual art.

About VPAP: The Virtual Public Art Project is an Augmented Reality platform for the public display of digital works of art. VPAP is the first mobile AR outdoor art experience ever, and maximizes public reception of AR art through compatibility with both iPhone 3GS and Android phones! www.virtualpublicartproject.com contact@virtualpublicartproject.com

About NextFab Studio: NextFab Studio is a membership-based, high-tech workshop and custom fabrication service center- it’s Philadelphia’s “gym for innovators”. Located in the University City Science Center, NextFab Studio provides comfortable, clean, and safe workspaces with hand tools, 3D printers, computer controlled machine tools, software, and electronics workbenches. Expert instructors and a community of collaborators are on hand to help you problem-solve and achieve your vision. NextFab Studio has everything necessary for you to invent, repair, create, and innovate! www.nextfabstudio.com

About the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy: The mission of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is to improve access to the arts for both residents and visitors; expand arts education for young people; oversee all the City’s arts programs; support the growth and development of the City’s arts, culture, and creative economy sector by promoting public and private investment in the creative economy sector; coordinate with relevant City agencies to unify the City’s arts efforts; and serve as a liaison between the City’s many cultural institutions. Our offices – incorporating The Art Gallery at City Hall, are located in Room 116 of City Hall. Follow our blog at http://artscultureandcreativeeconomy.blogspot.com

About DesignPhiladelphia 2010: DesignPhiladelphia, October 7-17, 2010, is one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the nation. It showcases the role that design has played historically in Philadelphia, and celebrates the city’s contemporary significance as a center for creative advancement. DesignPhiladelphia unites the creative disciplines with more than 150 events throughout the city, mostly free and all open to the public. As a cultural initiative partnered with the University of the Arts, DesignPhiladelphia places Philadelphia in the spotlight as an unrivalled city of innovation and vibrancy – an excellent place in which to live, work, play, and grow! Check out more at http://www.designphiladelphia.org

Material for VPAP website, mobile website and Layar layer including:

Artist name

Artwork title

Artwork subtitles ( for inside Layar, if applies)

Artwork image or illustration

Artwork artist statement / description text

Link to artists website (if available)

Artwork 3d file (.obj format or still better .l3d (Layar) format if already available) incl. size information (how big the artwork shall appear inside Layar)

GPS coordinates for desired artwork location(s)

Google maps link(s) for desired artwork location(s)