[dorkbotnyc-blabber] LEMUR July Art/Tech Classes + Upcoming Performances

[Eric Singer]

LEMUR News at a Glance

* Summer Classes Start In July: Building Controllers, Microprocessors 
for Artists, Fiberglass, Lights & Blinkies, Pyrotronics
* Looking Ahead: GamelaTron at Chelsea Art Museum & Children's Museum 
of Pittsburgh, 7/18, 7/20

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Summer Classes Begin July 7th

LEMUR Art and Technology summer classes begin July 7th. Scroll down 
for full descriptions. For more details and to sign up, go to 
http://lemurbots.org/classes.html.

Building Music & Video Controllers: Creating Sensor Instruments with MidiTron
Mondays 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 6:30-9:30 pm

Microcontroller Progamming for Artists: Introduction to the Arduino System
Tuesdays 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 6:30-9:30 pm

Lights & Blinkies: Working with LEDs & Electroluminescent (EL) Wire
Wednesday 7/9, 6:30-9:30 pm

Pyrotronics: Pyrotechnics & Control for Artists
Thursdays 7/10, 7/17, 7/24 6:30-9:30 pm

Fun With Fiberglass: Basic Composite Fabrication
Wednesdays 7/16, 7/23, 6:30-9:30 pm

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GamelaTron at Chelsea Art Museum & Children's Museum of Pittsburgh

After an excellent performance by Zemi17 (Taylor Kuffner) at Make 
Music New York this past Saturday, the GamelaTron heads to Chelsea 
next, then to Pittsburgh. As part of the Chelsea Art Museum's summer 
performing arts series, Zemi17 jams on the GamelaTron in conjunction 
with The Sleep of Reason. Then, we head west for a performance at 
Pittsburgh Kids, the site of LEMUR's current LEMURtron installation. 
More info in an upcoming announcement. For info on the GamelaTron, 
visit http://gamelatron.com.

Zemi17/GamelaTron

Chelsea Art Museum, Friday, July 18th, 7pm
556 West 22nd St, NYC
Tickets $15/Students+seniors $10/CAM members free
http://chelseaartmuseum.org

Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
10 Children's Way, Allegheny Square
Pittsburgh, PA
Free with museum admission
http://pittsburghkids.org

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Class Descriptions

Building Music & Video Controllers: Creating Sensor Instruments with MidiTron
Mondays 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 6:30-9:30 pm
Instructor: Leif Krinkle

Imagine waving your hand and having an orchestra at your fingertips 
or tapping on a surface to explore video. This is all possible 
through the use of MIDI and sensor-based technology. In this class, 
you will design and build a controller to create your art with the 
easy-to-use MidiTron interface (http://miditron.com).

Emphasis will be on hands-on learning. Basic electronics and 
Max/MSP/Jitter (http://cycling74.com/products/maxmsp) programming 
will also be covered. No previous knowledge of electronics, sensors 
or programming is assumed. Background information will be covered and 
the class will be focused on building a working controller that you 
can take home and begin to create with. Examples of previous project 
ideas include a shoe that creates notes for each step and a glove 
that determines lighting cues in a theatrical performance.

Cost: $495 including MidiTron, sensors and lab kit

Microcontroller Progamming for Artists: Introduction to the Arduino System
Tuesdays 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 6:30-9:30 pm
Instructor: Roberto Osorio-Goenaga

Have you ever wanted to build a robot or an interactive art 
installation? Have you ever wondered how LEDs, sensors and motors 
work? Through collaborative exercises and the development of in-class 
projects, you will learn how to program and prototype with an Arduino 
microcontroller (http://arduino.cc). This class is geared towards 
beginners, and no prior knowledge of electronics or programming is 
required.

The class will demonstrate programming and electronics basics through 
hands-on microcontroller projects. You will learn digital and analog 
input and output techniques for controlling motors and interpreting 
sensors as well as the programming skills necessary to use these 
components effectively. By the end of the class, students will have a 
firm understanding of how microcontrollers, sensors and actuators 
work and how to utilize these tools in their own creative projects.

Cost: $375 including Arduino board & lab kit

Lights & Blinkies: Working with LEDs & Electroluminescent (EL) Wire
Wednesday 7/9, 6:30-9:30 pm
Instructor: Leif Krinkle

In this class, you will learn how to wire, power and control LEDs 
(light emitting diodes) and electroluminescent wire, a flexible wire 
that looks like neon. You will learn the correct way to wire and 
solder multiple LEDs, solder and chain EL wire and wire both types of 
lights to a simple controller to make them blink. The teacher will 
also demonstrate and explain more advanced lighting systems, such as 
sequencers, LED matrices and full-color (RGB) LEDs.

Cost: $130 including LEDs, EL and lab kit

Pyrotronics: Pyrotechnics & Control for Artists
Thursdays 7/10, 7/17, 7/24 6:30-9:30 pm
Instructor: Eric Singer

A practical guide for artists interested in working with and 
controlling fire, especially in sculptural contexts. It will focus on 
working with propane, though other fuels and materials will be 
discussed as well. Topics covered will include safety, fuel 
properties, flame port and pilot construction, electronic controls, 
interfaces for programming and sequencing, valves and solenoids, 
ignition techniques and more.

Cost: $300

Fun With Fiberglass: Basic Composite Fabrication
Wednesdays 7/16, 7/23, 6:30-9:30 pm
Instructor: Bob Huott

Learn the skills and techniques for building custom composite objects 
from Kevlar, carbon fiber and fiberglass. Students will get hands-on 
experience in various stages of the process, including patterns and 
molds, lay-up and final finishing. Discussion will include ideas on 
how to integrate sensors, lighting or haptics into any project, and 
students are encouraged to bring their own project ideas.

The class will be in two sessions to offer hands-on work and time to 
finish with a completed project (choice of custom laptop armor or 
handmade lamp). Bob will also give a brief, inside-out tour of the 
Bean, his own composite sensor-based musical instrument. Composites 
are a messy business so please dress appropriately: painting clothes 
or smock and long sleeved shirt.

Cost: $215 including materials
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