Mapping Stories was a performance art piece by Markus Dominger in 2017 that drew crowds into a unique, participatory experience. In the center of town, a man rode in on a curious cargo tricycle, stopping amidst the crowd. Within minutes, the building across the street transformed, illuminated by animated colors, shapes, figures, and patterns that filled its façade. Onlookers watched as the artist created live digital artwork on a tablet computer mounted to the tricycle, which also held a digital projector powered by a car battery. Some curious passersby approached the artist, who warmly invited them to join in. As each added their own drawings, the building became a spontaneous, animated mosaic of community art.
As the artwork grew, a group of elderly citizens arrived. Having attended a workshop the previous day, they were already familiar with the setup. They mounted a few more iPads on microphone stands, and the building’s visuals faded. A woman took a microphone and, with a spirited voice, began telling a story from her youth, set in the very building that now served as the canvas. Her fellow participants illustrated her story with drawings created during the workshop. As the story concluded, the crowd burst into applause, and several people approached the performers, eager to know more. Flyers with links to a project website were handed out, offering access to photos, videos, and more about this and other similar interventions.
Mapping Stories ran over five days, with a series of projection interventions and workshops throughout Boulder. The event engaged the public as well as various community groups, including children, teenagers, and seniors. The goal was to surprise and enchant the community with stories from Boulder’s history and everyday life, projected onto iconic buildings and structures.
