LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – When the world shut down, students and educators had to adapt to new learning environments. Through these times, efforts to engage and bring students and communities together safely have resulted in more innovative forms of interactive art across campuses and city streets. One of these campuses is The University of Virginia (UVA) that turned to visual technology artist Jeff Dobrow to create a pop-up projection mapping experience called “Brighter Together.”
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From March to May 2021, Dobrow projection mapped iconic buildings across the UVA campus with artwork that celebrated resilience and community. From psychedelic floral displays that melded perfectly with music to a salute to the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 with arms raising diplomas in triumph, the mapping project evoked themes of spring, renewal and a brighter future ahead, while highlighting the architecture of UVA to bring the UVA community together outside for an artistic experience.
“As an independent artist, accessibility to both quality equipment and audiences is a constant challenge,” said Dobrow. “The Epson projectors are lightweight for flexible placement and deliver incredible color and brightness. Art is by nature fluid and changing constantly and as projection art continues to gain awareness and popularity, the demand for technology solutions that can further empower artists, while improving the art, will be of huge importance.”
Dobrow used three Epson Pro L1505UNL laser projectors to display interactive artwork across campus buildings – McIntire Amphitheater, Old Cabell Hall and the University Chapel. Designed to make projection art more accessible, while safely bringing students together during the pandemic, the installation was free and available to students as well as members of the community.
Turning artwork into life-size experiences with innovative technology takes time to refine. When Dobrow took on the mapping project at UVA, he was able to streamline the project with flexible projector technology and helpful software. Not all content was pre-rendered with many of the pieces being audio reactive in real-time and running on the systems GPU. Dobrow used Resolume projection mapping software for playback and content adjustments, allowing him to easily manage content while sending multiple hi-resolution streams to the three Epson projectors. Additionally, with Epson’s intuitive Projector Professional Tool Software, Dobrow was able to minimize extended warping in the playback software, which was extremely valuable to the projection mapping project.
“‘Brighter Together’ was a beautiful experiment that demonstrated the power of audio-visual art and its ability to shed positive light after a long, tough year,” said Ramzi Shakra, product manager, large venue projectors, Epson America, Inc. “As projection technology continues to evolve, seeing it used more and more to elevate historical architecture is exceptional. Epson is committed to providing flexible and powerful projection technology that enables artists like Jeff to execute their vision and push boundaries in creative and disruptive ways.”
About Epson Laser Projectors
Epson Pro Series projectors provide more creative possibilities and unparalleled audience experiences. Using state-of-the-art technology to deliver exceptional color output and durability, the Pro Series combine uncompromising image quality with sophisticated software and a range of available mounts, frames and lenses to transform venues and bring live events to life. For additional information, visit epson.com/liveevents.
