A collaboration by Shaila Khan, Karen Li and Mari Santos

HipsterDate involves re-investing in communicative analog technology, such as the payphone, that seems to be fading out in its use. There is a different set of social norms and etiquette about payphones that have changed the way we socialize. We often take that for granted, as cell phones are a more prominent form of communication. Payphones are not as convenient and accessible, and our intentions are more clear and concentrated when we come in contact with another person, unlike the spontaneity versus the instant gratification of cell phone usage. HipsterDate explores the prospects of networking (randomly) at this analog level that seems to be very successful in the digital world, but neglected with the use of payphone technology. We intend to make our artwork transcend into the public sphere in order to provoke the connection of individuals through payphones.

Phase 1: Create a mock or not-so-mock dating service. We set up random packets with instructions on various payphones (around 80) in the city of Toronto. The packets include a quarter, a phone number, and a questionnaire that provides a 'free dating service' for the person who encounters the payphone and makes the call. The brief questionnaire asks some quirky facts about the person so that they can call the answering machine and leave a message with their answers. Provided is a website they can visit to see what we have done with the data.

Phase 2:The collection of data we acquired from this answering machine is 'matched' up with other 'potential' callers using their voice samples. This collection can be accessed through HipsterDate's myspace. As the administrators of this dating service, we will provide contacts of "mutually" consented matches, if they want to take the next step to make contact; it will be their decision.

HipsterDate isn't about creating a dating service enterprise via payphones. Instead, we are taking this concept of connecting people, random people in the public, who happen to come across our marked payphones. We are curious about what connections we could possibly make in a fusion of analog and digitial technology,and whether people are willing to leave audio evidence on a strange answering machine.

[illustrations by mari santos, done in pencil, coloured in photoshop]

packages (click thumbnail for full image)

placement

HipsterDate's myspace- results and audio here