In the newly built Computing and Data Science (CoDa) building, an innovative interactive art installation named “Fathom” stands out. Created by Camille Utterback, an associate professor of art and art history at Stanford, this artwork is composed of five glass panels that become dynamic with the play of sunlight and after dark with computer-generated animations. The panels exhibit different instances of encoded data and interact with the movement of viewers, thanks to motion-sensing cameras.
Utterback, also affiliated with the Stanford Computer Science department, aims for the installation to inspire contemplation. She states, “The glass looks completely different with the sunlight illuminating the colored glass versus when the projections play through the surfaces at night.” Through this blend of visual art and technology, she seeks to highlight the physical reality behind digital data. “It’s a mistake to forget that our data is always encoded in materials with real physical characteristics and histories,” she adds.
The artwork, visible from sunset to midnight, is continually updated to ensure clarity both internally and from Jane Stanford Way. Utterback, in collaboration with creative technologist Charlotte McElwain, developed specialized software to manage these animations, based on research from Stanford’s own resources.
The project also emphasizes integrating the arts into Stanford’s educational setting, spearheaded by Deborah Cullinan, vice president for the arts, and David Lenox. This approach is embodied in the use of data-driven art, aligning with the academic focus of CoDa. The art piece was generously donated by Sky and Arwen Dayton.
Cullinan praises the installation, saying, “Camille embodies the interdisciplinary innovation that is a hallmark of Stanford.” The initiative reflects the potential of combining art and academic life at the university. Utterback is set to further engage students by offering studio art courses using the installation, fostering creativity influenced by live and research-based data.
Additionally, a Humanities Seed Grant has enabled Utterback, McElwain, and Risa Wechsler from Stanford’s physics department to integrate real-time astronomical data into Fathom, using insights gathered from the Legacy Survey of Space and Time.
Camille Utterback’s work is a testament to the fusion of art and science, designed to be a continuous source of innovation and inspiration within the educational infrastructure at Stanford.
