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/

Muscial Monuments

Apollo will be supporting Accessible Arts Musical Monuments project from the 28th July - 1st August. They'll be using the Apollo Ensemble system to help young people of all abilities create and perform their own music.

Today I provided them with some quick training on the system to help with their planning for the project.

UPDATE

Accessible Arts have decided to use the Apollo Ensemble later in the year for a project with the SoundWeavers.

Gordon Parry Updates

Developments at the Gordon Parry Centre in Leeds continue as they begin to explore more aspects of the Apollo Ensemble. Having fitted a small moving head light during my last visit, today I was adding extra features to the control block in the Ensemble software and providing some general software updates.

The Centre have been working with us as we develop the Ensemble system, contributing their expertise and feedback. The flexibility built into the software means that we have been able to implement many changes onsite. This includes adding lighting fixtures, simplifying the display and changing help text.

The Centre opens officially in October 2008.

Gordon Parry Centre Training

This afternoon I provided some training at the Gordon Parry Centre in Leeds on their ever expanding light and sound room. The room runs on the Apollo Ensemble system, with switches and sensors plugged into sockets spread around the room. The latest addition is a small LED moving head light that can be told to point anywhere in the room.

This project is providing us with vital feedback to refine the Apollo Ensemble software.

News: Hospital donation helps celebrate record start to 2008

Apollo Creative has donated a state of the art bubble tube to the Harrogate and District Hospital Paediatric Ward.

The bubble tube has been donated to the twenty one bed Woodlands Paediatric Ward for children ranging in age from newborn to sixteen years old.

The bubble tube is an interesting and stimulating feature which creates stunning visual effects through the slow release of bubbles, which change through a myriad of colours.

Developed using the latest in LED technology to create stronger colour intensity, the bubble tubes are used extensively within the sensory market; providing stimulation and interest to seriously ill and disabled children and adults. Recently they have grown in prominence as a contemporary interior design feature within hotel lobbies, restaurants, bars, reception/waiting areas and homes. This growth has seen record sales during the first quarter of 2008, resulting in this special donation.

Hospital Play Specialist for the Woodlands Paediatric Ward, Anne Riach said – “The bubble tube is amazing. It is bright and stimulating and will provide a wonderful distraction for children on the ward.”

Mark Hildred, Creative Director for Apollo Creative said – “I am pleased to be able help create a more relaxing environment within the children’s ward by the donation of this tube. This seemed to be the perfect way to celebrate a record start to 2008, with sales of bubble tubes up over 100%!”

Whilst taking photos of children enjoying the new bubble tube, nurses on the ward commented on how well the bubble tube had been received by both children and parents alike.  One nurse said that the bubble tube provided vital relaxation for parents at what can be a very worrying time for them.  They thanked us for our kind generosity and also wanted us to know that it was a treat for them too!

Apollo Creative designs and manufactures a selection of specialist sensory display products including fibre optics, bubble walls, tubes and domes. It supplies a range of distributors across the UK.  The company also engages in a number of specialist projects across areas including arts, museum installations and education.

Harrogate Hospital

A nice part of this work is when you get the occasional chance to give things away! I've just been to Harrogate Hospital to install a bubble tube in one of their Children's Wards. As the closest hospital to where we are based in seemed natural to see if they could make use of a tube. Hopefully it will bring some enjoyment and relaxation to the young people spending time there.