Fire Time Virtual Reality Prototype

2023

FireTime is a prototype of a virtual reality experience focusing on the area near and around Santa Rosa, CA . This version animates the landscape of the Soda Rock  winery after the recent Kincade fire (October 23, 2019). Ken and Diane Wilson are the owners of the winery. We interviewed Mark Dankowski (a vinter who has been working at Soda Rock for over 10 years in the tasting room). We visited the site on February 25, 2023 to take scans of the property, meet with the community, and take into account the damage of the fire and the community’s resilience. 

In the future, the hope is to build a "memoryscape" which will be complemented by an ambient soundtrack that includes sonification of the environment such as wind, traffic, bird song, and water, as well as interviews with community members. The goal is to represent the dynamics of a wildfire without showing images of flame-engulfed homes and roads. The resulting experience is designed as a space for reflection and compassionate encounters in support of long-term social and environmental solutions to wildfires, and hopefully bring healing and closure to the community.

Collaborators:

Greg Niemeyer (Art Practice)

Lisa Wymore

Support:

Botond Bognar: Lidar Scans

Jane Bland: Audio Studies