2000

Commissioned by ARTlife and DA2 for Minehead, West Somerset

Susan Collins has re-discovered the 3D Viewmaster, that once used to be a tourists’ novelty item. The Viewmaster gave glimpses of famous and fabulous vistas, but in Susan’s hands it has become a hyper-real video viewer, showing contemporary alternative tourist attractions. Susan has travelled around West Somerset making 3D video recordings, which provide a new way of experiencing the local landscapes. Viewed through the Viewmaster, they are curious momentos of rural places.
– Peter Ride, DA2

An interface based on the original popular 3d Viewmaster, two ‘Viewfinders’ were located in Minehead, West Somerset.
One was placed inside an arcade machine in the Queens Amusement Arcade; the second on the platform of the West Somerset Railway Station.
‘Visitors to Minehead who looked through the Viewfinders’ eyepieces were able to view a range of time based alternative tourist attractions in 3d video (stereo) – ‘scenic views’ – filmed in and around Minehead and West Somerset.

Viewfinder was commissioned for West Somerset by ARTlife and DA2 (Digital Arts Development Agency)
supported by the Millenium Festival Fund, the Greater Exmoor Leader Project, West Somerset District Council and Exmoor National Park