Beyond the 2 Minute Stop

Nancy Proctor, Smithsonian American Art Museum

ProctorN@si.edu 10 December 2008

Soundtracks, Soundbites, and Smartphones

Nancy Proctor, ProctorN@si.edu 2

Smithsonian American Art Museum

DEN Conference, Rotterdam, Smartphone Workshop, 10 Dec 2008 2

How can we create and maintain contentacross the wide range of platforms

that make up the Distributed Museum?

Nancy Proctor, ProctorN@si.edu 3

Smithsonian American Art Museum

DEN Conference, Rotterdam, Smartphone Workshop, 10 Dec 2008

Soundtracks & SoundbitesDownload & Search

Nancy Proctor, ProctorN@si.edu 4

Smithsonian American Art Museum

DEN Conference, Rotterdam, Smartphone Workshop, 10 Dec 2008

Soundbite Sample

Nancy Proctor, ProctorN@si.edu 5

Smithsonian American Art Museum

DEN Conference, Rotterdam, Smartphone Workshop, 10 Dec 2008

Soundbite Sample

This is one of three wall-size paintings that Pollock realized in swift succession in the summer and autumn of 1950. In 1947, Pollock began laying canvas on the floor and pouring, dribbling, and flicking enamel paint onto the surface, sometimes straight from the can, or with sticks and stiffened brushes. The density of interlacing liquid threads of paint is balanced and offset by puddles of muted colors and by allover spattering. The pictorial result of this tension is a landmark in the history of Abstract Expressionism.

Jackson Pollock. (American, 1912-1956). One: Number 31, 1950. 1950. Oil and enamel on unprimed canvas, 8' 10" x 17' 5 5/8" (269.5 x 530.8 cm). Sidney and Harriet Janis Collection Fund (by exchange). 2008 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Nancy Proctor, ProctorN@si.edu 6

Smithsonian American Art Museum

DEN Conference, Rotterdam, Smartphone Workshop, 10 Dec 2008

Soundbites

• Information at a ‘stop’• More easily produced in-house in a range of media,

can leverage existing content• Connects platforms, e.g. website/cellphone• Facilitates going deeper & broader, serendipitous

discoveries, rhizomic structure• Can be a tool for information gathering by the visitor,

so applications that allow bookmarking and other links to online systems add value

• Put soundbites onto 3rd party platforms & portals (e.g. Wikipedia, YouTube) for greater outreach

Nancy Proctor, ProctorN@si.edu 7

Smithsonian American Art Museum

DEN Conference, Rotterdam, Smartphone Workshop, 10 Dec 2008

Soundtracks

• Works on- or off-site: timing more fluid• Downloaded for preference on visitor’s own device for

a more intimate and comfortable experience• Stereo for immersive audio experience• Good storytelling is key• Images are probably essential• May need to outsource for high production values• Give keys to an artist, movement, collection, period,

exhibition rather than to individual works or ‘stops’• Like a good album or book, should be possible to

enjoy over & over again…

Nancy Proctor, ProctorN@si.edu 8

Smithsonian American Art Museum

DEN Conference, Rotterdam, Smartphone Workshop, 10 Dec 2008

Soundtrack Sample

QuickTime™ and aAVC Coding decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Nancy Proctor, ProctorN@si.edu 9

Smithsonian American Art Museum

DEN Conference, Rotterdam, Smartphone Workshop, 10 Dec 2008

Soundtracks & Soundbites Combined

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Nancy Proctor, ProctorN@si.edu 10

Smithsonian American Art Museum

DEN Conference, Rotterdam, Smartphone Workshop, 10 Dec 2008

Credits & Links

• AmericanArt.si.edu

• MoMA.org/visit_moma/audio.html

• Tate.org.uk/tateshots

• SFMOMA.org/education/edu_podcasts.html

• Tate.org.uk/modern/multimediatour/ Wiki

• Nancy Proctor at ProctorN@si.edu