Incompatible Elements – Josephine Starrs & Leon Cmielewski

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downstream installation: Australian Embassy Gallery, Washington DC, USA, September, 2009

The failure of nations to reach an agreement at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen last year has highlighted a huge gap between scientific consensus and public perceptions of climate change.

Downstream is a media art installation, which explores ways of representing the relationship between nature and culture. Employing poetic texts embedded into animated satellite images of landscapes at particular risk, it responds to the effects of climate change in ways that are mythical, biblical and chemical.

The work involves large screen installations which combine satellite imagery with local imagery and views of river systems threatened by global warming.
Downstream documentation

Leon Cmielewski and Josephine Starrs are Australian artists whose video and new media works have been shown extensively in Australia and internationally. They have created numerous projects including Seeker an installation that explores issues of migration, territorial boundaries, conflict commodities and human displacement. Seeker won an Award of Distinction in Interactive Art from the 2007 Prix Ars Electronica, Austria. Other work includes a.k.a. a video about universal surveillance, the Trace interactive installation, Bio-Tek Kitchen a computer game patch, Dream Kitchen an interactive stop-motion animation and Floating Territories a game art installation. They have been invited to participate in several international residency programs including Banff, Canada 1998, Sarai, New Delhi, India, 2006 and the Future Lab, Linz, Austria, 2009.

http://lx.sysx.org

SCANZ 2011: Eco sapiens

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Biomodd Workshop — Materials & Organising

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Results of Biomodd Philipines - a months long collaboration

Below is a list of all the materials and space requirements for the Biomodd workshop. To make it a little more fun for ourselves, we thought we’d keep a tally on the site, crossing things off as we go. It’s also a way to gather input, and give credit to anyone who might donate materials, space, or advice on sourcing these items. So here you go, and comments are welcome!

1. MATERIALS REQUIRED

1.1. Materials to be gathered locally

Used computers and computer components:
1.    average of 1 to 2 used computers per 3 participants
2.    computer specs: Pentium IV or higher, min. 512MB RAM, min. 20GB hard drive, min. 64MB video card, monitor, keyboard, mouse
3.    computers can be partly broken, but in this case it is advised to have a supply of used computer components such as RAM, hard drives, video cards, etc.

Running report:
Hard drives – 4 collected so far — 1 of which is confirmed as a Penitium IV, 2 of which whose motherboards have blown. Owners only request that any hd’s are reformatted/info wiped.
Monitors – 2 collected — 1 flat, 2 crt’s.
 

Tools:
1.    basic tool set: screwdrivers (large and small), long-nose pliers, hammer, drill, snap-off blade utility knives, scissors
2.    tools for putting things together: rope, twine,  adhesives (glue, paste, packing tape, duct tape), glue gun, nails, screws
3.    soldering iron and solder

Running report:
Much of this can be supplied by ourselves or WITT

Plants:
1. especially local plants, and plants that can be grown in small containers
1. small containers to grow them in… 😉

Need to find local places to request.

Lights:
1.    allot 1 (second-hand) light for every 2 participants

Tables:
1.    allot 1 table and 2 chairs for every 2 participants

1.2. Materials provided by the workshop leaders

Angelo will bring:
1.    1 water-cooled computer (motherboard with water block, water pump, radiator, tubing, RAM, hard drive)
2.    case-modding lights
3.    Torx screwdriver set

Further needed:
1.    Arduino boards, assorted sensors, assorted actuators*
2.    conductive fabric
*If the production budget allows for that.

4 Arduino controllers and basic equipment (sensors, actuators, electronic components)
Expendables (nails, screws, tape, glue, cable ties, small, computer components)

2. WORKSHOP SPACE ORGANIZATION

2.1. Duration
Min. 5 days, max. 2 weeks.

2.2. Participants
Number: max. of 25
Age: above 14
Experience: no previous experience needed, but preferably an interest in at least plants, biology, electronics and/or computers

2.3. Space requirements
Size: min. 30 m2
Availability: materials have to stay in place throughout the whole workshop
Security: possibility to lock and secure the space overnight
Internet access: at least one Internet access point is crucial for the workshop
Water supply: nearby water supply is needed to take care of plants and algae

2.4. Local resources
Please make sure that the workshop is organized in a location with access to:
1.    thrift stores
2.    hardware stores
3.    computer stores

2.5. Post-workshop exhibit
The result of the workshop can be exhibited as an installation. See this photo of the Biomodd Workshop Sint-Niklaas for an example of that.

