Central to many of our projects is the use of a Bluetooth server deployed to deliver content anywhere we can plug in: it is a literal ‘gallery-in-a-box’ that is portable, light, and transmits content wirelessly and for free via Bluetooth. Such devices have minimal transmission range and limited storage capacity and are typically used by corporations for proximity marketing purposes. To access content by Bluetooth users must be within a 10 to 30 foot radius of the server and have their device set to ‘discoverable’.

In homage to the situationist concept of ‘detournement’ the Mobile Media Gallery have highjacked the server using it to deliver up non-commercial cultural content and commentary, rather than advertising and promotions. For these reasons our exhibitions and events are described as ‘campaigns’. Rather than campaigning for capitalist consumption, the Mobile Media Gallery are embarked on a campaign for art, culture and ideas.

Why Bluetooth?
The advantage of Bluetooth, instead of a cellular phone network or wi-fi is this: Bluetooth allows for file-sharing and communications between mobile devices for free. Users do not pay for data transmission of content, as they do over a regular network. However, content via the server is freely available only if Bluetooth is supported on your mobile device, only if you make your device ‘discoverable’ and accept the content on offer, and only if the memory on your device is large enough to accept the file. Some companies, such as Apple, limit the use of Bluetooth to their products and for this reason users of the iphone cannot access our content.

Current Campaigns:

The Wooden Lightbox: A Secret Art of Seeing – performance by Alex MacKenzie.
Curated by Zoe Constantinides.

Discoverable, October 27, 2009 – itinerant exhibition held in conjunction with the Concordia President’s Conference Series.
Project Directors: Kim Sawchuk and Owen Chapman.

Apparencies, Rick Hancox, October 29, 2009 – in collaboration with Media Art Gallery, Communication Studies.
Project Directors: Rae Staseson and Kim Sawchuk

The Haunting Video Exhibition, October 31, 2009
Project Director: Andrea Zeffiro

Bluetooth Beats, November 4, 2009 – commissioned as part of the Concordia President’s Conference Series.
Project Directors: Owen Chapman and Sam Thulin

INTERACTION, January 2010
Project Directors: Kendra Besanger and Erin McGregor (COMS 570) + Mél Hogan