GENERATIVE SMOKE

The story

GENERATIVE SMOKE is an extension of “Where There’s Smoke,” an immersive storytelling project by Lance Weiler (aka culturehacker) that spans exhibitions, virtual experiences, and live performances. GENERATIVE SMOKE is a collaboration between culturehacker and generative artist Lordof. Each piece is created from: 1. “Where There’s Smoke” guest exhibition data collected at ArtYard from June 16th to October 1st, 2023. Data includes guest pathways, density of guests within the exhibition, time spent, and stories unlocked. 2. 35mm fire slide photography taken by Robert D. Weiler between 1968 and 1988 in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. 3. Glitch-based art and storytelling fragments created by culturehacker. In “Where There’s Smoke,” project creator Lance Weiler unravels the secrets of his enigmatic father — a volunteer firefighter and amateur fire scene photographer — and two devastating fires that struck the Weiler family in the early 1980s. In the final months of his battle with colon cancer, his father invites Lance to interview him, and these conversations reignite 30 years of wondering… Were those fires more than tragic accidents?