2.6. End
At the end of the workshop as many components should be re-used or recycled as possible. For re-use, participants can take home components or pieces can be sold or donated to thrift stores. All used plants should be brought back to nature or adopted by the participants.

In case the workshop/exhibit takes longer than the stay of the artists, KIBLA is responsible for taking down and recycling the installation.

Creative Bike Workshops — Ideas Page

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Interested to join for a creative workshop as part of the Miniature Green Bikes scheme, and need some ideas for what you could do? Just for your inspiration, below are some of the crazy things going on out there.

If you already have your own project going on, or know of others who have, ask them to come along and share their work and ideas.

Feel free to email Jonah with your ideas, and/or to add links to further ideas in the comments below.

Bike Trailors

People asking, just how much can I fit on my bike trailor?

You can carry anything in one of these handy and sturdy bike trailors. Jonah can show you how to build a lightweight bamboo one, so that you too can compete to see how much you can fit into your trailor…

Pedal-powered Blenders

Pedal powered blenders in action at Puke ArikiPedal-powered goodness! Find out how to add a blender to your bike so to make a healthy meal on the run. If interested, please let Jonah & Dhyana know via the workshop registration form.

Glowing Bikes

Some ideas for how to make your bike glow

Got an idea for some tricky use of your own kinetic or maybe solar energy to light you up in style? Or maybe just creative use of reflective tape? Bring along some of the gear you have in mind, and lets get started…! Here are some similar ideas being demonstrated:

Laughing Bikes

A laughing bike designed by Jessica Thompson

We love this one… “Soundbike, is a concept product designed by Jessica Thompson. The unit attaches to the rear of a bike frame, and produces peals of laughter as you pedal. The faster you go, the louder and wilder the laughter gets, until it reaches the fever-pitch of a raging lunatic as you race down hills.” For more information, see:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/12/08/soundbike-puts-laughter-on-the-road/

Singing Bikes

Singing bikes & symphonies... of course.. !

“Symphony for Singing Bicycles” by Godfried-Willem Raes
http://www.logosfoundation.org/scores_gwr/singbikes.html

Mad, Mad Rides

Some more mad rides...

Pure madness. If you want to go all out maybe you could think about an er…. equestrian smoothie maker? Or maybe a glowing double-decker demon? Biking glory could be yours.

Please say hello!

If you have an idea to discuss or are just interested to join, please let Jonah know either via the workshop registration form, or by emailing him directly.

 

[NB: All workshop registration and contact links have been removed, post-event]

Residency Info

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SCANZ 2011: Eco sapiens — Residency Information

Dates: 17-30 January, 2011
Location: Main workshop venues – 109 Devon Street West New Plymouth, and Pukekura Park. Various public events, workshops, installations occur during the residency.

The SCANZ 2011: Eco sapiens two week residency has been designed for individuals and groups whose focus is on developing creative, poetically pragmatic or provocative projects which raise awareness of the issues that confront us, generate connections between people, with their natural environment, and which grapple with the challenges of individual and collective evolution.

The selected residency projects are to take place in variety of spaces in and around the city. Several networked, DIY, and otherwise actively and openly distributed ways of working have been supported. Preparations are also being made for those interested to participate remotely.

 


Creative Residency Projects

Projects for the creative residency have been selected for their poetic pragmatics, local social engagements, and ability to instigate a mode of thinking about our understandings of ourselves and our relationships to the ecologies, energies and networks around us.

