From dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org Sun Apr 1 23:07:38 2007 From: dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org (Dorkbot DC) Date: Sun Apr 1 23:07:49 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] Two more DC tech events! Message-ID: <2fd1fa350704012007t65f3bdc1s5275ee0bf26726ef@mail.gmail.com> Two more event announcements: 1) Curator's Office ColorField.remix projects 2) DemoCamp DC 2 Don't forget, next Dorkbot DC, Tuesday April 24, 7-9 PM at Artomatic: Artomatic Film Room, 6th floor 2121 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202 http://www.dorkbot.org/dorkbotdc =============== Curator's Office is pleased to present two innovative projects opening: April 14 at 6: 30 - 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm - 1:00 am in conjunction with Washington, DC's city-wideColorField.remix project. In the micro-gallery: Remembrancer: An Installation by Alberto Gait?n [dorkbot-dc member] April 14 - May 26, 2007 1515 14th street nw - second floor - washington.dc - 20005 Remembrancer, n. One who, or that which, serves to bring to, or keep in, mind; a memento; a memorial; a reminder. Media artist Alberto Gait?n is internationally known for his sophisticated and challenging sound work. In Curator's Office, Gait?n creates an installation entitled Remembrancer. The exhibition runs from April 14 - May 26, 2007. An opening reception for the artist is scheduled for Saturday, April 14 from 6:30 - 8 pm in conjunction with the joint ColorField.remix receptions at the 1515 14th Street Arts Building. Over the first four weeks of the exhibition, three networked machines with robotic arms will deposit paint little-by-little on three panels. The amount of paint placed at a given moment shall be controlled by a computer program that will be interpreting data from gallery-installed sensors and from Internet sources. Along with the daily changing accumulation of paint, a field of sound will be similarly generated in response to the same data. The completed work--an accretion of overlapping monochrome fields of color and sound--will be exhibited over the last two weeks of the exhibition. The machine-mediated process provokes questions of authorship and translation. Downstairs at Viridian Restaurant: The Feedback Series: Videos by Dissident Display April 14 - May 5, 2007 In this series, Washington, D.C.-based multimedia artists Dissident Display (Ayodamola Okunseinde & Adrian Loving) explore color studies in the digital video environment. An opening reception party for the artists is scheduled at Viridian Restaurant for Saturday, April 14 from 10:30 pm - 1 am to launch the ColorField.remix project along 14th Street. Although largely experimental in process, each piece individually seeks to re-contextualize and reinterpret tones, temperatures, and textures found in the PMS-RGB video color spectrum. The key mechanism shaping the resulting image is the technique of mixing and morphing video feedback, produced primarily with image patterns, Photoshop, a color corrector, and a primitive early 1980's video mixer. Viridian Restaurant, 1515 14th Street, is open daily from 5:30 - 11 pm. http://www.curatorsoffice.com/ ============================= The DC area's second DemoCamp will be held on the evening of Wednesday, April 25th, 2007, in College Park, Maryland. Details are at http://barcamp.org/DemoCampDC2 What is it? From the wiki: "We'd like to build an active community for people in the DC area to show up and informally share geeky stuff. Do you have a tool, a piece of software, a set of scripts, new toy, hardware hacks that you want feedback on? Bring it. Show it. Share! Eventually we'd like to organize a BarCampDC as a weekend-long version of DemoCampDC." Information about the first DemoCamp can be found at http://barcamp.org/DemoCampDC1 From tedwards at gmail.com Thu Apr 12 00:30:37 2007 From: tedwards at gmail.com (Thomas Edwards) Date: Thu Apr 12 00:32:32 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] Next Dorkbot DC and other events Message-ID: <2fd1fa350704112130m22bf9566g3c410697972c4068@mail.gmail.com> Friday, April 13 - Artomatic Opening Tuesday, April 17 - A MITH Digital Dialogue Tuesday, April 24 - Dorkbot DC April Meeting @ Artomatic ========== April 13 - Artomatic Opening Several Dorkbot DC members are showing work in the DigiAOM room on the 6th floor of Artomatic. On Friday, April 13 at 9PM, Jack Whitsitt will be holding a "virtual sculpture contest" in Second Life which will be projected on the wall of the DigiAOM room. For the contest, Second Life artists will have