// DATANATURE //

In anticipation of ZeroOne/ISEA 2006 (link to http://www.01sj.org/), the San José Public Art Program funded an artist residency focused on exploring Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) as a gateway to the “community.” In 2005, artists Ben Hooker and Shona Kitchen were selected for the commission.  They were invited to broadly investigate and define the opportunity based on several months of familiarizing themselves with SJC.

Project Description

DataNature is an electronic artwork that reveals and celebrates the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate natural and man-made aspects of Mineta San José International Airport and its environs.  The physical system of DataNature consists of two elements: 1) two ‘ticket machines’, one that includes animated revolving signage to attract passers-by and 2) a series of remote cameras selectively placed around the Airport.  The artwork is located both inside the domestic arrivals terminal at the Airport and in Cesar Chavez Park. 

The public is invited to push a button to activate DataNature, at which point a souvenir artifact resembling a ticket/boarding card, is created via custom software that compiles data, both real-time and archived, into a unique montage of real-time digital images that are transferred via wireless technology to a computer housed on site within the DataNature ticket machine.  These images are juxtaposed with images and data collected from websites providing information such as flight arrivals/departures and weather.  Other data, such as images of the burrowing owls; and facts, histories, and stories of the day-to-day Airport activities, collected by the artists and archived, are also included in the compositions.  The intent of the dual locations is to reinforce the connection between the Airport, as one of the major gateways to the ZeroOne Festival event, and Downtown.

Artists Statement

We have always been fascinated by airports, but were unfamiliar with the specific nature of Mineta San José International Airport (SJC). Our anticipated approach was to spend time at SJC, interviewing employees and familiarizing ourselves with its operations and then, inspired by our observations, move forward with design of an electronic artwork. However, after our initial visits, we found the project to be more layered and complex; the more people we met, the more we wanted to understand.

Oftentimes, one encounter led us to other intriguing behind-the-scenes activities we couldn’t have known existed—“...if you think this is interesting, you definitely need to talk to Chris who looks after the owls that live on the airfield”, or, “...you really should meet Dennis, the night shift manager-on-duty (mod); if you’re lucky he’ll take you on his 4 a.m. Runway check...” Through the generosity of this extended community we were given access to the numerous hidden realities of this place: the FAA control tower, the security communications center, baggage processing and inspections, noise monitoring stations, parking management systems, etc. We were given perspective on the scale of airport concessions, rental car and shuttle bus operations, and maintenance and cleaning routines.

We were drawn to stories of the region’s rich aviation history recounted by local aviation enthusiasts and other stories of mysterious nature that surround the airport at night. (The graveyard shift’s stories of what they have discovered in the bathrooms could easily be a project in its own right!)

An aspect of SJC we found particularly interesting is its coexistence with its wildlife: the airfield is home to many burrowing owls (a protected species) because the topography of the airfield resembles their natural (declining) grassland habitat. We realized this constantly negotiated coexistence is analogous to an underlying relationship that exists between people and technology—and that this relationship is apparent elsewhere at SJC. The seemingly mishmash, yet, in fact, delicately controlled and monitored intersection of the technological systems of aviation, the passengers, employees, wildlife, aircraft, and the many layers of data, activity and history, collectively manifest this unique community. By presenting a remix of live data and archived information collected from the many people we have met during our time as artists-in-residence at SJC, we hope DATANATURE captures the spirit of the eclectic, yet deeply connected place that is this airport.

Artist Bios:  Ben Hooker and Shona Kitchen

The commissioned artists, Ben Hooker and Shona Kitchen, are artists and designers, who with interactive technologies through various different creative collaborations. Ben Hooker is a multimedia designer who divides his time between consultancy, research and teaching. His projects involve collaboration with architects and industrial designers and explore the consequences of intangible computer-generated 'data landscapes' merging with real spaces. Ben has a part-time post as a research fellow in the Interaction Design Research Studio at the Royal College of Art.  Shona Kitchen is an internationally renowned multidisciplinary designer; she focuses her attention across several fields: exhibition design, retail and furniture design as well as conceptual narrative architectural proposals. Her work explores the intersections between the physical and virtual and the ways in which they manifest themselves as new spatial experiences.  She currently teaches in Design Products at the Royal College of Art, London, and lectures internationally.

The Artist Would Like to Thank…

This project was made possible by the many Mineta San Jose International Airport department employees who generously gave access, time and information.

Funding support: City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, www.sanjoseculture.org and SAP, www.sap.com.

Additional support and in-kind sponsorship: AT&T, www.att.com, (additional funding support); City of San Jose Department of Public works (engineering and plan checking); the City of San Jose General Service Department (downtown and electrical provisions); ElectricFox, www.electricfox.com, (server space); ifly.com, www.ifly.com, (flight information); Land Cellular Corporation, www.land-cellular.com, (cellular modem loan); Mercado Tile & Stone, www.mercadotilestone.com, (concrete pour, finishing, demolition); Mineta San José  International Airport (IT, electrical provisions, PC loan, content provisioning, installation assistance); the Tech Museum of Innovation, www.thetech.com, (fabrication assistance and workshop time); TenHex, www.tenhex.com, (LED system design).

For making crucial project components possible: Practical Automation, www.practicalautomation.com, (thermal printers); Worldwide Ticket & Label www.wwticket.com, (ticket stock and printing); Future Electronics, www.futureelectronics.com, (LEDs); the Sally and Don Lucas Artists Programs at Montalvo, www.villamontalvo.org, (artist residency).

Special thanks: Mary Rubin, William Ngan, Ryan Aipperspach, Marina Renneke, Logan Hedin, Jason Iftakhar, Chris Chan, Frank and Sharon Sweeney, Bobbie Kahklen and Dominic Robson.