Gray Area Foundation “Transpose” Opening

Creative Coding: An Introduction to Processing at Gray Area Foundation

Color Mapper – A project by Instructor Scott Murray.

Back by popular demand, Gray Area Foundation for the Arts introduces our third Creative Coding workshop, scheduled as part of Gray Area’s educational programming for February 2010.

Creative Coding: An Introduction to Processing is an introductory-level, project-based workshop that explores the creative potential behind Processing, a free and revolutionary programming environment that enables users to create interactive, dynamic, computer-based tools, projects, and art. Over four evenings, participants will explore creative programming in a project-based, collaborative learning environment. Instructor Scott Murray will cover Processing-specific syntax, as well general programming concepts. Creative Coding is intended for absolute beginners. No prior programming experience is necessary, although students with prior programming experience are still welcome to attend.

“Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to program images, animation, and interactions. It is used by students, artists, designers, researchers, and hobbyists for learning, prototyping, and production. It is created to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context and to serve as a software sketchbook and professional production tool.” — processing.org

Classes will be held from 6PM – 9PM:
Tuesday — February 23rd
Thursday — February 25th
Tuesday — March 2nd
Thursday — March 4th

Registered students are expected to arrive on time, with Processing installed on a laptop computer. Processing is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X machines. Arrangements can be made for students unable to supply their own computer by contacting ss@gaffta.org. Classes are $240 for non-members, and $220 for members.

Prototype Show Timelapse

A timelapse video of the Gray Area Foundation for the Arts resident artists’ “Prototype” exhibition, featuring the works by: Alphonzo Solorzano, Miles Stemper, Daniel Massey, Gabriel Dunne, and Ryan Alexander.

More SoftStep and Batt-O-Meter at NAMM 2010

Another interview with me by Ronan’s Recording Show at NAMM 2010, featuring KMI’s two “Best in Show” product winner’s, the SoftStep and Batt-O-Meter.

LoveTech 1 Year Anniversary

This Saturday I will be MCing the Educational PlayShops at the LoveTech 1 Year anniversary party. Come out and see the performers of the evening talk about their setups and aesthetics.

Saturday, January 30th
9pm-2am
at Il Pirata 2007 16th St (@ Utah St)
$8, 21+

Moldover, Rich DDT & Jean Rintoul present:

Showcasing LIVE Electronic Musicianship

Collaborative Music Technology Party & Interactive Multimedia Art Salon.

LoveTech
1 Year Anniversary Epictacular!!!
Saturday, January 30th
9pm-2am
at Il Pirata 2007 16th St (@ Utah St)

Moldover
Unleashing a tsunami of live controllerism on his New MOJO

Preshish Moments
Seismic button smasher, Splinter builder and sound reactive Light Suit rocker of bassy synths, shattering beats, and enlivened rhymes

Nonagon + CSTNG SHDWS
The Monome master returns with live vocals, electric violin & superbly synchronized visuals

Colfax
Virtuosic sound sorcerer stirring electronics expressively alive

Tim Thompson + Michael Broxton
Bliptastic improvised robot synth-jazz percolating into generative visuals

All Night Educational PlayShops! by Barry Threw
From all our performers and special guests! Including:
Komega: Mind Melting Menagerie of Kustom Kreations: Kromatron, Komegatone, the Breadman
http://kromatron.blogspot.com

Moldover: Premier of The MOJO – The Sexiest Controller in the Entire Multiverse
http://youtu.be/HlBZpaLHRws

Preshish Moments: Sound Reactive LED Light Suit
http://www.preshishmoments.com

Interactive Art Salon by Jean Rintoul:
PERSISTANCE OF VISION POI – Jean Rintoul
BRAIN MACHINE – trippy glasses (Mitch Altman’s kit from Noisebridge!) – Jean Rintoul

All night VJ Mashup:
Sign Up Here and Bring Your Laptop!

Digital Jam Lounge (Drum Circle of THE FUTURE) by Rich DDT:
Bring your laptop, synth, or any electronic instrument, plug in and play!
A collaborative jamming space perfect for teaching one another new music hardware and software
Sign Up Here and Bring Your Instruments!

Featured Multimedia Artists
MICHAEL BROXTON – PhosphorEssence – Triptastic Visualizations Piloted with Joysticks

TIM THOMPSON – NoSuch Clips – Launchpad/Mimo/Keyboard Interface

CSTNG SHDWS – Jaw Dropping Live Visualist Duo – Previous collaborations include Boys Noize, The Toxic Avenger, Jack Beats, Flying Lotus, and Aesop Rock

Plus special top-secret surprises that will leave you utterly amazed and brimming with inspiration!

The SoftStep Foot Controller

Here is a preview of the SoftStep, Keith McMillen Instruments’ new foot controller. Unlike other foot-controllers that are bulky switches, the SoftStep weights under a pound and has five degrees of continuous control on each pad. Left/Right, Up/Down, Pressure, Clockwise and Counterclockwise rotation are all available and mappable to any MIDI or OSC destination with our included software.

Gray Area Residence Artists Exhibition, Prototype

The action continues at the Gray Area Foundation for the Arts this weekend, with our first resident artists show, Prototype. It opens this Saturday from 6PM until Midnight. So far I’ve seen grass, paint, projectors and a laser cutter involved in the setup for this one, be sure not to miss it.

