Museum/ Institution: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Media Category: Interactive Surfaces

Program Created: Opened - November 2010

Program URL: http://rlmg.com/project/american-wing-10 and http://www.tactable.com/portfolio.html

Project Image(s) and/or Video

Media Source(s)/Credit(s): Photos all produced and edited by Zerah Jakub (January 27, 2012)

Program Description:

The Artists’ Choices Touchtable allows users to experiment with the various methods used by four 20th century artists to create their work. Up to six users can share the table at one time to create unique pieces of visual art. When a user is finished with his work, it is shared on the table and then stored in a public folder that future visitors can access and scroll through.

Users must make an initial choice in their workspace between the four artists represented: Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler and Ralph Coburn. After choosing an artist, the user is then directed to a screen with explanatory text about the artist’s method. The Charles Sheeler option, for instance, informs the user “Sheeler often designed his paintings by layering images taken from his photographs. Try it.” For each option, users are able to create their own piece of art that emulates the work of the aforementioned artists while experiencing the actual methodologies associated with each.

When the user has finished their work of art, they are given the option to save it to a “Shared Work” folder and their finished piece pops out of the workspace and grows to the size of the table before retreating to the folder. This folder is omnipresent on the touchtable and visitors who choose not to create their own art can scroll through to see the work of others.

Firsthand or Secondary Review/Critique:

This was my second experience with the Artists’ Choices Touchtable at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The first time I used the table was prior to the opening the museum’s new Art of the America’s Wing in November 2010 during a preview week visit. I was then, as I remain now, an overall fan of this multimedia experience as it provides a positive learning experience for both passive and active visitors.

The social aspect of the tabletop, the Shared Work folder, allows users to interact with others’ work. The relaxed living room feel to the space in which the touchtable is located helps to break down the often prevalent barrier of non-social behavior within museums.

The first time I used the table there were many people crowded around it watching what was being created and commenting on the creations. On my second visit I was the only museum visitor in the area and was somewhat dismayed that the touchscreen technology of the table, which had worked so smoothly on my first visit, was in desperate need of recalibration. It became a battle with the table to create my work of art and even to save my it to the Shared Work folder. I moved to another workspace at the table but that did not improve the experience. I was slightly surprised that in just over a year the response time of the table had slowed to the extent it did, and that its upkeep seemed to be lacking.

Technologies Incorporated:

Touch Technology, Interactive Design, Application Software Implementation

Internally or Externally Produced:

The multimedia for the touchtable was produced externally by the Richard Lewis Media Group (RLMG) based in Watertown, MA. Tactable, Inc. based in Cambridge, MA aided RLMG in the production of the Artists’ Choices Touchtable.

Entry Contributor and Date: Zerah Jakub (January 30, 2012)

Related projects: None