Apollo Creative on BBC News

Following an update on the economy from the Bank of England this morning, the BBC News team have been on site at the Knaresborough Technology Park to talk to businesses. Mark was interviewed for a live broadcast immediately following Mervyn King's press conference at 11.40. He was also interviewed for the World at One broadcast on Radio 4.

Both reports featured our demo and testing room playing the Jungle theme. The television report also showed one of the portraits from the 'Me, Myself and MRI' exhibition, with Christine Talbot making an appearance on screen towards the end!

MRI talk at Archbishop Holgates School, York

This morning I gave a talk at Archbishop Holgate's School, York on MRI technology as part of my role as a STEM Ambassador. Together with Kirsty Halliday from Geodesic Arts, we talked the pupils through the 'Me, Myself and MRI' project and specifically the process of undergoing an MRI scan.

The talk was sponsored by NYBEP and links in with the launch of the new education website for 'Me, Myself and MRI'. The exhibition is currently split between Archbishop Holgate's School, the York Neuro-imaging Centre and the Knaresborough Technology Park.

Last chance to catch MRI Exhibition

The 'Me, Myself and MRI' exhibition will be closing at York Hospital on the 3rd September. The feedback has been fantastic and we are currently in discussions to feature the show in other locations across the UK. In the meantime several of the individual pieces will be on display at partner organisations. This includes one portrait that wil be gracing the reception area here at Knaresborough Technology Park.


The portraits are running the Ensemble system, with a custom version of the Ensemble16 sensor interface. A number of custom blocks were designed for this exhibition and will be available as part of the new version of Apollo Ensemble due for release later this year.

MRI Exhibition on the move

The MRI Exhibition was moved today to a new venue at York Hospital.

The exhibition space is close to the main reception, meaning that it will get a lot of footfall during its residency. Unfortunately one of the pieces was damaged during transit, so for the moment only five pieces are on show in the space.

Company visit to MRI Exhibition

Today we took everyone from Apollo and GSPK Design to Impressions Gallery to visit the 'Me, Myself and MRI' exhibition. After a brief overview from Sarah at Impressions, I gave a bit more background to the project.

Everyone then spent the next hour looking at the exhibition and the other galleries at Impressions.

MRI Exhibition goes to Impressions

The Me, Myself and MRI exhibition moved today to Impressions Gallery in Bradford. This venue gives a completely different setting for the show, with the pieces in a more traditional gallery space. I also updated each piece to add an additional image from the photographer and change the activation distance of the infra-red sensors.

Me, Myself and MRI Project Launch - Preview

Today was the launch of the MRI Exhibition at the National Science Learning Centre in York. The morning was spent doing final tweaks to the audio and video tracks, setting levels and then tidying up.

In the afternoon the group we've been working with from Archbishop Holgate's School came in for a preview before the evenings official launch. General impressions were good and there was some interesting feedback about the layout of the pieces. We also had a discussion about how the interactivity worked (see photo), which involved me showing them the Apollo Ensemble map that is running each piece. They very quickly grasped how the Map was put together and how Apollo Designer works - in fact they were questioning why it took me so long to get the exhibition sorted out!

The exhibition map uses some new blocks that will be in version two of the software released later in the year. This includes video and still image triggering, automated faders and mapping blocks. I hope to be writing a detailed explanation of the technical side of the project for the Me, Myself and MRI website later in the year.

In the meantime the exhibition will be giving a really thorough test of the Apollo Runner and the new blocks as it runs the six pieces over the next few months. If you want to catch the exhibition then see the main project website for tour details.

Getting A-Head in Art

An arresting new interactive exhibition exploring the boundaries between art and science, and powered by Apollo technology, opens on Tuesday 24th February at the National Science Learning Centre, York.

MRI Brain Scan

Me, Myself and MRI uses photography, video, sound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data to create complete portraits of a series of individuals. By interacting with the exhibition you can explore many of the facets of the individuals portrayed. This exciting multi-media exhibition has been created by York-based arts partnership Geodesic Arts, working in unique collaboration with Archbishop Holgate’s School York and York Neuroimaging Centre, and is funded by the Wellcome Trust and Arts Council England. It will tour to regional venues in 2009.

The culmination of a year long project, this exhibition uses photography, sound and video as well as contemporary neuroimaging technology. The subjects were chosen by Year 9 pupils from Archbishop Holgate’s School who decided to concentrate on capturing a comprehensive look at some of the very different people who make up society.

