Being born and raised in the Silicon Valley created a unique relationship with the electronic realm for Tana Sprague. Early academic and social exposure to the potential future of home computing contributed significantly to her adaptability, and ability to imagine possibilities which reach beyond current means. As a young child it was normal for Tana to spend time writing simple computer programs at school, exploring the beaches and mountains of Santa Cruz, roaming the work areas of HP with her mother, and lying in front of speakers deep listening with her grandfather. Through this environment and experience Tana developed the desire to negotiate a balance between art and technology, which represents her perception of organic forms and phenomena.
Tana refined her focus and gained skills vital to her practice as an Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts major at UCSD. During this time she was awarded two consecutive research scholarships at Cal-(It)2, and the Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts Artistic Achievement Award. The topics of her research, sonification and visualization of chaos systems, and networked multimedia performance, lead to her current involvement in GridJam, a networked multimedia performance by Jack Ox and Alvin Curran.
Tana is also currently involved in Multichannel Audio/Visual system design, development, implementation and documentation at Recombinant Media Labs in San Francisco.
While pursuing an MFA in Electronic Music at Mills, Tana has continued to explore multimedia installation and performance, and data transmutation. Recent projects have focused specifically on biofeedback signal detection with plants, and issues of time, space, memory and perception.
Biofeedback
Greek Theater, behind Music Building
“Biofeedback” employs biodynamic signal detection as a means generating aesthetic content. The biodynamic signal is measured by connecting electrodes to the surface of plant leaves. The micro-levels of voltage change are measured and amplified by an electronic device created by the artist. This analog data is converted into digital data by a Making Things Teleo module, which makes the data stream available for transmutation in Max/MSP/Jitter.
Inspired by the experiments conducted by L. George Lawrence and Marcel Vogel, “Biofeedback” seeks to examine the potential consciousness of plants in an artistic context. Marcel Vogel’s research concluded that plants have the ability to perceive emotionally charged human thoughts and intents, and exhibit self-awareness.
“Biofeedback” accepts these findings and aims to explore this potential and viability trans-species collaboration. Placed within an immersive environment, will the plants become aware of their contribution to the generation of the aesthetic of the environment? Will they reflect our perception of them and the space? This piece imagines the plants as performers, reacting to our engagement as the audience.