Intangible Territories: The Island of Salty Dreams

This project will tell the story of a site by making a videogame.What is now known as Salt Spring Island is notorious for its alternative culture. Historically however, the place had a different character defined by groups of people whose experience was grounded in diversity amid the struggle for subsistence. Their stories played out at Cusheon Cove which, while relatively unknown, stands as a microcosm for events that transformed British Columbia through the early 20th century. Though most of the site's buildings are gone, artifacts remain that illustrate the history which transpired here, and through the affective power of storytelling, the hope is that these stories will continue to be retold.By examining a real site through virtual methods, this project questions the status of the 'tangible' by making a 'digital story.' The project pursues the following question: Can digital storytelling make the hidden qualities of a place tangible?