This project explores the concept of ontological bleed in the context of research creation. It is for partial completion of a masters thesis at OCADU in the Digital Futures program.
This fictional archive cataloges evidence of a supernatural phenomenon. It's physical artifacts are annotated within the database software by the previous researchers and archivists, and hint at their interpretations of the anomaly, and their fates.
We require volunteers to visit the archive and help us with our software migration. The archive will be available to visit at the end of January, February and March 2026, by appointment only.
If you played vignette 3 and would like to fill in the exit form, you may do so here:
Participation involves playing a solo narrative game set in an archive installation, and completing a short interview and survey about the experience afterwards. The gameplay and interview will take 20-40 minutes of your time, with the exit survey to be completed at your convenience. You’ll be asked to complete a consent form about what data you’re willing to share with the research project in advance - we recommend reading it online in advance.
Open visitation during open archive hours involves examining the artifacts and looking up extra information about them in the archive database system. You may also bring artifacts to add to the archive, or make artifacts while there. Artifact donations may be private and consist of digitizations only - you can take your artifacts home if you want. Open visitation can support multiple participants and much shorter visits.
This research is being completed by a graduate student in partial completion of their degree, and the results will contribute to their MFA thesis.
Participation in this research is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time without consequence - however please cancel your appointment so others may use the time slot.
the archive at DFX
March 2026 130 Queens Quay E. Floor 4R
Come visit the archive at the DFX exhibition! The archive will share a floor with the OCADU Digital Futures Masters 2026 cohort.
March 26th only 5-8pm:
DFX opening party. Open visitation. Explore and feed the archive.
March 27-30:
Volunteer playtesting shifts. 30-40 minutes each. Please subscribe to the mailing list to be notified when registration opens.
Please contact me at gblekkenhorst@ocadu.ca if you have any questions or concerns about the research, or have questions about accessibilty of the playtest venue. You may join the mailing list to be notified about future playtests.