Magic Board

The Magic Board is a 6-channel digital projection gallery showcasing photography, film/video, animation, graphics, light shows, and other hybrid forms created by Hampshire College students, faculty, staff, and guests. A laboratory for experimentation and play with light, the Magic Board elaborates on a rich history of shadow plays, magic lanterns, phantasmagorias, laser concerts, and expanded cinema. The gallery is located in the library foyer, between the main floor and Airport Lounge and will display curated shows during the library’s open hours.

How does it work?
Digital images are rear-projected from 6 discrete HDMI projectors, each independently synced to 6 mac minis. The screen is three columns of frosted glass, each measuring 75” wide by 138” tall, making a single triptych over 18' by 11'. The six digital projectors are permanently fixed, but there is a great deal of room to experiment with non-standard, laser, or analog projections, as well as utilize different lighting, scrim, and shadow box techniques.

Full-frame images are 1280 x 800 pixels, so please note: your video must be resized to these specifications ahead of time if you do not want black, letter-boxed bars. We will NOT resize your video for you, nor will we change the projectors' fixed framing. Additional VGA computer projections could be utilized; however, we do not have any extra computers to support this.

How do I put something up?
The Magic Board Curatorial Committee is always seeking proposals from students, faculty, staff, and guests for projects that creatively utilize the full projection frame, existing six-channel digital juxtapositions, and/or additional innovative light-effects. Student projects and proposals that explore current curricular themes are strongly encouraged. In addition to rotating installations of projected visual work, the committee will consider proposals for small, time-based performances arranged in front of or behind the screen.

Constraints
We accept most video and image file types (talk to us if you want to display strange formats, such as .mkv or Ogg video files)

Setup and adjustments to installations must be completed during Media Services office hours, unless otherwise planned with media staff. Any non-digital projections must not interfere with permanently installed projectors. As the space is a public thoroughfare with difficult acoustics, we are not currently accepting any work that requires sound reinforcement, however, sound streams could be accessed via QR codes and the user’s own headphones.

Questions/Submitting
E-mail magicboard@hampshire.edu or call x5538 with any and all questions or to submit a proposal.