Who's Data? - Residency in Bristol, UK

I participated in Who's Data as one of eight artists from England, Germany and the USA that joined  KWMC to explore new and innovative ways in which “live” data can be represented to benefit local people.  The artists were selected from over 130 applicants.

During the Who's Data residency, Alice Angus (Proboscis) and I decided to merge our talents to co-design a project called the Rural Data Ranger (Information available upon request).

The other artists that were present for this residency were; Julie Myers,   Paul Hurley,  Susanne Stahl,  Richard Layzell,  Steven Paige,  Chris Chapman, Alice Angus. View the bios .

Knowle is a large housing estate just outside the centre of Bristol. During the week the artists created and presented ideas to KWMC and local residents -four of the artist were selected to  develop their ideas further.

Whose Data?  is a project being led by Dane Watkins, an artist in residence at KWMC residence since 2009 (initially supported by Science City Bristol). Dane is working on the Electric Footprint project.  

In the first stage of the Whose Data? project eight artists from England, Germany and the USA joined KWMC in March 2011 to explore new and innovative ways in which “live” data can be represented to benefit local people.

The artists worked with the community to find ways of sharing live data to enable residents to make more informed decisions: about energy use, growing food on their allotments and selecting the right clothes for the weather.

At the end of a residency week the artists presented their ideas at KWMC. Local residents helped to decide which four artists were to be awarded £4,000 residencies to develop their ideas at KWMC later in 2011.

One of the artists commented: 'I think the integration of KWMC within the community was such that it was almost impossible for our work not to reflect and respond to the communities' needs.'

Stage 2 - Summer 2011
The four artists selected to return to KWMC are Julie Myers, Susanne Stahl, Paul Hurley and Richard Layzell.

The images below are courtesy of Knowle West Media Center.