Michael Pierre Price presents art enhanced by augmented reality and musical soundscapes in his “Call Me Ishmael” exhibit at Five15Arts Gallery.
“This exhibit is not passive,” Price said. “I want it to be interactive. This is not an exhibit for the faint of heart: I’m going to challenge your preconceived notions.”
Price mixes three dimensions into his art using augmented reality and artificial intelligence. “It’s taking the cutting edge of physics and neuroscience and spirituality and creating this story.”
Price tells this story with 13 art pieces because some people fear this number and see it as bad luck.
For viewers, the story unfolds in different ways through time. The experience moves forward as viewers look at it clockwise and back in time for those who follow the exhibit counterclockwise.
Featuring a 33-minute soundscape, the pieces guide the audience along a path that combines the scientific, artistic and spiritual worlds. Ishmael, a blackbird, acts as an observer through this journey and helps tell the story.
The physical art on display comes alive through the Arloopa app, making viewers part of the exhibit. Immersed in the story, viewers at the gallery play an active role in Price’s exhibit.
“I love being able to help the artist tell a story,” Avianna Hoppes, a guest at the gallery said.
For Price, the most important thing is that his audience can connect with his art and see this exhibit as a stepping stone to learn more about the three realms of science, art, and spirituality.
“I hope you love the art,” Price said. “I hope that it hits you right away. But there is depth inside.”
Price, a creative individual, game designer, and physicist fascinated by art, uses artificial intelligence to visualize concepts that may be difficult to grasp. He goes beyond traditional art, mixing colors, abstract shapes, symbolism and characters into his work. This includes QR codes on glass doors, mathematical equations and eyes that stare back.
Price is a member of techspressionism, a team of artists creating pieces with the help of technology amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For me, it’s nice to have a community of like-minded people that are working in a lot of different areas,” Price said. “Technology is sort of the anchor that ties us all together.”
Price is mesmerized by how human brains work. “For me, using a methodology that mimics elements of, of what goes on inside our heads is very interesting as an artist because through examples, I get to train the AI so that it understands my aesthetic,” he said
“Call Me Ishmael” is Price’s representation of knowledge he has acquired during his life.
“I see myself as the artist I’ve gone out and ventured in this realm,” Price said. “And I’m bringing this back to share.”
How to visit ‘Call Me Ishmael’
Location: Five15Arts @ Chartreuse at 1301 N.W. Grand Ave.
Hours: Fridays at 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., Saturdays at 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., and Sundays at 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
