IDEA 20090329 Black Box

The idea is to make a "black box" inside a gallery or to turn a large room into a black box where as many senses are deadened/removed as possible. This means making an anechoic chamber that has a faraday cage around it. Here is an example of a room, but we would make one or acquire one without the windows:

http://www.vocalbooth.com/products/gcloseup4.html

and with a metal screen on the outside which will not allow any radio waves, or mobile phone signals inside. It is the opposite of the white cube (gallery).

http://www.physics.gla.ac.uk/~kskeldon/PubSci/exhibits/E3/pfarad1.gif

This room will be completely dark, completely silent and completely isolated from the rest of the world. The dimensions on the box would be 2 meters by 2 meters by 3.24 meters (golden ratio for acoustics) and made out of wood, foam and wire.

We would like to put this into a main space of a gallery to provide an impact upon entrance by patrons.

The concept of shifting identity is fitting because this space allows for individuals and groups to isolate sensation and focus on their identities.

For the black box, we have basic drawing of how to build the structure, but it might be easier to A.) find a wooden shed and convert it or B.) convert one of the spaces at one of your galleries to be a black box. This is really up for negotiation as all ways of doing this are up to budget, time, and curatorial decisions for placement of all works in the show.

Wooden Frame Cube

 * wooden structure
 * black foam
 * black exterior, isolated from building

Styrofoam

 * Build structure out of styrofoam
 * (optional) paint inside black

In Situ

 * Use either of the above options but fit it into the room

Faraday Cage

 * Make it out of rebar

Isolation Variables

 * Visual
 * Aural
 * Electromagnetics
 * Radiowaves
 * Cellphone signals
 * Microwaves
 * Germs

Important Variables

 * Golden Ratio Room

Extensions

 * Focus Rooms
 * all electromagnetic
 * all light
 * all sound
 * all heat
 * all germs
 * homeostatic rooms
 * static levels of heat
 * static levels of sound
 * static levels of light