Hi all. My name is Brooke Singer and Trebor has asked me to join this
discussion. I am eager to see where it goes!
I am a new media artist, curator and (just as of last week) teacher at SUNY
Purchase. For the last several years my work has considered the issue of the
databody and the growth of personal data collection systems in the
electronic age. Currently I am collaborating with Beatriz da Costa and Jamie
Schulte on a project titled Swipe in which we expose the practice of
driver's license swiping at bars and convenience stores in the US.
Businesses say they scan IDs for age verification and fraud detection but
many are unaware that their main motivation is to create large databases of
personal information. This is done without notification or consent by the
subject and is for the most part unregulated and invisible. So far the
project has resulted in a performance and installation and there are future
plans for a street action and workshop. We are also expanding our research
into smart card and RFID technologies. For more information about the Swipe
project, please see www.we-swipe.us.
In addition to this I am currently co-organizing a wi-fi art exhibition with
NYCwireless and Downtown Alliance. It will take place in Lower Manhattan
(City Hall Park to be exact) September 19th and 20th. More info is available
at www.bsing.net/wifi_art. Please stop by if you are in the NYC area!
And finally you can find more information about my past work and current
interests at my personal web site www.bsing.net.
Cheers,
Brooke Singer