exhibiting software
DESCRIPTION
OScon 2008 presentation using Ubuntu as a software-based art kiosk.TRANSCRIPT
Exhibiting Software
Hunter CrossHuntercross.com/content/es.zip
Business: ponticlaro.comArt: huntercross.com/art
Hypothesis
• OSCon attendees will not know the sculptors. They will know some of the painters and possibly one artist who uses nintendo games in his work.
• Painting != Art
Vincent Van Gogh
Pablo Picasso
Christo & Jeanne-Claude
Robert Smithson
Cory Arcangel
‘Super Mario Clouds’2004 Whitney Biennial
Stairway (2007) - Dallas Contemporary
• cement, welded steel, donated/collected trophy statuettes, recycled trophy hardware, various steel hardware, black enamel on perforated steel panels, site’s pre-existing wall, ADA-approved steel steps and floor sheeting
6,000 - 7,000 trophies
All collected through the internet and Texas Thriftstores
flickr.com/trophycollection
Hola! Be my flickr friend!
Multiple Formats and Experiences
• All Art will be experienced in-gallery AND online/in-browser/in-phone
• How should artists use that to create new experiences?
• How can GNU/Linux and Free Software be a part of this new cultural reality?
Smithson’s ‘Non-Site’
• A two-part artwork• One part in-gallery, another on the site
from where the works materials came• Both can be experienced separately
and completely. Together they form a larger experience.
Mutually Contributive Experiences
Any experiences of an artwork that broaden the meaning of that
work through multiple sites, formats and time.
High Five
Huntercross.com/art/highfive/
What is it?
• Software-based proposal• A physical work that creates a digital
work by being photographed by satellites
• GoogleMaps Mashup• Single “page” web app
Exhibiting Software Kiosk
• Old Recycled PC• Internet Connection - Ethernet/Wifi• Ubuntu Linux• Firefox• R-kiosk Firefox Plugin• Web-based software for in-gallery and
in-browser mutually contributive experience
Old Recycled PC
• Build an exterior box• Hide cords - use channels• Consider noise• Add a lock to insure that the PC is not
tampered with during run-time• Power - Ecostrip or Power-strip with
Timer
Internet Connection
• WIFI, if not, hide cords if possible• Encrypt with WPA2• https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/WirelessCardsSupported• Belikin Wifi Card - F5D7000 v3• https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/RalinkRT2500• D-Link Router - Update to latest firmware
Ubuntu (1 of 3)
• Wipe hard drive• Start with fresh install• Update everything to latest• Turn off update notification• Set to auto-login your user• Set the screensaver either to off or to a non
intrusive setting
Ubuntu (2 of 3)
• Change keychain to auto-load (so no pass is needed on re-boot) https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/5643• install libpam-keyring• modify your keyring to have the same
password as your account
• sudo gedit gdm
Ubuntu (3 of 3)
cd /etc/pam.dsudo gedit gdm
## http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=187874
## ADD THESE LINES TO MAKE SURE YOU
## DON’T HAVE TO TYPE IN A PASSWORD ON REBOOT
auth optional pam_keyring.so try_first_passsession
optional pam_keyring.so
Ubuntu (Optional)
• Setup crontab or use gnome-schedule (sudo apt-get install gnome-schedule)
• Setup a restart interval…my suggestion is every 30 minutes.
• This allows for the kiosk to refresh and insure that it is in a fresh state for new visitors
• Google “auto reboot ubuntu”
Firefox (1 of 2)
• Make sure all things that might disrupt the session or pop-up an error are removed…so…
• Disable Firefox Auto-Updates• Set your homepage to your artwork’s
address
Firefox (2 of 2)
• Setup Ubuntu so that it Auto-starts Firefox on boot (Be SURE YOU ARE READY !)
• System > Sessions > Startup Programs
R-kiosk Firefox Plugin
• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1659• It will take effect as soon as you install it• You will have to access Firefox safe-
mode to turn it off• There are a few options…i.e. enabling
or disabling print commands, etc.
One Page Web Apps
• Almost anything can be incorporated with the right plugin
• Allows for additional information / background• Allows for Visitor to view again at home and
show friends…Opening up Mutually Contributive Experience
• Use standard XHTML/CSS and quality web-hosting
• Use Jquery Tabs to enable multiple “pages” or artworks on the same kiosk
• Use touchscreen or mouse
Challenge
• One box per gallery / museum developed by us and donated
• Creates a physical infrastructure on which artists can base projects
• Loosely coupled so that the only exhibition requirement is to enter a new default homepage into Firefox
• GO OUT THERE AND DO IT
Future Development
• Create an appliance of this stack with convenient config app
• Call for entries for the ‘platform’• Allows complete re-distribution and
isolation…i.e local install– Attractive to Artists because it allows for
potential sale and collecting of complete work
Software Art Links
• rhizome.org• runme.org• turbulence.org• processing.org• file.org.br• thesheepmarket.com
Hunter Cross
• Huntercross.com - art, music, blog• Ponticlaro.com - web development, web
apps• 512-970-9763• [email protected]