one hour to create (and script if needed) a sculpture from scratch on the fly. At the end of the hour, the audience will vote on the winning sculpture and the Second Life artist will receive a small monetary prize and the right to display their work in our gallery for a month. You can also catch "Your 2 Cents", an interactive video kiosk by Dorkbot DC members on the 8th floor of Artomatic. Artomatic openings are incredible events, be sure to drop by and check it out! Artomatic http://www.artomatic.org 2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Va. Metro stop: Crystal City =========== A MITH Digital Dialogue Tuesday, April 17, 12:30-1:45 MITH Conference Room, McKeldin Library B0135 University of Maryland College Park, MD MITH's next Digital Dialogue features presentations by two of its current Fellows on their ongoing digital humanities research. Please come support local colleagues by hearing them talk about their projects. The two presentations are ANGEL DAVID NIEVES (Architecture), "Soweto '76, A Living Digital Archive" and MERLE COLLINS (English and Comparative Literature), "In the Footsteps of the Old Heads: Saraka and Nation in the Caribbean." "Soweto '76, A Living Digital Archive" The aim of Soweto '76 is to develop an interactive immersive edutainment application and multimedia interface that allows users to experience a historically recreated urban environment with the support of primary and secondary archival materials. With the creation of a historically accurate environment as a platform, users will be able to assume the role of a character from the time period, and experience their reactions to actual events from their particular vantage point. It is hoped that users of Soweto '76 will act as virtual witnesses to the events of June 16, 1976--events that catalyzed the massive student uprisings against the apartheid regime. "In the Footsteps of the Old Heads: Saraka and Nation in the Caribbean" This project is an exploration of African survivals and re-creations in the Caribbean island of Grenada. Conceptualized as a multi-media project, the project aims to produce a video-recording of aspects of a harvest celebration known as the saraka, and, through research and interviews, to trace the origins of the saraka and its observation by those who feel a duty to continue it because they have inherited it from their ancestors, those whom they refer to as the "old heads". The project aims to use current cellphone technology to disseminate information regarding various elements of the saraka as one component of its interface. View MITH's complete Spring Speakers Schedule here: http://www.mith2.umd.edu/programs/mith_speakers_spring_2007.pdf Contact: Neil Fraistat, Director, MITH (www.mith.umd.edu, mith@umd.edu, 5-8927). =========== Dorkbot DC April Meeting Tuesday, April 24, 2007 7 PM - 9 PM (ET) Artomatic Space Film Room, 6th floor 2121 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202 In April, Dorkbot DC will meet at the Artomatic space, with presenters: Peter Blasser: DIY Synths, circuit bending, paper circuits Tim Tate: Glasswork and techology Jack Whitsitt: Building in Second Life Stefan Prosky: Catapult Show Video http://www.dorkbot.org From dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org Thu Apr 12 00:35:25 2007 From: dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org (Dorkbot DC) Date: Thu Apr 12 00:37:31 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] Next Dorkbot DC and other events Message-ID: <2fd1fa350704112135m343da06dw675298ece4456fb8@mail.gmail.com> Friday, April 13 - Artomatic Opening Tuesday, April 17 - A MITH Digital Dialogue Tuesday, April 24 - Dorkbot DC April Meeting @ Artomatic ========== April 13 - Artomatic Opening Several Dorkbot DC members are showing work in the DigiAOM room on the 6th floor of Artomatic. On Friday, April 13 at 9PM, Jack Whitsitt will be holding a "virtual sculpture contest" in Second Life which will be projected on the wall of the DigiAOM room. For the contest, Second Life artists will have one hour to create (and script if needed) a sculpture from scratch on the fly. At the end of the hour, the audience will vote on the winning sculpture and the Second Life artist will receive a small monetary prize and the right to display their work in our gallery for a month. You can also catch "Your 2 Cents", an interactive video kiosk by Dorkbot DC members on the 8th floor of Artomatic. Artomatic openings are incredible events, be sure to drop by and check it out! Artomatic http://www.artomatic.org 2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Va. Metro