Connected Messages

Connected Messages is comprised of two elements: 4’x4’ physical murals and this interactive web application. We worked with the Free Libraries of Philadelphia. The youth at each site create their own 5-inch square box that sits within the matrix of the mural. After being shown how to connect an LED in the center of their box, they decorate the outside with drawings and cutouts according to the library location’s theme (e.g., kindness, community, equality, etc). When the LED in the box is turned on, the artwork for that particular box is illuminated. When a youth completes a square, s/he is given the opportunity to record themselves talking about the meaning behind their creation and the technical aspects, which gets uploaded to the page about the individual box/creator. Each mural is connected to the internet through an Electric Imp, and has its own webpage on connected.ecrafting.org/ where a visitor can listen to the recording about the individual creation and play with each box’s illumination.