MANCHESTER School of Art are searching for Manchester’s wackiest games.And the project is giving people the opportunity to go to Rio 2016… albeit in virtual form.
Connected Explorers is looking for people to submit pictures of themselves playing games – from football to croquet, checkers to hopscotch – to be turned into a giant digital tapestry that will be displayed during the Olympic Games.
And the more unusual the game, the better – hobby horse gymkhanas and Bury black pudding throwing are just two of the unusual “sports” the team have seen.
If you have pictures of yourself, your family or your friends playing a game – no matter how silly or serious – share it on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #connectedexplorers or by emailing to connected@mmu.ac.uk.
The digital tapestry will be shown at British House, in Rio, the official “home away from home” for Team GB and the place where the best of Britain will be celebrated.
Using cutting-edge technology, the submitted images will be turned into a series of huge pictures showcasing Manchester’s sporting and cultural excellence.
The exhibition also has a serious side – the team will be partnering up with Oi Kabum!, an art school for some of the poorest but most gifted children from Rio’s most disadvantaged areas.
Backed by Brazilian telephone provider Oi, Oi Kabum! provides training in photography, art history, graphic design, digital imagery and sound design, along with other subjects.
The project team is made up of four students and four members of staff from Manchester School of Art.
Organiser Jane McFadyen, Senior Lecturer at Manchester School of Art, said: “We are looking to curate people’s creative responses to the idea of ‘games’ – be that competing in the Wythenshawe Games this summer or the seemingly endless wacky creations that people come up with to play with their friends and family. We’d love to share some of Manchester’s silliest games with children over in Rio – imagine welly wanging on Copacabana beach!
“We’re really looking forward to seeing people’s images and turning them into our digital tapestry, and in return we’ll be asking the young people at Oi Kabum! to share their favourite games with us so we can bring them back to play on the streets of Manchester.”
If you would like to submit an image, share on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #connectedexplorers or email connected@mmu.ac.uk.
