My Art reflects our present day culture in the new millennium. Now, in 2026, it is habitual for individuals to be making endless choices to custom tailor their life experiences. Reflections in the Park is 21st C. contemporary art work because it encourages the art viewer to become a participant and interactively customize the artwork to their own preference. I provide the menu of curated material for the work, but the participant creates their unique art experience.
While Sarah Joyce was one of the curators at the New Media Gallery, located at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, we had a chance to discuss many topics in contemporary art. The groundbreaking exhibits she organized with her co-curator, Gordon Duggan, were deeply inspiring and often featured interactive or responsive visuals. We agreed that these were great examples of the audience being cast in the role of participant or co-creator in the work. There is a list of past exhibits remaining on the site as a legacy of their curatorial tenure.
I am fortunate to be a sessional instructor at the Art & technology LAB which is the educational space overseen by New Media Gallery. I must credit the strong influence of the exhibits I enjoyed on my work, and also credit Christopher Jung, my supervisor at the Art & technology LAB, for his invaluable assistance in getting me started with TouchDesigner. There are many classes at the LAB in topics found in the crossover space between art and technology that can be found when available for sign up here. If you are interested in checking out what is available at the Lab before committing to a class, everyone is welcome to drop by for Open Lab on Saturday between 3 – 6 pm. The details are on the Open Lab page and registration is required to access some of the more specialized equipment. I was able to start developing my TouchDesigner ideas during an Open Lab because there is a computer with a full software license. This powerful computer requires Open Lab registration to be set up.
Reflections in the Park is curated to be a commentary on urban noise. In Vancouver, Canada, where I live, even the most iconic parks have freeways built over them. This particular one, Burnaby Lake Park, has birds and even a beaver included in the work, but the noise of the vehicle traffic and transit trains is ever present. This oasis of nature looks idyllic, but human transportation priorities intrude to exclude the natural tranquility and quiet that is the natural habitat of these creatures..
The “reflections” in the title can be quite literally the dappled light patterns on the bridge caused by the sunlight reflecting off the river running beneath. There are also reflections on the surface of the water. This bridge is in Burnaby Lake Park in Burnaby, BC, Canada. The work might also inspire reflective thought about the lack of space for quiet reflection in urbanized areas, even in our “natural parks”. There was a video I did not include in the work because I feared the cumulative noise of the freeway, the transit train, an emergency car siren and a freight train could cause ear damage. I may play a snippet at an artist talk so people can understand the reason why I think that urban noise should be addressed. All I can do is demonstrate that I think there could be ways to make transportation quieter if effort was put in that direction. In addition, parks were originally set aside to provide respite for humans and other creatures. However, many larger parks are seen as “empty” spaces by urban planners, ideal areas to construct highway overpasses or run elevated rapid transit through.
This is the first exhibit I have made using the TouchDesigner program. Many of the skills I learned in MIDI control, video creation and image management have transferred to the new work environment. These photos were taken at a July 7th TDYVR meeting where performances were featured. It was great to show my work in progress and I had many participants who were very complimentary. However, I did not record any of the comments so I cannot transcribe them here. It is massively encouraging to receive positive feedback and I am now seeking other venues to show the work.
Do you believe in magic? Come and join us in a space where the impossible is visualized with sound, light and motion. Slip into a dreamspace inside the BOXSET where a series of surreal experiences await. Every journey is different as we encounter new energy and emotion to claim the imagination of both the performers and the audience.
