Angel’s Project - PGH

- augmented reality
- virtual public installations all over Pittsburgh
- possible permanent instalation
- assembling partnerships in programing
- discussing sponsorship and funding options now

above photograph by Deividas Toleikis/Unsplash

an·gel — ˈānjəl/  noun   plural noun: angels

1. A spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe.
   
   

This project is both an empathy project as well as a bridge building opportunity to strengthen grassroots work within various communities of the city of Pittsburgh by increasing networking opportunities and fostering long term cross-community engagement.

Economic shifts in the steel industry as well as the closure of Westinghouse left southwestern Pennsylvania in a long economic stagnation. Despite the fact many consider Pittsburgh a success story with its transition through this period, there are still entire communities struggling. At least a whole generation had to leave the area through the 1980s and 1990s to find decent jobs with room for growth and since the 1950’s Pittsburgh’s population has been shrinking. With the lack of young audiences hungry for new ideas, this leaves fewer opportunities for the area unable to launch new businesses. Schools and churches have been shutting down all over Pittsburgh, further indicating the loss of active community engagement — and similar situations are happening all over the nation. Long-term decay only makes it more difficult for a community to pull out of a hard time.

THE ANGELS PROJECT consists of 12 massive chandeliers built inside 12 different closed churches in 12 different communities within the city of Pittsburgh. 

The project will draw attention to the vitality and passion to survive and thrive that often go unnoticed. The central design focus of each chandelier will stem from deep research on the history of the community with artistic abstractions of that history. The project also hopes to stir the participating communities to become more aware of each other so that new bridges can be built between them leading to growth for everyone in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. 

Threading the needle between realistic budgets and available engineering and materials as well as technology, Refit Or Die is planning a hybrid revision to this project merging physical building with augmented reality to further make the point about how Pittsburgh has always mixed technology with everything they have been known for. The augmented reality will flow in and out, through and above all the churches as well as creating connecting tissue between them.

UPDATE 5/23

After getting heavy XR development training and running tests, I am once again chasing money. Specifically a Heinz Endowment grant to execute the first sample proof-of-concept. The church has been selected, The Peter and Paul Church in East Liberty, Pittsburgh. Testing objects for accurate placement through Niantic Lightship (the location system for Pokemon Go) will be happening this Summer 23. Additionally talks with local artists and tech firms are going on to develop more aggressive partnerships including outreach program development to put 3D digital modeling into the hands of underserved youth in Pittsburgh.

UPDATE 10/22

Ongoing planning and project management being worked out with an outside company to manage the job and include or students in the process of the project build.
Organized plan being created for funding support. Plan for first Tap-to-Place Angel’s Instalation for first 3D test of large scale augmented reality installation. Experimentation with software for the outreach part of the project is being tested now.

UPDATE 7/22

Discussions and clear agreements being laid out to combine this project with an outreach that works with the Digital Foundry of New Kensington and Penn State university as well as other partners through the Digital Foundry. Planning training and best most accessible software for young people in the Pittsburgh area is being mapped out to give these kids an opening or portal to get in on the digital era. These kids currently are already written out of the digital era. This whole large project can give an opening to these kids if they want it. This structure is being planned.

UPDATE 3/22

The Angel’s Project is gathering partners and pursuing grant funding. Discussions are going on with The Heinz Endowment, Penn State University (both Main and New Kensington campuses), The Digital Foundry in New Kensington, as well as artists in the Pittsburgh area and those who work with young people in the arts all over Pittsburgh.

UPDATE 8/21

The ANGEL’S PROJECT has just moved into active status as we begin the pursuit of grant money for phase one: The first initial prototype (proof of concept).

After much discussion with my team, we determined that a particular grant designated for an artist in Pittsburgh would be the best option to pursue. As a result Christiana Dolores has been chosen as the featured artist who will create the very first prototype illuminated augmented reality chandelier in an abandon Pittsburgh church. Christiane has been heavily involved in the Pittsburgh art scene for over 15 years at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Counsel but has been a solo artist long before she joined. She will continue to focus on creating and performing now that she has split off to focus on her own work. Her relationship with artists in various communities makes her a valuable asset within the ANGEL’S PROJECT.

Christiane brings sculpture and visual arts into the equation along with strong musical and performing experience. Her pointed subject matter often focuses on her experience as an aging Black woman. Christiane wraps her often pointed and divisive message of systemic discrimination with humor and love.

This first prototype launch will invade and inhabit a single church. It will be the first completely finished first model and demonstration of what the larger 12 church vision can be for the whole city of Pittsburgh. The prototype development can begin the moment we secure the first grant money.

ANGEL’S PROJECT PROTOTYPE (Proof of Concept) - Planned Process & Outcome Scenarios from launch of funding

First 2 months:

• Secure the church location

• Meet with the local community organizations

• Meet with community artists and select participants

• Christiane Leach and Rodney Allen Trice begin to discuss the overall terrain & design of the prototype

Next 2 months:

• Christiane and Rodney select all participants and build a schedule

• 3D scanning and logging of art work from community artists begin

• Sketches of possible chandelier concepts are resolved

• Community organizations build a schedule of events to occur during the installation.

Final 2 months:

• 3D AR development of artist work scans begin to be designed togeter

• 3D AR piece is animated and illuminated

• The 3D AR piece is installed and tested for launch

After 6 months the piece is ready to be shown.