Sarah Rothberg 

Memory/Place: My House

The piece Memory/Place: My House, designed by Sarah Rothberg will leave your head spinning in amazement, dissonance, and nostalgia from this truly immersive virtual reality experience. This digital world Rothberg created left myself to feel countless emotions. Once I left the space, I had to ask myself one question: have I ever felt this much emotion from a piece of work? Personally, no. I could not answer this question. 

To start off, who is Sarah Rothberg? Rothberg earned her Bachelor's of Arts from the University of California, Berkley, and Master in Professional Studies from New York University. Presently,  resides in New York as a NY based artist. Rothberg works as the Virtual Reality Experience Director at the Samsung Accelerator, as well as a part-time instructor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Formerly, a Studio Assistant/Animator at Marina Zurkow Studio and the American Museum of Natural History, including a research fellow at the Interactive Telecommunications Program.

Let us backward time travel and understand what brand Sarah Rothberg is. Rothberg primarily focuses on the new technologies as expression of her artwork. Her work explores a running theme of memory, time, and consciousness. The handling of vidid color, pattern, movement, line, and space are dominate in her practice. In the three bubbles below are still shots of her interactive piece STUFF. 

STUFF, Sarah Rothberg

In the furtherance of her work, Memory/Place: My House has contrived sovereignty in the VR Technology sphere. Within the physical installation there includes: a large, red, shag rug, magenta Oculus Rift, white headset for audio, magenta joystick for direction, light green swivel armchair for security, and again, a magenta monitor placed in front of the precedent off to the right. Once comfortably sitting in the chair and placed the VR goggles over your eyes; you are exerted in front of the artists childhood home. Moving the arcade-like joystick that is built into the swivel chair advances you forward into the home's new world. We have the option to receive a tour or explore the residence independently. I choose 'roam free.' Throughout the virtual tour, there are many rooms to explore. The space throughout the home is incredible to play around with. Not to mention, you can explore outside of the home as well. Personally, I was bold and furthered my virtual tour beyond the house. I walked beyond the canyons and mountains that surrounded the home. This was extremely refreshing to me. 

Front of house still frame, Memory/Place: My House

Her indosycrincy of this piece will leave you feeling charmed. Rothberg revealed herself to us. Showing an audience her childhood through still frames, home videos, and digital artwork are quirky, fun, and slightly personal. We can't help but to love the similar childhood we shared. From taking a bath with your sibling to playing dress-up is something we all can relate to. 

Rooms in house still frame, Memory/Place: My House

- Erika Barber

Artist's Website: 
http://sarahrothberg.com/filter/attention/ABOUT