PROTOTYPE
Opening January 9th
6PM-Midnite

The Gray Area studios have operated as a laboratory for its five artists in residence, fostering the creation of projects that overlap technology and traditional media. Using this collaborative workspace, the artists have created multi-disciplinary works that include immersive environments, digitally fabricated sculpture, kinetic paintings, audiovisual software/hardware, and other mixed media experiments. PROTOTYPE will be a dynamic group exhibition featuring a collection of individual and collaborative works created by our very first class of Resident Artists.

Alphonzo Solorzano
Born in San Francisco, Alphonzo Solorzano began to explore creatively as far back as he can recall. Drawing has always been first nature. Early influences would include his older brother’s comic collection, animation, vintage cinema posters. He received his BFA in 2004 from San Francisco State University with an emphasis in painting and printmaking. Working simultaneously in both disciplines as well as a commercial printer, would help to form a mixed media approach to his work. Alphonzo Solorzano currently resides in San Francisco where he continues to work diligently on his art. He has exhibited in various museums, galleries, and alternative art spaces on the west coast, Midwest and over seas.

Gabriel Dunne
Gabriel Dunne’s work spans fine art to design and technology in the mediums of installation, architecture, industrial design, and audio/visual programming. His pursuits insight the exploration of life, music and sound, structure, and systems in the natural world. His projects have been shown internationally at conferences and exhibitions around the world. He is a San Francisco native, and holds a B.A. in Design | Media Arts from UCLA.

Ryan Alexander
Ryan Alexander experiments with generative techniques in animation and design. He spends his time hacking software for live visuals, and exploring what’s possible with all the crazy tools humanity has at its disposal.

Miles Stemper
Classically trained as a painter, Miles Stemper’s work is a way of connecting his interests in digital media, technology, optics and the physical pleasure of painting. His work uses gestural mark-making, geometry and digital reinterpretation as a way of understanding the relevance of painting in an increasingly digitized world. Raised in Seattle, Miles received a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, has worked in Germany and has exhibited work on both coasts.

Daniel Massey
Daniel Massey (b. 1982, Mexico) is an artist, designer, and programmer based out of San Francisco, CA. Daniel’s recent work seeks to instigate new modes of collaboration, creation, and transformation by approaching technology as inherently malleable. His projects take on varied forms, from immersive installations and web-based work, to live visuals and sound. Daniel earned his MFA in Digital Arts & New Media from the University of California, Santa Cruz.GG

NYE Party at Gray Area Foundation, “Powers of 10″

The only place to be in San Francisco this New Years Eve is the Gray Area Foundation for the Arts for our Power’s of 10 Party. We’ll be setting up six channels of the the Compound sound system, filled by Jonah Sharp, Alland Byallo and Nikola Baytala.

When: 9pm 12/31/09 – 4am 1/1/2010
Where: Gray Area Foundation for the Arts
Cost: Free for Gray Area Members! Membership starts at $50.

Following the tradition of our memorable Grand Opening GAFFTAhours party, Powers of 10 will be a multimedia celebration featuring original works from world class audio and visual artists, including a LIVE performance from (and the San Francisco premiere of) internationally acclaimed DJ and producer Brendon Moeller!

Paying homage to the base 10 nature of the year ahead (and the inspirational scientific short film of the same name) Powers of 10 will transform our dynamic 4,000 sq ft. digital art center into a series of distinct audiovisual spaces and exhibitions exploring the microscopic and macrocosmic dimensions of our collective interconnectivity. And for this special occasion, we are excited to have 6 channels from The Compound’s legendary sound-system at our disposal to create a truly immersive environment.

With local support from SF stalwarts Jonah Sharp, Alland Byallo and Nikola Baytala, OPEN BAR until midnight, champagne toast, hors d’œuvres, balloon drop, and a full fledged Gray Area Membership, Powers of 10 promises to be a celebration worthy of the arrival of a new decade filled with promise and possibilities.

Powers of 10 is a Members only (21+) event. You can reserve your spot by purchasing a Gray Area Membership at any level (see below). Membership perks include discounts on future Gray Area events, Members-only keepsakes and the first 75 Memberships sold come with a limited edition Gray Area pin!

Alvin Curran; “In Memory of Maryanne Amacher”

In the New York Times today, friend and mentor Alvin Curran wrote a reflection on sonic hurricane Maryanne Amacher that much worth the read. Maryanne is a great inspiration to a great many electronic musicians, and to all of us at Recombinant Media Labs.

Pulsing sounds emerged from what seemed like every direction, began to circle my head, I thought I was hallucinating swarms of biological air, Maryanne was standing there looking at me with a knowing smile on her face. I said, “But how do you get the sound to circle my head, to move in back of me as well as in front of me?” She said, coyly, something like, “Well, I really don’t know but I am working on it.” Then we both broke up as if we were stoned.

Jon Rose with K-Bow at Horse Bazaar Melbourne

Jon Rose recently played a concert at the Horse Bazaar in Melbourne, Australia using the K-Bow system. In this interview Jon talks about his interactive violin performance practice. Live performance excerpts show the K-Bow and its integrated software being used for surround sound spatialization and realtime sample playback and manipulation.