Augmented Reality: Art in the Wild!

Augmented Reality: Art in the Wild!

May 18, 2021 - August 18, 2021 Try it out!

Three works of art from the Barry Art Museum collection are unleashed into the wild! The augmented reality (AR) sculptures are available via a mobile website, which allows users to view and activate these artworks anywhere via their phone! The technology is accessible to both iPhone and Android users. 

This project-specific website includes information on the art and artists, and links to view the interactive 3D models through your phone’s camera app for easy filming, photography and sharing!  Users can play with scale and place these art objects in their own surroundings – outside of the Museum walls. The Barry Art Museum asks users to tag their social media posts with #3Dbam and @barryartmuseum to be shared on the Museum’s pages. 

The Museum team enlists the help of community partners including the NEON Arts District, Elizabeth River Trail, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and Old Dominion University. Colorful ground decals with a QR code to activate the website via any mobile device are strategically placed to encourage users to watch the artworks come to life in these iconic Hampton Roads locations. 

The project’s 3D designer is Jacob Galito, creative director and co-founder of Ario Technologies, Inc, an AR software company. Galito processed a sequence of images of each piece- sometimes thousands of photos and video to create each piece. He then translated the images into high-quality models. This process, called photogrammetry, allows users to see the artwork from all angles. 

On Tuesday, May 18, the Barry Art Museum joins institutions from around the world celebrating International Museum Day with the launch of this project into the wild, a perfect match to this year’s timely theme; The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine.

During the pandemic, The Barry Art Museum (BAM) spends a great deal of time rethinking relationships with the communities it serves. Experimenting with new platforms and hybrid models of exploring and educating through art, BAM remains committed to the essential value of the digital in the future of museums.