Tajinder, one of the subjects in the exhibition

The final six subjects were a nurse, a chaplain, a playwright, a kick-boxing champion, a TV journalist and a scientist. They sat for photographic portraits and took part in video and audio interviews, as well as undertaking an MRI brain scan.

The resulting data and footage has been transformed into a series of digital portraits that provide a unique representation of each of the subjects, giving a more detailed insight into what makes them all individual. MRI scans as well as being essential diagnostic tools also produce beautiful images and highlight features that are unique to each individual.

The project team has been working with Year 9 pupils from Archbishop Holgate’s School since the beginning of last year. James Evans, Head of Science, explains why the school got involved. “It is an exciting, collaborative project that has engaged the pupils, teachers and outside agencies. It is an opportunity to celebrate the exciting developments in science, explore the ethical issues raised and marry them with the creativity and expression of art.”  He believes that the project has made a lasting impression on the pupils. “To experience the ‘wow’ factor of science with inspirational people, to make links with many facets of the curriculum, to be engaged by science and express through art, ICT and media is priceless.”

As well as learning about creative digital technology, the pupils have been exploring the development of contemporary neuroimaging techniques such as MRI and MEG and the science behind them. Staff at York Neuroimaging Centre have been acting as scientific advisors to the project, explaining how modern-day techniques have developed, investigating ethical issues surrounding these techniques and carrying out MRI scans on the people selected to take part in the project. This is a chance to experience contemporary science firsthand, as Elliot Crowe, a Year 9 pupil points out. “I thought it would be something new and exciting to try. It’s not very often you get an opportunity to do something like this.”

The pupils have also found out about the development of portraiture as an art form and the links between science and the arts as they worked with an art historian to discover how art and science together can help us make sense of the world around us. As Francesca Smith, a pupil taking part in the work says, “I like this project – it’s different because we’re doing art and science together.”

"This innovative project will enable young people to develop an understanding of the science behind MRI scans," explains Clare Matterson, Wellcome Trust Director of Medicine, Society and History. "By engaging in a creative and accessible way with science and technology, they will explore ideas about the individual and self from scientific and cultural perspectives."

Work on the project started in January 2008 and the final exhibition will launch at the National Science Learning Centre on the 24th February before touring to Impressions Gallery, Bradford in April 2009. The project forms part of the year-round community and education programme of SightSonic, York’s International Festival of Digital Arts.

MRI Project approaches launch

The MRI Project I've been working on for the past couple of years is finally reaching completion, with the launch only a few weeks off. Today we moved the exhibition pieces to the first launch venue and started setting everything up.

You can follow the progress in detail on the Geodesic Arts blog.

MRI Project tests

Mark, Ben and Damian review a portrait

Today was a technical rehearsal of sorts for the MRI Project (http://geodesicarts-mri.blogspot.com/). It was the first time we had more than just the single prototype exhibition piece setup and running in one space. Each unit consists of a 32" screen, with a small PC together with a custom Apollo Ensemble unit and the development version of the new Apollo Ensemble software.

The exciting thing about this exhibition is that it is pushing forward the development of the Apollo Ensemble software. We've added quite a few new features which will be released as an upgrade later in the year. The main one is the ability to trigger and control video and still image. The requirements of this project mean that the software is getting a really good, real world testing - with a nice tight deadline to hit. The exhibition launches in late February!

MRI - Interviews

As part of the MRI project (Me, Myself and MRI) we need to interview each of the project participants and record this - both audio and video. I've been volunteered as the interviewer, so I'm doing my best Michael Parkinson impression for the project. Luckily it is just the interviewees that are being recorded.

The questions have been selected by the group and seem to be doing a good job at finding out about our participants. You can see the results early next year when we launch at the National Science Learning Centre. 

News: Apollo gets creative with Sci-Art project

Apollo Creative is excited to announce its involvement with the innovative sci-art project Me, Myself and MRI. As a key partner, Apollo Creative is providing technical expertise through the involvement of its Creative Director Mark Hildred.

The project, being lead by the arts partnership Geodesic Arts, has been awarded funding by the Wellcome Trust and Arts Council England. It has been designed to explore the idea of individuality using contemporary neuroimaging technology, photography and audio-video work.