Examples of residency projects:

The Pollinator Frocks Project

Areosphere and Atmosphere

PLUME

Live Food Café

Ecotones (image from Cascade)

Stories of Land and People


To see

 

 

 

 

2011 Participants

The SCANZ 2011: Eco sapiens creative residency participants include Jo Tito, Andrew Hornblow, Dhyana Beaumont, DodoLab (Andrew Hunter with Lisa Hirmer), Raewyn Turner, Karen Ingham, ÆLab (Gisèle Trudel with Stéphane Claude), Josephine Starrs and Leon Cmielewski, Angelo Vermeulen,  Jonah Marinovich, Nina Czegledy (our International Research Fellow) and Janine Randerson, Keith Armstrong and Leah Barclay, and Ramon Guardans. Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru, Roger Malina and Erich Berger of Ars Bioarctica will be involved in the hui, to be held at Owae marae. Julian Priest’s Slow Flow project is also a partner project, and will immediately follow the SCANZ 2011 residency.

Map of Taranaki

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View SCANZ – Map of Taranaki in a larger map

Powhiri (Welcoming Ceremony)
Owae Whaitara Marae
16 North St, 4320, Waitara, New Zealand
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/430905/877193

WITT Campus Accommodation
Accommodation on Bell
Entrance via Hendrie Street | p: (06) 968-3002
Each of the rooms contains: * King, Queen or twin beds * En-suite toilet/shower * TV * Fridge * Desk or table * Tea & coffee making facilities * Bed linen, towels & toiletries * Telephone and internet connections
Email:  info@accommodationonbell.co.nz

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery
40 Queen Street, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: +64-6 759 6060 | http://govettbrewster.com
Opening hours – 10.00am—5.00pm daily (Closed Christmas Day)

Puke Ariki
1 Ariki Street, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Phone: +64 (6) 759 6060 | http://www.pukeariki.com/

Opening Hours – M, T, Th, Fr – 9.00am—6.00pm
Late night Wednesday – 9.00am—9.00pm
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays – 9.00am—5.00pm

Pukekura Park
A botanical park and garden in central New Plymouth, which is being outfitted with wifi mesh and other implementations that artists and other groups will be able to activate.

Friends of Pukekura Park: About the Park
http://www.pukekura.org.nz/index.php?page=the-park

Western Institute of Technology (WITT)
http://www.witt.ac.nz/

Phone: 0800 WITT WORKS (0800 948 896)
+64 6 757 3100
Fax: +64 6 757 3235
Email: info@witt.ac.nz

Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki
20 Bell Street
Private Bag 2030
New Plymouth
Taranaki
New Zealand

Slow Flow – Te Ia Kōrero – Julian Priest & Greenbench

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Partner Project

Slowflow invites artists, technologists and environmentalists on a journey down the Whanganui River by double hulled 22 person waka haurua (canoe) and bicycle, creating a setting for a flow of conversations – Te Ia Kōrero. Slowflow imagines living in a post carbon future where physical transport has slowed to human speed, energy use is constrained and renewable, production is collaborative and relocalised. First held in 2009, the 2011 event will be the third journey to-date and will immediately follow the SCANZ 2011 residency. Please contact Julian and Greenbench for further information at i n f o at greenbench . o r g.

Slow Flow – Te Ia Kōrero

Julian Priest

Julian Priest is an artist and independent researcher living and working in New Zealand. He was co-founder of early wireless free network community Consume.net in London U.K.. He became an activist and advocate for the free networking movement and has pursued wireless networking as a theme in fields of arts, development, and policy. Since 2005 he has developed an artistic practice around participatory and collaborative forms and has shown works internationally in the U.K., Latvia, Germany and New Zealand. He has worked with students and been peer advisor at the Banff New Media Institute in Canada. Priest is currently focused on art practice and his current interests are around the physical and cultural boundaries between technology and the environment.

Schedule & Format

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Symposium Schedule & Format

Hui/Symposium

Dates: Friday 14th — Saturday 15th January
Venue: Owae Marae – Manukorihi Pa, Waitara, Taranaki
Address: 16 North St, 4320, Waitara, New Zealand

Powhiri / Welcoming Ceremony
Date & Time: 14th January, early morning (exact time to be confirmed).
The SCANZ 2011: Eco sapiens symposium will be held as a hui at Owae Marae in Waitara, and so will be initiated with a powhiri, or welcoming ceremony. Important: please see the venue page for more details on this ceremony and other customs or tikanga.

Keynotes, Short Presentations, Discussions
After Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru speaks as our keynote, the main sessions of the symposium will be made up of short presentations (7-10mins, pecha kucha style) of current or relevant explorations in individual participant’s work, with breakout discussions. Some shared session topics will be selected by the participants.

