SAUNA 02 is a response to our logo saturated environment and an electronic intervention into the mediated spectacle of urban space. During the month of June 2002, The LAB and Sponge present indoor/outdoor installations and a public discussion series focusing on new forms of mediated urban space. View images and video of installation tests.

SPONGE
Formed in San Francisco in 1997 by Laura Farabough, Chris Salter and Sha Xin Wei, Sponge is an association of artists and researchers committed to creating public cultural experiments using new technologies. It is both a production entity realizing hybrid media spaces and performances as well as a think tank conducting public conversations about the creation of new imaginaries. Sponge's recent activities include conference presentations in Europe and North America, publications, salons and installations, exhibitions and performances at Siggraph, Ars Electronica, the Exploratorium, v2-Rotterdam, Medi@terra Athens, the Banff Center for the Arts and The LAB.

Participating Artists: Erik Adigard, Amy Hoffman, Laura Farabough, Philip Foeckler, Brad Niven, David Robert, Chris Salter, and Sha Xin Wei.

OUTSIDE
Front of the Redstone Building
16th Street between Capp & South Van Ness
Installation operates daily
May 31-June 29

Three large cylinders mounted on the 16th Street facade of the Redstone Building are illuminated inside by computer-controlled strobe lights. Visitors standing beneath the tubes are washed by waves of light and sound. The installation, adapting itself to and controlled by the changing 16th Street surroundings, should provide a source of solace for passersby from the chaotic Mission District environment.

INSIDE
The LAB Gallery
Opening Reception: Friday, May 31, 7-9 PM
Gallery Hours: Saturday, June 1 and Wednesday-Saturday, June 5-29, 1-6 PM
Free admission during gallery hours

A behind the scenes exhibition showcases the design process and three-year development of Sauna02 by way of notebooks, texts, video, audio, sketches, architectural renderings and interactive media.

PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS
Wednesdays, June 5, 12 and 19, 8 PM
$1-$10 sliding scale admission

A Wednesday evening series of public conversations will focus on the themes of Sauna 02 and feature an array of prominent local and national artists, curators, funders, urban planners, architects, policy & cultural officials.

June 5: TALK BACK-PUBLIC CHAT WITH SAUNA 02 TEAM
A chat with the Sauna 02 artistic and design team.

June 12: URBAN INTERVENTIONS: SITUATING SAUNA 02
Artists, architects and urban critics discuss Sauna 02 among other recent urban intervention projects.

June 19: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF MEDIATED URBAN SPACE
A conversation focusing on the implementation of new types of interactive media environments in our urban landscape.