MRI Scan of Geodesic artist Damian Murphy's head

Geodesic are working together with Archbishop Holgate CE School, York and York Neuroimaging Centre to realise the project, which will culminate in a touring exhibition of digital portraits in 2009.

Year 8 students from the school have been working on the project since the beginning of 2008 and will choose six people to be the focus of the work. Approaches are currently being made to a range of people suggest by the group, from teachers to celebrities. The foundation for their selection is based on the question “what makes an individual?” and could focus on anything from their career, their background through to their every day lives.

The chosen subjects will be invited to undergo an MRI scan as well as sit for photographic portraits and take part in video and audio interviews. The information and data collected will then be transformed into a series of digital portraits which will provide a unique representation and insight into who they really are.

Mark Hildred, Apollo Creative and Technical Producer on the project, has been involved since the project’s inception and will be responsible for the realisation of the final exhibition. Mark has been actively involved in both the planning and running of the project sessions within the school, together with liaising with the galleries for the final exhibition.

Mark Hildred said – “It is always exciting to work with young people on innovative arts projects such as this. At Apollo Creative we actively seek involvement in this area as it helps us to develop new ideas and technologies. This ethos often provides us with ways for us to expand upon the work we already do within schools; and so develop the potential for future creative and technically skilled employees.”

James Evans, Head of Science, explains why the Archbishop Holgate CE School got involved. “It is an exciting, collaborative project that has engaged the pupils, teachers and outside agencies. It is an opportunity to celebrate the exciting developments in science, explore the ethical issues raised and marry them with the creativity and expression of art."

He believes that the project is significant to the pupils as “to experience the ‘wow’ factor of science with inspirational people, to make links with many facets of the curriculum, to be engaged by science and express through art, ICT and media is priceless.”

As well as learning about creative digital technology, the students are also exploring the development of contemporary neuro-imaging techniques such as MRI and MEG and the science behind them. Staff at the York Neuroimaging Centre are acting as scientific advisors to the project, explaining how modern-day techniques have developed, investigating ethical issues surrounding these techniques and carrying out MRI scans on the people selected to take part in the project.

The students are also finding out more about the development of portraiture as an art form and the links between science and the arts, as they are working with an art historian to discover how art and science together can help us make sense of the world around us.

The final exhibition is due to launch at the National Science Learning Centre in January 2009 before touring to York Hospital and Impressions Gallery, Bradford. The project forms part of the community and education programme for SightSonic, York’s International Festival of Digital Arts.

For further information, see the projects blog at: www.geodesicarts.org or contact Mark Hildred

MRI Project - Interactivity

The Me, Myself and MRI project continued today with a session at the school on interactive technology and interactive art works.

We started the session by letting the group have a play with the Apollo Ensemble and some of our prototype sensors. As we had a very short time to setup, this demo only involved playing sounds and music rather than a full sensory experience. The group seemed quite excited by the idea of being able to control sounds from different body movements.

The rest of the session involved linking this to how we might control the final portrait exhibition. More info on the project blog:

http://geodesicarts-mri.blogspot.com/

MRI - Working with video

Today was the latest session before the summer with the young people taking part in the Me, Myself and MRI project. The primary focus was on using video to capture a portrait of someone and the different methods we might use.

More on the project blog at: http://geodesicarts.blogspot.com/

Me, Myself & MRI sessions start

Today was the first official session in Archbishops Holgates School, York for the 'Me, Myself & MRI' project. Following on from the introduction we carried out before Christmas, the young people today got the oppotunity to visit the York Neuro-Imaging Centre (YNIC).

A key part of the work is to involve the young people in both the arts and science side of the project. You can find out more on the project blog.

'Me, Myself and MRI' kicks off!

The 'Me, Myself and MRI' project kicked off today with the introductory lecture at Archbishops Holgate School in York. Myself, Kirsty and Damian from Geodesic Arts presented a pack hour long session covering everything from basic magnetics to Da Vinci, the Nobel Prize to artistic installations.

The main project kicks off next year. You can find out more details on the Geodesic Arts website at: http://www.geodesicarts.org.uk/

Me, Myself & MRI

Geodesic Arts, a group of York based digital artists and associated professionals, has received funding from the Wellcome Trust for a project called 'Me, Myself & MRI'. The group, which includes myself as a Technical Producer, will be working on an exciting sci-arts project from December 2007.

The final touring production will include Apollo technology to help create an interactive exhibit that will tour various venues in the North East.

More information can be found on the Geodesic Blog.