Icreatepar)cipatoryexperiencesfornetworkedpublics,bridgingnewmediaconceptsandprac)ces,andIcouplear)s)cproduc)onwithawri)ngprac)ceasamodeofreflec)onandinquirytofuelthecrea)veprocess.Iwon’thave)metodaytotalkaboutmywri)ngprac)ce,andbesides,it’smorefuntoshowthevisualwork.Iwillfocusthisversionofthelightningtalkonmycrea)veprac)cewithcrowdworkers.

1

Crowdworkersarelikepieceworkersofthe19thcentury;anetworkedversionofoutsourcing.

2

MechanicalOlympicsisacrowdsourcedversionoftheOlympicgameswhereanyonewithanAmazonaccountcansignuptowork/playandanyonewhopressestheLikebuKonontheYouTubechannelcanvote.

3

MechanicalOlympicsFreestyleSwimmer;DIY,Glitchy

4

MechanicalOlympicsBobsled;Some)mespetsjoinin

5

MechanicalGamesisaversionoftheprojectsforAbandonNormalDevicesinManchester,Englandwithseniorcommuni)esaroundthe)meoftheOlympicGamesinLondon

6

Ihadanopportunitytoreviewmycollec)onofvideos,hundredsofthemfromthepast8years,whenIpresentedthisprojectattheDMAlastAugust.Ino)cedShamikGosh’ssonhasbeenpar)cipa)ngsincehewasliKle.Hereheisinthelowerrightcorner,nearlyateenager.It’sthishumanconnec)on,easilylostonvirtualpla\orms,thatIhavebeentryingtore-establishincurrentprojects.

7

TwoyearsagoIhiredworkerstodonothing.Moreexplicitly,Ipaidthemtositforfiveminutes,thentellmewhatitwasliketogetpaidtorest.Ittookmefi`yhourstotranscribewhattheywroteaboutmedita)onontheflooroftheprojectroomatGrandCentralArtCenterinSantaAna,California.

8

Viewersremovedtheworkers’words,renderingtheirthoughtsinvisibleastheyenteredtheprojectspace.Ontheheadsettheycouldwatchanendlesscycleofworkerschan)ng“Om,”anotherjobfortheworkersthatdeviatedfromtheusualtypeoflabortheyencounterofAmazon’spla\orm.OnthewallsofthegallerywereUSBdrives.AnyonewhovolunteeredtorechalkthefloorforhalfanhourwouldgetafreedrivewitharandomOMchantinstalled.

9

WhenImovedhereIpaidworkerstolightacandleforsomeonetheylovedandlostonHalloweenevening.

10

There’smoretothisstory,Idon’thave)meforitnow.Butthisbecameaninstalla)onmadefromrecycledamazonboxesandLEDcandlespurchasedonAmazon.

11

ThisfallI’llbeinresidencewithSabrinaStarnamanattheCenterforCrea)veConnec)onsattheDallasMuseumofArtconduc)nganinterac)veinstalla)on)tled“TheLaboringSelf.”WearegratefulforprojectassistancebydoctoralcandidateLegciaFerreira.

12

TheLaboringSelfdrawsparallelsbetweenunregulatedlaboranditseffectonworkers’bodiesintheIndustrialRevolu)onand“DigitalRevolu)on”ofthesharingeconomy.Itispar)allyfundedbyaCommunityProjectgrantfromHumani)esTexasandagrantforpursuingcivilandsocialjus)cethroughartfromPuffinFounda)onWest,Ltd.

13