When We Touch Again
When We Touch Again was a participatory art project promoting community and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic through bringing students together online to create interactive glass objects which generated audio stories when touched. It developed from Liz’s PhD research on crafting tactile interfaces using glass, conductive materials and electronics to trigger sound or video. It was funded by a Mike Davies Innovation Scholarship
Bin Bag Hug
(found picture frames, mixed media, conductive ink, Touch Board, speaker)
This shows an excerpt of an interactive sound piece Liz Waugh McManus made for When We Touch Again about ‘touch hunger’ during the Covid-19 lockdowns. The images etched on the rear of the picture glasses act as sensors that trigger the audio recordings.
Liz led the group through a blended approach of synchronous/asynchronous online/offline working. Participants discussed the theme of touch in personal and cultural contexts and its role in communication, emotion and health. This was followed by creative writing and learning about Touch Board microcontrollers, Arduino and sound recording.
When We Touch Again is associated with an international collaboration between Liz and artists Kristine Diekman, Professor of Art, Media and Design at California State University, and Lisa Mansfield, conservator at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, working across the UK, US, Mexico and Australia, The trio develop interactive sound installations and facilitate international participants in story creation activities and crafting tangible interactive interfaces made from foraged glass, embroidered textiles, and conductive paints and threads. Their work 1.5 Degrees of Concern about climate crises has been shown at Michigan State University Museum’s 1.5 ° Celsius exhibition and Rule 42 Stretched Language exhibition at the Bonita Museum and Cultual Center in California. Find out more here
The videos below show excerpts of interactive artwork created on the When We Touch Again project by University of Sunderland students Frances Ross-Meadows, Kathleen James and Penny Riley-Smith using glass, conductive paint and Touch Board microcontrollers.
Frances Ross-Meadows, MA student, speaks about her work 'The Gift' made during the When We Touch Again project at the University of Sunderland
Glass and Ceramics student Penny Riley-Smith speaking about works for the When We Touch Again project - 'Getting in Touch' and 'Reconnecting', which recorded some feelings of loss and reconnection among three generations of a family during the pandemic.
BA Hons Glass and Ceramics student Kathleen James speaking about ‘The Many Meanings of Touch’, made during the When We Touch Again project.