Interdisciplinary
As a number of different disciplines will be present, we expect all participants to come with a respect for and willingness to engage with the differing viewpoints of other areas of specialisation.

All-pitch-in & Food as a Social Space
We see food as an important connection point both philosophically, socially and politically. Hence the event is organised as an all-pitch-in arrangement, where we will be making our own meals together, and sleeping in the shared space of the wharenui (central meeting house) together, as is customary. As a hui, the event is also family-friendly and a chance for children to experience these spaces, customs and ideas.

Propose a Presentation
Topical discussion areas are outlined in the Open Call. You can propose a presentation here and register for the symposium here. All are welcome, and Day Visitor passes are available for local people.

Open Workshop Day

Sunday 16th January
As a way for the event to feed inspiring ideas into the already existing local eco-energies, on the third day of the symposium/hui we plan to hold an open, community day of workshops, demos, and discussions.

Entrance is free and all are encouraged to come and join. Local families, foodies, travellers & holidayers, all are welcome! Early workshop registration is advised as some sessions may have some material costs.

If you would like to promote the work you are doing, or have some thoughts to share, please feel free to contact us and to propose workshop/demo/discussion or join in.

Current Workshops:

Jo Tito — Stories of Land and People

Jo is developing a series of workshops which creatively weave together the Taranaki landscape; combining the materials of harakeke (flax), kohatu (rock) and wai (water) with the power of digital storytelling. As a meditation on these materials the workshops bring forward a Maori conception of our connections to the environment, and how building our understanding of these kinds of connections might help to bring healing to our planet and peoples.
Taranaki Story on Jo’s work

Carl Chenery — Taking Back Our Projections

In this workshop, Carl works to name the assumptions we have in our head around the concept of ‘waste’ or concept of ‘away’ and how they show up in our world. What would it look like to take those projections back from the landscape? This workshop will include the use of an online tool to connect participants through Google Earth and Google Maps with the physical locations of where our water comes from, where our storm water goes to, where our ‘waste’ water goes to. And where our ‘waste’ ends up.
Carl’s profile on the Intersect network site

Jonah Marinovich — Mad Mod Bike Workshops

Meke my Paika — Open workshop: Jonah will be on hand with cable ties, five kinds of adhesive tape, seven different kinds of glue, and all manner of nuts/bolts/brackets to assist people with modifying and decorating their bikes into light bearing, noise making, smoothie whizzzing, and possibly plant-based-organism sprouting sustainable-conceptual symphonies! So bring your ideas and inspirations, and we’ll get you on your way… !

Pimp my Koha — We need donations of bikes! Bring your bikes along to eco pimp or be pimped, and to be auctioned off at the end of the Eco sapiens event. Proceeds from the auction will go to cover costs, and a local eco group of your choice. Got a bike for us? Email us at: kiaora at intercreate dot org.

Dhyana Beaumont — Live Food Café

Using bike pedal-powered smoothie blenders and various food-foraging expeditions, Dhyana creates a connecting device between the power of fresh nutrient-rich food, and the pragmatic politics of finding or growing sources of fresh food today. As part of the food celebrations of the day, Dhyana will be testing out green smoothie recipes and their blending, with symposium participants and local people with possible explorations of Waitara foraging opportunities.

Andrew Hornblow — Solar Powered Art Workshops

Andrew is a local electronics wizard who inspired kids all around the country with what they can do with electronics. Also a radio, and general technical wizard, Andrew will be running a series of workshops on solar powered art works for children, youth and adults.
A photolog of Andrew’s school workshops

Justin Morgan — Waste Not

This project is a collaborative interaction between Justin, the attendees and visitors to the event that involves collecting and documenting the material waste that manifests during the SCANZ symposium; and creatively converting this waste. UPDATE: Please note that due to a recent appointment, Justin will be confirming with us whether he will be able to perform this work as planned.
J.J. Morgan & Co.

