Stone's Throw. Skipping data with off-the-grid networks.
GOSH! Grounding Open Source Hardware.
The Banff Centre, Banff, Canada, July 2009.
Stone's Throw is a high-speed relatively low-capacity, off-the-grid DIY network. The hardware for the system is based on the Arduino microcontroller platform and Xbee radios. An integrated software library for the Arduino platform has also been developed. I also led a workshop on the system during the conference.
Robot Ecologies
Dorkbot, Toronto
InterAccess, Toronto, April 2009
I gave an artist talk about recent works and future projects. (Image from Braitenburg). Also presenting that night was Jessica Field.
sessile
Homologies (solo show)
Artspace, Peterborough, October 2008.
I gave an artist talk in association with the opening of my solo show, Homologies.
Transforming Urban Flow
Futuresonic 2008: Urban Festival of Art Music and Ideas
Manchester, UK, May 1-5
As a part of the musical interfaces panel I presented a summary of my networked collaborative projects. I discussed how netwroked objects could be used to reshape public space. This talk was framed by my colaborative work All my Friends At Once and Stone's Throw. The latter is a project conceptualized as an open source, “off-the-grid” network to facilitate the production of social devices that are independent of corporate service provider networks.
A Space Between
Together Elsewhere: Toronto/Montreal/Lille
Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada. 2008
I discussed how networks affect the experience of space and time when utilized in telematic contexts. Historically telematic art works were desribed as collapsing and unify disperate spaces. However, the collection of events I have produced since 2005 suggest that these spaces does not simply collapse. Generating contiguous space through real-time networks merges creative communities, juxtaposes users’ bodies, and transforms space into a distinct hybrid reality.
The Mobilization of Art Practice: Body Metaphors and the Desktop Worldview
Mobile Nations: Creating Methodologies for Mobile Platforms
OCAD, Toronto, Canada. 2007
Using Simon Penny's Engineering World View Article as a point of departure, I examined deeply engrained assumptions about computers, interface and mobilty. In particular I questioned the pervasive aspects of the desktop metaphore in mobile devices. I reflected on this model in the context of netwroked spaces and DIY interface projects I have been recently making.
Article is available in the book Mobile Nations.
When function follows form: Dumpster Diving and Other Pursuits
Digifest: Mods Panel
Design Exchange. Toronto, Canada. 2006.
I gave an artist talk contextualizing the distance between degrees with respect to my recent works. I discussed the role of dumpsterdiving and working at the trainling edge of technology as sources of inspiration. The methodological relationships between the distance, MRI Barbie and synergy were discussed.
Presented as a part of the New Voices program.
Mapping the Difference between Degrees
Creative Mapping in Art
Ontario Science Centre. Toronto, Canada. 2006.
Artist talk describing the conceptual and technical layers of mapping involved in creating the distance between degrees. Distance is a hacked etch-a-sketch that provides digital an analog user interfaces to a Mac paint emulation. Systems that force the convergence of digtal and physical spaces create an interesting friction between topologic and topographic space. These mappings are rich with creative potential.