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1,111 Windows to the Soul
1,111 Windows
to the Soul
Interactive EYE Collaborative Tiny Huge Video Projection art project
The evolution of an eyeball project
IT ALL BEGAN with a flash of inspiration from my wife while brushing her teeth….”Alex Grey” she said. From that moment our idea for a little art show became a 3-day multimedia event featuring Alex and Allyson Grey on 11/11/2009.
As a means to promote our 1st BIG event production, I dreamed up an interactive approach by asking strangers if I could take a picture of their eye with the goal of reaching 1,111 eyes.
After 4 months of collecting images, I finally reached my goal and created the first mosaic piece and the project began a life of its own.
This self-portrait made possible by the ONE person who refused to take their sunglasses off perfectly documents what it was like to be asked by a crazy artist "can I take a picture of your eye?"
One eye leads to another...
November 11, 2009
The beginning of 1,111 eyes
11/11 event – st. pete, florida
Where the eyes all started! Pictured here are several un-cropped eyes from my view of the camera. I met so many amazing people and have stories about each eye. Anything from parrots to huskies, green humans and the elderly, artwork and even eye tattoos was fair game.
November 11, 2010
The 1st video installation
11/11 EVENT – ST. PETE, FLORIDA
Our 2nd annual 11/11 event became the first video installation of the eyes. A hand-painted ‘window to the soul’ on acrylic framed the rear-projected eyes for a meditative experience.
March 28, 2011
The 2nd video installation
CL's Sensory overload - tampa, fl
Creative Loafing’s annual event Sensory Overload had a theme of eyeballs in 2011 and used my video for promotion and at the event for striking visuals.
October 15, 2011
The 1st trailer room installation
art slam – sarasota, fl
For this huge event in Sarasota, we borrowed a friend’s trailer and created a viewing room so the eye could be seen during the bright daylight. At night we performed live drumming and eye projection art.
November 11, 2011
The 1st sphere installation & interactive art project
11/11 EVENT – ybor city, FLORIDA
The Roosevelt 2.0 was a community art space poised to change the world with a trash-eating machine and rooftop gardens. On 11/11/11 the first spherical projection of the eyes was installed for a memorable oneness experience. We asked guests to draw or write what connection meant to them on a large piece of paper.
November 23, 2012
1st art projection at a major festival
digital graffiti – Alys beach, fl
Alys Beach transforms its all-white town facade into a projection surfaces for world-renowned artists to showcase video art. The eyes were projected high upon a balcony for the 2012 event.
october 25, 2013
1st overseas projection at a major festival
blinc festival – Conwy, wales
30 international artists from all over the world exhibited in this digital and light-based festival that ran in parallel with the Adelaide International Festival. I was approached by the curator to project the eyes on a massive historic castle for the event.
Since its inception in 2009, "1,111 Windows to the Soul" continues to inspire the mystery and imagination we all share in the human experience.
interesting stats for the curious
Each eye was individually cropped, sharpened and curated in photoshop. Approximately 4% of people turn me down to have their picture taken
- 5 dogs
- 2 cats
- 2 snake eyes
- 2 skink eyes
- 2 bearded dragon eyes
- 4 bird eyes
- 2 turtle eyes
- 3 eyes from t-shirts
- 5 tattoo eyes
- 33 eyes from artwork
- 1 hologram eye
- 1 flipped eyelid
- 1 henna eye
- 10 doll eyes
- 1 “Watch Out For Motorcycles” eye
- 5 3rd eyes (2 painted on 3rd eye, 1 jeweled, 1 statue)
- 3 blinking eyes
- 1 beer bottle cap eye
- 1 shy eye with my reflection in sunglasses
- 1 upside down 3 month old eye
- 1 newborn
- 1 eye taken in ICU, In Memory of Joseph “Skip” Daly
- 33 eyes have a diagonal white line created from sun reflection
- 1 sucker
- 1 “Kenwood Neighborhood Watch” eye
- 5 dogs
- 2 cats
- 2 snake eyes
- 2 skink eyes
- 2 bearded dragon eyes
- 4 bird eyes
- 2 turtle eyes
- 3 eyes from t-shirts
- 5 tattoo eyes
- 33 eyes from artwork
- 1 hologram eye
- 1 flipped eyelid
- 1 henna eye
- 10 doll eyes
- 1 “Watch Out For Motorcycles” eye
- 5 3rd eyes (2 painted on 3rd eye, 1 jeweled, 1 statue)
- 5 3rd eyes (2 painted on 3rd eye, 1 jeweled, 1 statue)
- 3 blinking eyes
- 1 beer bottle cap eye
- 1 beer bottle cap eye
- 1 shy eye with my reflection in sunglasses
- 1 upside down 3 month old eye
- 1 newborn
- 1 eye taken in ICU, In Memory of Joseph “Skip” Daly
- 33 eyes have a diagonal white line created from sun reflection
- 1 sucker
- 1 “Kenwood Neighborhood Watch” eye
Our story doesn’t end here though…
The eyes have awakened again and become a tiny/massive collaborative art project using 1,111 of my discarded contact lens cases…
—PART TWO—
upcycled interactive ART
All images © Copyright 1995–2024 Michael Bowen. No sales or reproductions without prior consent in writing.