Steve Appleton
Face Finder / Face Time
2006
Project Area: Hollywood
Project: Sunset and Vine
Project Location: Plaza adjacent to the Hungry Cat and Border's
Project Type: Developer
Description:
Steve Appleton's Face Finder / Face Time is an interactive artwork that allows the public to have their facial image captured by a camera situated within an aluminum sculpture on the plaza. These images are also displayed in live time on the sculpture's four-foot diameter glass screen via a rearview projection system embedded within the sculpture. A projector mounted onto an overhead pedestrian bridge also sends select facial images (either captured in real time, or from the FaceFinder archive) onto a 70-foot wall at the rear of the plaza. The projector, mounted onto a moveable robotic support, projects the image at various spots on the wall, much like a klieg light rakes the night sky, moving within a set of parameters. Appleton developed the unique robotic components and facial recognition software and interface modalities between the camera and the projector to insure functionality and durability in the artwork.