Meghan Cheng

Touch/Lift
An Interactive Light Installation
Sept 28 to October 12, 2022
Toronto Public Library – North York Central Library
5120 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5N9

Intro to Touch Designer
Computer workshop
Wednesday October 5th, 2022
Toronto Public Library – North York Central Library
5120 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5N9

6:30pm – 8:00pm

Experience digital art and explore the histories behind the medium! Meghan Cheng will host an in-person workshop on how to visualize sound, use motion sensors and create interactive digital art. Her workshop will examine the works of women in digital media in Ontario through “Introduction to TouchDesigner” (a Canadian-made software that is free and accessible online). Post workshop, participants who made something can share their work on the Ontario Culture Days website.

Cheng’s residency will culminate in an interactive installation at a TPL library branch called “Touch/Lift” which is an interactive light installation that celebrates the moment when creative ideas are born. Moments of inspiration are nothing but fun. Before the grueling work it takes to bring our ideas to life, all there is vast possibility. We can let our imagination go wild and bask in the idea’s potential. Just as we experience that moment of inspiration, the light installation comes to life when physical contact is made by a visitor. Comprised of over 1000 LED pixels, the installation uses a touch sensor to trigger the computer program to animate the lights. The program will produce a light animation unique to each visitor.

Artist’s bio:
Meghan Cheng is a digital technologist and musician based in Toronto, ON. Her work uses creative technologies to create space in the digital field, exploring the ways that one’s social location (gender, class, internet connection) impacts digital access. Meghan has a master’s in fine arts from York University (Toronto, ON) and a bachelor of music from Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA). She has worked with artists like Thin Edge New Music Collective, Francesca Gaza, Sasha Berliner and provided immersive installations for ArtworxTO, Light Up The Square Mississauga, Women From Space Festival, InterAccess’ VectorFest and several other concerts and live performances.

Artistic programs are made possible thanks to support from Canadian Heritage, the Province of Ontario, the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Toronto Arts Council.