Commission #8

QR-3D

The Idea

Related news: Assembling the Panel for QR3D

QR-3D (working title only) is a participatory project resulting in a small exhibition, populated via online networks / social media to test whether QR codes can be successfully stitched, woven or otherwise created in fibre / textiles. The purpose is to bring the opportunities and technical aspects of QR coding to a different audience. Through a range of online networks an open invite would be extended asking people to create QR codes using any textiles method of their choosing. ‘Entries’ would be submitted to a Flickr group. Any QR content would be accepted (with exceptions relating to incite to prejudice). A small number of  submissions would then form a micro-exhibition in a relevant space in / around Manchester. To start the process three examples will be created by myself; US instigator of the Craftivism movement (craft + activism = Craftivism) and author Betsy Greer; and N. Ireland based fibre activist Inga Hamilton (aka Rockpool Candy), who have also contributed to the development of this idea.

The idea came from wanting to create a participatory project which could enable social media networks to bring people together to better understand the potential for QR codes creatively, digitally and promotionally.

I was interested in what working in textiles, and the texture that involves, might do to the surface and functionality of the codes which are scanned by a phone app or barcode reader and then lead people through to websites or pieces of hidden text. I wanted something that would work on a global scale, knowing the potential of social media to spread internationally, and to bounce ideas off my collaborators Inga Hamilton (N. Ireland) and Betsy Greer (USA). I also wanted to be as open as possible to other people's ideas so wanted to keep the 'brief' to participate as simple and accessible as possible, to avoid too many restrictions, and enable anyone who wanted to join in to be able to do so, regardless of how much or little they knew previously about QR codes.

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Profile

Sally Fort

Sally Fort is a craft & design curator, cultural participation and learning consultant, and textiles designer-maker. In 2005 Sally received funding to research the DIY / counter-culture craft scene in the US and UK. This led to the 2009 project UK DIY, including the UK’s first exhibition of counter-culture crafts, accompanied by events and projects across the North West. This created a special interest in relationships between craft and web 2.0, which ultimately led to the QR-3D project.

When she’s not doing that, Sally is usually helping galleries, museums, universities and schools work more effectively with their communities through participatory arts and cultural activity.

You can find her at www.sallyfort.com or @sallyent on twitter

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The process

The story so far...

QR-3D has been really well received through social media, reaching many thousands of twitter followers, and national and international press attention, so I'm overwhelmed with how successful that side of things has gone.

The deadline for submitting works on the QR3D website closed at the end of July  and the Flickr pool used to share the works created currently has 67 members and over 100 images in, so I'm really happy and confident about being able to choose some exciting content for the exhibition element of the project.

What's been really interesting so far is the conversations people have had online globally, through twitter and blogs about how this has given them new ideas to think about, digitally and creatively. Some people who never knew about QR codes before, some who weren't sure they could create something in textiles, or some who have really gone to town in playing with the experimental opportunities.

Still to come is working with a panel to choose the works for exhibition, receiving the works and deciding how best to hang them which I won't know until they arrive and I can see and feel what the scale and texture of the pieces demand. Then finally seeing the exhibition installed at Cornerhouse, and excitingly, also included in the Manchester Science Festival programme, which came as a result of the Festival finding out about the project and showing an interest in its ability to explore technology in a fun and participatory way. After that I hope the Flickr pool of QR textile work will grow and grow, so it won't ever actually come to an end as such.

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The Result

A selection of the work will be exhibited at Cornerhouse in the Autum and will be part of the Manchester Science Festival so watch this space...

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What's next?

The call for works is closed but don't let that prevent you from making your own QR3D work, find out how on the QR3D website and don't forget to share the result of your work on the Flickr pool

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