Immersive Open Studio: Shared Space, Shared Sound

Sunshiyu Wang; Changda Ma; Canting Zhu; Gibran Mobarak; Henrik von Coler

Immersive Open Studio: Shared Space, Shared Sound
Image credit: Sunshiyu Wang; Changda Ma; Canting Zhu; Gibran Mobarak; Henrik von Coler

Abstract:

We present Immersive Open Studio, an artistic concept built around a course-based shared public space with a spatial-audio infrastructure. Realized at The Underground Art Center in downtown Atlanta, the studio is designed to support multiple student group projects for public presentation. We transported a 32-channel loudspeaker system from the Georgia Institute of Technology and reinstalled it in this public setting, creating a sustainable, repeatable spatial-audio infrastructure for interactive audiovisual projects, which was tested by real-world contingencies. As a case study within our student interactive projects, we dive deeper into Since Everyone’s a DJ, which integrates camera-based body tracking to support collaborative and accessible electronic music performance within the immersive environment. Overall, this paper documents the realization of a course concept, provides an example of reusable infrastructure for multiple artistic projects, and examines how a public-facing spatial-audio environment supports audience engagement. More broadly, the project outlines a path for bridging technical infrastructure with collaborative artistic practice and public experience, establishing a foundation for future work in this area.