Enquiries

If you are interested in joining for the symposium, or to hold or help with a workshop, or otherwise participate in this gathering, please feel free to let us know. We can be contacted anytime at: i n f o @ i n t e r c r e a t e . o r g

Hui/Symposium Venue – Owae Marae

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Owae Marae – Manukorihi Pa

Venue/Accommodation: Owae Marae, Waitara
Address: 16 North St, 4320, Waitara, New Zealand
View SCANZ – Owae Marae in a larger map

The SCANZ 2011: Eco sapiens symposium is being held as a hui at Owae Marae. Therefore the below arrangements apply, and the event will be initiated with a powhiri, or welcoming ceremony.

Powhiri / Welcoming Ceremony – 14 January, Meet at Gates, 9am

9am – Meet at Gates and practise songs.
10am – Official Powhiri begins.

The Powhiri ceremony is a formal welcoming ceremony for visitors, which will officially start at 10am.

We will however need to arrive early – 9am – in order to prepare. There are two sides in a Powhiri – tangata whenua (people of the land) who are hosts and manuhiri (visitors). First the manuhiri are called on to the marae. This is conducted in te reo, Maori language. Then speeches commence, with a song after each speaker. After speakers on each side have spoken, there is an exchange of breath – the pressing of noses which signifies that tangata whenua and manuhiri have become one.

Some further information is available online about the steps involved in powhiri and the ideas behind it. Please note there are many kinds of powhiri ranging from very formal to quite informal and also each marae has it’s own protocols.

Presently we are thinking of two people speaking for us, the manuhiri,  so we need to practice two songs.  Following are two simple, direct and meaningful songs that are often sung. It is a compliment to tangata whenua if we are able to sing these songs well, not hesitating or being shy.

Te Aroha
Te aroha
Te whakapono
Me te rangimarie
Tatou, tatou, e

E Hara
E hara I te mea
No inaiane te aroha
No nga tupuna
Tuku iho
Tuku iho

Coming from out of town?

If you are coming from out of town we recommend that you arrive on the 13th, or are able to arrange your travel in order to arrive in time at the Marae gates an hour prior to the powhiri ceremony. For those staying at Accommodation on Bell, we will arrange for vans to leave this accommodation. Waitara is approximately 25mins from WITT campus.

Shard Cooking / Eating / Sleeping Arrangements

Please note that the event is organised as an all-pitch-in arrangement, where we everyone will be helping out with making our own meals together, and sleeping in the shared space of the large wharenui (central meeting house) together, as is customary.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Biomodd Presentation – Angelo Vermeulen

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Results of Biomodd Philipines - a months long collaboration

In this artist talk Angelo Vermeulen will present his biology-inspired works. He will focus on Biomodd, a worldwide cross-cultural installation project in which ecology, community building, and case modding creatively converge. The first version was created at The Aesthetic Technologies Lab in Athens, Ohio between 2007 and 2008. In October 2009, the project’s second iteration in the Philippines was finalized after an 8-month long collaboration with a team of over 50 Filipino artists, scientists, engineers, gamers, craftsmen, volunteers and students. Future versions are planned in Singapore and Brazil. During the talk, Biomodd will be elaborated upon using video excerpts, photos, work sketches and participant testimonies. Vermeulen will also introduce Corrupted C#n#m#, his most recent art project set up in collaboration with FLUXspace in Philadelphia, FoAM and Sound Image Culture in Brussels. The work deals with biological infected electronics, glitch art, and the physicality of digital media.

Pecha Kucha Maastricht

Angelo Vermeulen is a visual artist, filmmaker, biologist, author, activist, and DJ. His research in ecology, environmental pollution and teratology informs his art, which includes bio installations, experimental setups incorporating living organisms and sci-fi references. His projects include ‘Blue Shift’, a Darwinian art project in collaboration with biologist Prof. Luc De Meester, and ‘Biomodd’, a worldwide series of cross-cultural, symbiotic installations fusing game culture, ecology and social interaction. Next to developing a new experimental cinema project based on biologically infected electronics, he currently also collaborates with the MELiSSA life support division of the European Space Agency. Vermeulen co-authored the book ‘Baudelaire in Cyberspace: Dialogues on Art, Science and Digital Culture’, with art philosopher Antoon Van den Braembussche, and lectures throughout Europe, Southeast Asia and North America.

http://www.angelovermeulen.net