Ohio State University alumna and Granville native, Susannah Montgomery, brought her acclaimed interactive exhibition, fabricated, to the STEAM Factory last week. Known for its engaging approach to digital literacy, this award-winning exhibition invites the public to explore the influence of AI, misinformation, and digital algorithms on public opinion and voting behavior. Over 180 attendees came through STEAM to experience this unique and eye-opening exhibit. Montgomery shares, "Returning to Ohio with this project feels like coming full circle. It’s incredibly meaningful to bring fabricated to my home state, where my passion for using the arts to address complex societal challenges first took root."
Visitors to fabricated encountered interactive displays that challenged their perceptions of AI-generated news, content moderation, and political influence. Beyond its educational goals, fabricated also invited attendees to contribute their perspectives, enriching ongoing research and conversations about the impact of digital technologies on society. "Our goal was to make digital literacy approachable and engaging, and I hope that between the laughter and great conversations we had last Friday that our hundreds of visitors also felt more confident and equipped to participate in our democracy”, Montgomery states.
The fabricated exhibit was STEAM's first involvement in Franklinton Fridays in years. Franklinton Fridays feature a neighborhood-wide celebration of art, performance, and community. Montgomery shares how Franklinton Friday allowed for greater participation in her exhibit: "It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with STEAM and with Urban Arts Space to use Franklinton Friday as an event to amplify our impact to not reach just folks on campus but also everyday citizens in Columbus." STEAM aims to be more involved with Franklinton Fridays in the future!
Photo credits: Audrey Platt
Exhibition Credit: Susannah Montgomery and Andy Sanchez on behalf of the Sustainable Media Lab at Inholland University of Applied Sciences