The mutiPLAY Hackathon (and Soundwalk)

Hackthon

The multiPLAY Hackathon took place on Saturday September 24, 2022 at the new Arts Research Centre at the University of Guelph. Artists and members of the public worked in groups to explore the theme and create digital play outcomes in a limited time frame.

The theme for the multiPLAY Hackathon was “Fidgets”

The event began with a video presentation by Erin Felepchuk, a graduate student in the Critical Studies in Improvisation PhD at the University of Guelph, who had participated in multiPLAY through the Sonic Blankets project. Their video discussed the creative, therapeutic, and human possibilities of fidgeting/stimming.

MultiPLAY artist, Dr. Michelle Stewart, and Youth Artist Tanson Pitawanakwat Acoose then curated a selection of fidget items for each group to explore, including remote control cars (and the tools to take them apart!) and a range of different objects to fidget with, plus craft and digital tools to utilize during the hackathon.

Artists and members of the public then worked in groups to produce something responding to the theme.

Groups formed, one produced and performed a graphic score which was then performed. Another produced a digital and acoustic “sonic themepark” triggered by the remote control car driving around a constructed track. Another group explored the potential of silence and waiting and expectation. Everyone responded to the creative ideas of the hackathon (time limits, group response, involving every member, responding to a set of data/theme) in their own ways. Participants were all ages, from our 4 year old  expert remote car driver up, and included local families, graduate students, artists, professors and people with an interest in improvisation.

Sound Walk

Following the hackathon, Michelle Stewart and Tanson Pitawanakwat Acoose led a multi-site sound walk, with participantsco-located in Guelph, Calgary, Saskatoon, and the Yukon.

Prompts sent us off exploring and then sharing sounds we discovered as we improvised with the spaces around us, and shared over digital technologies.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our events!