WELCOME TO ZHIGAAGOONG

IMMERSION

Upon entry the viewer is transported into the narrative of Zhigaagoong, the land, the peoples, and the experience. From sweeping and mesmerizing visuals to intimate experiences of Zhigaagoong’s Indigenous community like a morning prayer ceremony at Michigami (Lake Michgan) or the creation of a new effigy earthwork, this moment will serve as portal.

SCALABILITY

The format and size of the installation can morph to the constraints of the room or setting. The resolution, color accuracy, brightness, and sound quality can be adjusted based on budget or need.

INTERACTIVITY

The floor is alive with interactive features as the viewer walks, activating sounds, visual responses, and unlocking truths with every step. Leaves below the viewers feet rustle and scatter, the water ripples, footprints are left in the grass… words of welcome illuminate in different Native languages and stepping onto on activates a Native speaker to greet the room in that phrase.. the words slowly disappear with each activation.. the floor transforms into a scene of Cahokia.

ACCESSIBILITY

The installation by design is made to be accessible, with no elevation changes, and perspectively experienced for varying eye levels. A spatial audio experience will be created for the visually impaired, and for the hearing impaired, descriptions/captions will accompany the visual projections.

HISTORY///FUTURE

The Indigenous foundations of our city, state, and region are at the forefront here in this welcoming. Everyone is invited to celebrate the rich culture and diversity of Zhigaagoong, from time immemorial to today and beyond. During the course of the project development, drone footage of culturally significant sites and landscapes, documentation of Native speakers and community members and other pertinent scenes will be archived for use and exhibition activation.

Envision being welcomed with a Land Acknowledgement written by the current Indigenous community of Zhigaagoong.. the text in front of you as members of the community read the words through spatial audio, surrounding the viewer.

FLUID CONTENT

The installation is designed to be future proof in regards to content. In conversation with the artist and acting curation, the video, sound, and interactivity can be updated for the life of the installation.