stop: Crystal City =========== A MITH Digital Dialogue Tuesday, April 17, 12:30-1:45 MITH Conference Room, McKeldin Library B0135 University of Maryland College Park, MD MITH's next Digital Dialogue features presentations by two of its current Fellows on their ongoing digital humanities research. Please come support local colleagues by hearing them talk about their projects. The two presentations are ANGEL DAVID NIEVES (Architecture), "Soweto '76, A Living Digital Archive" and MERLE COLLINS (English and Comparative Literature), "In the Footsteps of the Old Heads: Saraka and Nation in the Caribbean." "Soweto '76, A Living Digital Archive" The aim of Soweto '76 is to develop an interactive immersive edutainment application and multimedia interface that allows users to experience a historically recreated urban environment with the support of primary and secondary archival materials. With the creation of a historically accurate environment as a platform, users will be able to assume the role of a character from the time period, and experience their reactions to actual events from their particular vantage point. It is hoped that users of Soweto '76 will act as virtual witnesses to the events of June 16, 1976--events that catalyzed the massive student uprisings against the apartheid regime. "In the Footsteps of the Old Heads: Saraka and Nation in the Caribbean" This project is an exploration of African survivals and re-creations in the Caribbean island of Grenada. Conceptualized as a multi-media project, the project aims to produce a video-recording of aspects of a harvest celebration known as the saraka, and, through research and interviews, to trace the origins of the saraka and its observation by those who feel a duty to continue it because they have inherited it from their ancestors, those whom they refer to as the "old heads". The project aims to use current cellphone technology to disseminate information regarding various elements of the saraka as one component of its interface. View MITH's complete Spring Speakers Schedule here: http://www.mith2.umd.edu/programs/mith_speakers_spring_2007.pdf Contact: Neil Fraistat, Director, MITH (www.mith.umd.edu, mith@umd.edu, 5-8927). =========== Dorkbot DC April Meeting Tuesday, April 24, 2007 7 PM - 9 PM (ET) Artomatic Space Film Room, 6th floor 2121 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202 In April, Dorkbot DC will meet at the Artomatic space, with presenters: Peter Blasser: DIY Synths, circuit bending, paper circuits Tim Tate: Glasswork and techology Jack Whitsitt: Building in Second Life Stefan Prosky: Catapult Show Video http://www.dorkbot.org From dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org Sun Apr 22 23:07:50 2007 From: dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org (Dorkbot DC) Date: Mon Apr 23 00:24:47 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] Dorkbot DC Meeting Tuesday, Apr. 24, 2007 Message-ID: <2fd1fa350704222007s7c482253o56ea8a049351e561@mail.gmail.com> Next Dorkbot DC Meeting this Tuesday night! April 24, 2007 7 PM - 9 PM Artomatic Space, 6th Floor Lapis Auditorium (Film Room) 2121 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202 Join us this month for an exciting meeting in the Artomatic space in Crystal City, Virginia! (Note that this is not where we normally meet). Parking across the street under the Crystal City Shops is free after 5 PM. The building is 3 blocks from the Crystal City Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines. Map here: http://www.stationmasters.com/System_Map/CRYSTALC/crystalc.html Presentations this month include: Peter Blasser - Creator of sonic instruments and synthesizer circuits such as the Shinth and the Ambrazier based on the concept of circuit bending. Tim Tate - Co-Director of The Washington Glass School, Tate will discus how he uses technological elements such as LEDs and video screens with glass art pieces. Jack Whitsitt - The creator of The SintixErr Art Gallery in the Second Life virtual world system will talk about how you can buy land and build things there. Mini-Dorks: Dorkbot DCers will briefly talk about their work at Artomatic AfterDork: At the Artomatic bar! More info: http://www.dorkbot.org/dorkbotdc More Artomatic info: http://www.artomatic.org From freedman at jhu.edu Tue Apr 24 11:39:15 2007 From: freedman at jhu.edu (Joan Freedman) Date: Tue Apr 24 14:01:46 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] Johns Hopkins Media Center Job Opening Message-ID: Please post The Johns Hopkins University Digital Media Center (DMC) seeks a Digital