Last month, I was speaking at the Technology in the Arts Conference in Pittsburgh and a real highlight for me was taking a visit to the Mattress Factory. I’ve been a big fan and my first visit included a great lunch with Barbara Luderowski and Jeffrey Insoo to talk all things tech.
Jeffrey mentioned a collaboration that they were just about to release. It’s been hard to keep this a secret and when you see what they’ve cooked up with you’ll see why. Artists Robin Hewlett and Ben Kinsleyn worked with Google Street View to stage a community performance right outside the Mattress Factory’s home of Sampsonia Way. MF has posted a “making of” on YouTube and Jeffrey has more about the project on the MF blog.
I have to stop gushing about the MF now, but I’ll say one last thing: the place is spectacular in real life too, so check out Street View and be sure to go in person if you are in Steel City!
Shelley Bernstein is the former Vice Director of Digital Engagement & Technology at the Brooklyn Museum where she spearheaded digital projects with public participation at their center. In the most recent example—ASK Brooklyn Museum—visitors ask questions using their mobile devices and experts answer in real time. She organized three award-winning projects—Click! A Crowd-Curated Exhibition, Split Second: Indian Paintings, GO: a community-curated open studio project—which enabled the public to participate in the exhibition process.
Shelley was named one of the 40 Under 40 in Crain's New York Business and her work on the Museum's digital strategy has been featured in the New York Times.
In 2016, Shelley joined the staff at the Barnes Foundation as the Deputy Director of Digital Initiatives and Chief Experience Officer.