WHAT'S ON NOW AT GIANT CHELSEA?  

GIANT DISCO is an interactive installation that welcomes guests to The Giant Room’s Chelsea location. Our bright and colorful installation is designed to inspire any participants who join us by incorporating interactive technology elements that are regularly used in our lessons and open studio sessions. It was created by GIANT Residents Arielle Mella, Lucas White and Claire Johannes with support from our Creative Technologist Hazal Mestci.

Check it out!

Here's a rundown of each interactive element: 

YOUR PROJECTION: This is an interactive code + projection mapping project written and designed by Arielle Mella. It features a web-based project written in JavaScript that uses webcam input to alter the images on the screen. Webcam data is converted into grayscale values and then the shades of grey are then mapped to specific colors (red, blue, purple). Instead of outputting pixels of webcam data, those pixels are then converted to text values that read DISCO, GIANT, and DANCE and are then collaged into one big live moving image. Participants can stand in front of the laptop in the installation and see themselves rendered in text and colors in real-time. The live camera feed is then projected overhead on the adjacent wall, creating an immersive projected environment of colorful text. Click to view live on web.

MURAL: Our interactive mural designed by Hazal Mestci and Arielle Mella is hand-painted on iridescent cellophane and uses alligator clips connected to conductive aluminum foil and copper tape to create interactive touchpads. These pads are connected to a Makey-Makey, which is a kid-friendly circuit board that uses closed-loop electrical signals to send the computer input. The circuit board is then connected to a Makey-Makey drum pad interface where participants can add their own sounds or use preset sound effects to then turn the painted mural into their own instrument. 

ROBOT DANCERS: Displayed with littleBits this interaction incorporates moving parts, coded LED boards, laser cut wood, and projects made by participants at the Giant Room. The installation features servo motors connected to laser cut creature faces that rotate constantly, connected to LEDs that are animated in a rainbow sequence. It is designed in an open circuit fashion so participants can see how the circuits are connected and working together.

See it in action