Week 3/June 19-25, 2023

Kendall Greene

This week focused on preparation for Dr. Goffe’s “Coralline Frequencies” installation at ONX Studio. We spent most of our time on 5th Avenue, a part of the city I had never visited before. After troubleshooting the technology for the installation (speakers, VR headset, mp3 players, etc.), I had the opportunity to meet with and ask Dr. Keolu Fox questions about his work, path, and interests. The conversation was both energizing and inspiring, and I am grateful that I was able to learn so much from his rich experiences. He spoke about his time in Kenya and the renewable technological work that scientists and activists are doing there. 

I was especially interested in how he spoke about DNA sequencing and genomes. He emphasized the importance of respecting and valuing the way that ethnic groups and peoples refer to themselves as well as their cosmologies. Western scientists often dismiss the notion of entities such as mountains and oceans being ancestors when they are missing out on a worldview that is more expansive than limiting genealogy to people. As people evolve alongside their geographies, their genomes alter as a result. This can be made evident because people outside of those regions are not innately equipped to survive in those conditions. Although all humans have DNA that is more similar the dissimilar, the slight differences can be significant based on the location and context.

We also were able to witness and experience the opening performances of the New Inc. exhibition at ONX. I was able to meet some of the other artists and enjoy their work live rather than the recordings alone. The following day there was a Ladies in Tech meetup, and each artist walked us through the process and ideologies of the projects that the women and femmes in the space had created. I enjoyed playing with a controller and exploring New Art City on a projected screen, learning how video games can connect people to their ancestry, witnessing the relationship between virtual reality and the different spiritual aspects of ourselves, and understanding how the body can translate to a digital projection in live time. The week was inspiring a left me curious about the intersections between science, creativity, and genetics.

Ariana White

I acquired a comfortable pacing and rhythm this week, as fellow intern Kendall Greene and I were given an organized list of various research and exhibition tasks in preparation for Dr. Goffe/s exhibition “Coralline Frequencies: A Climate Coda Pt. 1” next week. I provided research on the plethora of coral reef species on Earth as well as their sheer decline in population size due to global warming and human activity. The list of species names is extensive and each genus differentiates by size, shape, and color patterns representative of their functions and adaptations to their environments. 

We were assigned our first profiles, and I dove into research about Zainab Floyd, founder of Caribbean Archive, an online historical art resource intended to share aspects of the Black Caribbean femme diaspora. On the archive, I observed images collected from Floyd’s grandfather’s photo album where he kept images of Floyd’s family in Haiti. As a Trinidadian woman, it was liberating exploring this archive and witnessing a space designated for Caribbean femme experiences. Floyd’s work provoked great interview questions that provided information for the foundation of my profile. 

In the spirit of social media archival spaces, I started running the Digital Junkanoo Twitter page @DigitalJunkanoo, which has forced me to grow comfortable with the convoluted aspects of Twitter. Once you search through the random assortment of colors, words, and numbers, I recognized how much I was learning each day by engaging with Caribbean artists, scholars, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Whether it be a new article published about Caribean agriculture or an event occurring for feminist rallying in NYC, I am given the opportunity to engage with intersectional topics surrounding the Caribbean diaspora and feel a sense of community.

maria Aguirre

Through the computer screen, a unique energy unfolded as technology, architecture, art, and global connectivity met. The recent AMA (Ask Me Anything) interview session featuring coder-in-residence Celeste Layne showcased the Dark Laboratory’s commitment to fostering cross-continental collaboration, as well as connection. Zooming from Istanbul, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in this enriching discourse despite the over 5000-mile physical separation.

The virtual dialogue with Celeste Layne went into the intricate intersections of architecture and technology, igniting insights into the interdisciplinary world that exists. As a rising Junior, my future in the real world has felt daunting at times. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to choose just one thing. It was refreshing to hear about the “real world” from someone who lives in it.

Despite the miles between us, the orientation period proved to be an exciting initiation into the Dark Laboratory’s ethos and aspirations. Through virtual interactions, I explored the organization’s mission, imbibing its values, and understanding its drive. This first week experience showcased the power of technology in transcending spatial constraints, enabling me to be a part of this organization even from afar. I am grateful for the digital avenues that allow experiences like this to be possible, and can’t wait for what is to come!