I have codes.

Statehouse2 is what you load onto the Arduino. SoundPlayer is what actually, believe it or not, plays the sound. Separate things. Processing things. Yes. Just, you know, click for a larger image.

Finished product:

Oh, STFU. The light in the Art Bar is great. On the other hand, it looks like I'm shooting electricity out of my fists a la Bioshock. So ... yes.

Sadly, that's actually the best picture I have of this thing. Right now. My parents hauled it back to Fort Mill where it was born (in the garage). I will get further documentation later.

Building progress

I am so almost done building this thing. I just need to attach the door, paint the scene to go behind the door (and hot glue that bitch in there), put the grass on the platform, and put the dome on.

For the dome, I'm thinking of cutting some Styrofoam in half and putting it up there, but that also makes me a little sad because the rest of it looks pretty nice, I think, and Styrofoam might look shitty. Then again, I can perhaps cover it with something that disguises the fact that it's, you know, Styrofoam.

Here's a better look at the side so you can see the work done to the roof and the stairs. Pretty goddamn intricate, thank you very much:


















And finally, here's the back and what the inside wiring bits will look like. I hope:
The black circle on the platform represents the motion detector. That will hook into the Arduino, which is the black rectangle on the right.

I MAY have a light up at the top. If I have extra time. I'll probably maybe play the sound clips from my laptop? which can sit in the back? Because I might not be able to get the speakers to work? It's at least an alternative plan.

You won't be able to see the laptop, anyway, though, because it'll be tucked inside there. And it's not like I'll have to stand there to operate it. So it's not exactly a computer on a podium? Yes?

Breaking ground

This weekend, I went home so I could use my dad's power tools and get started on this thing. This is what resulted from about a day's work:













IF you can't TELL, I have a 24"x24" base, with a structure 8" deep by about 16" high and 26" inches wide.

It gets larger from bottom to top to a weird, caricatured effect.

Then, after a second trip to Lowe's (and I stupidly forgot my 10 percent off card), we achieved THIS number:














From the back, it looks like this. Of course, when it's finished, the support beams won't be so prominent.















Then, finally, this is what I intend for it to look like:

















There will be a roof and a dome (possibly made out of Styrofoam). Windows and other things for the most part will be painted, except for those that will be interacted with. Those I'm going to rig up with some sort of slide open mechanism. At least the windows. The door, you'll actually be able to open.

There will probably only be three openings to interact with.

I'm still working out the details of that, obviously, but I hope to use an Arduino board and some motion sensors and write code in Processing.

I've also decided there's not going to be a back. I'll probably stick my computer in there to run the program from, instead of loading it onto the chip. And then I can use my computer to relay the sound, also.

As far as figures, I'm not planning on doing anything too drastic. Probably some simple, Photoshopped image. Sanford's, for example, will just be him, perhaps when you open the front door of the Statehouse, making a press conference, and delivering a few golden soundbites from that press conference he gave back in June.

Then, one of the larger windows will be Joe Wilson, and the other window might be Andre Bauer. Or something.

So, yeah. That's where I am.

We will rebuild! Stronger! Better! More kid-friendly!

You know what's everywhere nowadays? South Carolina law makers screwing up. They're like children. Proposal? Put them in a dollhouse and have them scream inflammatory, key phrases when the house is interacted with. Bam.

Now for the technicalities:

Proposed title: Statehouse
Type of work: Free standing
Size: approx. 3x3x3 feet
Technical requirements: Access to power outlet; will provide extension cords, etc.
Sound: Yes, no headphones

Short summary:

“Statehouse” would be structured similar to a dollhouse and would stand freely on the floor. Opening doors and windows of the house would trigger soundbites and lights to go off, featuring comments made by various inflammatory state figures. The figures, including, Gov. Mark Sanford, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, Attorney General Henry McMaster and others, would perhaps cycle through a number of different phrases when interacted with.

Full summary:

Recent events have illuminated significant dysfunction between members of the state Legislature, among them Gov. Sanford, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, Henry McMaster, Bobby Harrell and Joe Wilson. Revelations of Sanford's affair with an Argentine woman as well as various unnecessary travel expenses he incurred, have brought the wrath of not only the public, but individuals within Sanford's own party struggling to save face in spite of Sanford's ever-controversial decisions.

Verbal sparring between Sanford and Bauer has led to Sanford calling Bauer gay, Bauer's calling for Sanford's resignation and public support of his impeachment. Bauer has gone as far as to say that he would not run for governor after Sanford's term expired if Sanford was forced to resign.

“Statehouse” would cast these interactions in a comical, immature light by caricaturing five or so different state legislatures, including Sanford and Bauer, within the house.The piece would stand freely in the floor to suggest the idea of children playing with a dollhouse. It would be approximately 3x3x3 feet. Sound and light would be triggered by motion: an individual opening doors or windows would trigger various actors inside the house to shout phrases such as “She's my soul mate,” or “You lie.” Lights may also be triggered to illuminate the scenes within the house. The narrative of the figures may cycle though three or so different clips.

If available, samples of the politicians actual voices would be used in the audio. However, if audio could not be found, quotations from news articles for each character would be recorded and used, such as Sanford's calling Bauer gay or Harrell calling for Sanford's resignation. Also, clips from Sanford's press conference following his return from Argentine may be used.

The goal of this piece would be to demonstrate the immature nature of South Carolina's government. The public and the media may also be represented in the piece, not with any particular sound bites, but with the sort of indiscernible ruckus common to those mouthpieces.

Image: It will look a lot like a dollhouse. Or a mini Statehouse.