Video/Multimedia Artist. Please view the official job description and apply online at https://hrnt.jhu.edu/jhujobs for job req 28930 The DMC is a non-academic lab located on the North Baltimore/Homewood campus in the Mattin Arts Center. In addition to supporting students in their use of multimedia technology we develop extra-curricular programs that provide opportunities to integrate art and science. Please view our web site at http://digitalmedia.jhu.edu. General Job Description: Instruct students in video and multimedia technology through non-credit workshops and one-on-one mentoring. Set-up and maintain digital video equipment, organize special projects and events, participate in departmental multimedia collaborations. This 28-hour per week position (with full benefits) requires some evening and weekend hours. The successful candidate will be encouraged to interact with the Baltimore-Washington digital arts community and to share connections and collaborations with JHU students. Qualifications:  MA, MFA, with emphasis in multimedia.  Must be able to learn new information quickly  Strong written and verbal communication skills;  Ability to work with artists, technicians, and to assist students in the creation of inter-disciplinary multi-media works of art.  Superior knowledge of digital video hardware and software, cameras, assorted lighting and audio-recording equipment  System-level knowledge of both Macs and PCs;  Ability to use animation, 3-D modeling, web, and graphic design software such as Flash, After Effects, InDesign, 3-D Studio, Dreamweaver, or open source versions.  Experience with video script writing, project management and planning, shooting, recording, editing and output such as printing, CD, DVD, and streamed media. For more information, please email Joan Freedman, Director JHU Digital Media Center freedman@jhu.edu. -- ___________________________________________________________ Joan Freedman Director, Digital Media Center Mattin Center suite 226 Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21218 (Phone)410.516.4288 (fax)410.516.2227 freedman@jhu.edu http://digitalmedia.jhu.edu ___________________________________________________________ From dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org Fri Apr 27 17:30:00 2007 From: dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org (Dorkbot DC) Date: Fri Apr 27 17:30:06 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] DC Dorky Events Message-ID: <2fd1fa350704271430o46170d4fpf6f12d7c3eaafb4c@mail.gmail.com> April 28 - Robot Fest May 2 - Jack Whitsitt's Second Life talk at Artomatic May 30 - Hold for Dorkbot DC Meeting - more info soon ===== Robot Fest Saturday, April 28th, 2007 10am to 3pm Historical Electronics Museum 1745 West Nursery Road Linthicum, Maryland 21090 (Near BWI Airport) http://www.robotfest.com/ [Dorkbot DC member Stefan Prosky will show his Solar Powered Drawing Robots & Mobile art robots, and there will be several robotic artworks by Maryland Institute College of Art students] ===== [From Jack Whitsitt]: May 2nd at 7:30pm in the Lapis Auditorium at Artomatic, Im going to be doing a live hands-on presentation focusing specifically on Second Life, but also on the theoretical role of virtual worlds in art (SL is just the most well developed at this point). Artomatic http://www.artomatic.org 6th Floor 2121 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202 The overall talk is geared towards explaining more thouroughly what I've only talked about in short clips to people (ie, make it more coherent) and advocating the use of a vastly underutilized and underappreciated art medium and tool in a digital age. In a larger sense, the art world is ridiculously behind the technological world and needs to catch up soonish now ;) The (related) points Ill be covering are: 1: Second Life as a live event presentation and extension mechanism - "How to be there when you're not" 2. Second Life as an art medium in its own right and how it can help explore ideas before creating them in real life. Here Ill be referencing some of Rebecca Gordon's work (directly) and Tim Tate's (indirectly) as examples (Tim's dorkbot talk was great and I meant to do this then) "How to let people walk through your dreams with you" 3. Second Life's impact and role in presenting art and observations on the role of socialization in art "Remembering your friends" 4. Perspectives on how to market your virtual world presence and use it to your advantage using examples of things that worked, didn't work, and could have been done or done differently - "Who cares and why?"