Monday, November 9, 2009

University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton Street
SF, CA 94117
McLaren room #251

LASER is a monthly series of lectures and presentations organized by Piero Scaruffi on behalf of Leonardo/The International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology (ISAST)

This event is FREE but space is limited. Please RSVP to p@scaruffi.com.

Schedule:

6:15pm-6:45pm: Socializing/networking.

6:45-7:10: Warren Sack (UC Santa Cruz) on “Software Studies, Software Art, Software Design”

Since software design is a process of writing, the “computer revolution” can be understood as the rewriting of the world. One can identify a minor literature, within computer science, that has been premised on an understanding of software designers as writers, as essayists, as those who articulate ideas in code to communicate with other people. In other words, within this minor literature, computers are understood not just as tools but also as media that connect and separate people. Software studies is an emerging area in which code is examined as a digital medium.

7:10-7:35: Jim Campbell (artist) on “More is Less: Delving Into Lo-fi”

I’ll discuss how my work over the last few years has gone from looking at very low-resolution visual image representations to looking at almost no-resolution non-image visual representations. I’ll show different ways of distilling time and rhythm information from an event, ways that , when successful, present an essential and felt (as opposed to analytic) extremely minimal representation.

7:35-7:50: BREAK

7:50-8:15: Phil Ross (artist) on “It’s Alive!: Curating life into the art realm”

An introduction to the ideas and ambitions that gave rise to BioTechnique, a 2007 show that traced the history of life as a cultured thing; the complicated logistics in curating living works into galleries and museums; a larger view of the bio-culture industry.

8:15-8:45: Renetta Sitoy (artist) on “The Internet as Media”

Employing a range of strategies for acquiring, organizing, and re-contextualizing information found on the World Wide Web; exploring themes such as online communities (in which participants communicate through mediated, self-defined personas), “cyber-stalking,” as well as using the Internet as a means of self-discovery and recollecting personal histories.

8:45-9:30: More Socializing/Networking

Find out more about past LASERs: http://www.leonardo.info/isast/laser.html

The Art, Technology, and Culture Colloquium of the Berkeley Center for New Media and SFMOMA  present:

From A to B and Back Again
Candice Breitz, Artist, Berlin

Monday, October 19, 7:30 – 9 pm
160 Kroeber Hall, UC Berkeley
Free and open to the public.
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Should an art audience be suspicious of works of art that open themselves up to popular cultural content? Do explorations of screen life affirm or undermine the commodity structure of mainstream entertainment? Are copyleft strategies legitimate or objectionable?  How is the artist’s relationship with the subjects that she kidnaps as found footage or those she films herself in studio settings mediated by the technological display formats?

Candice Breitz will field such questions and speak about her recent works, including ‘Working Class Hero (A Portrait of John Lennon)’ and ‘Mother,’ two multi-channel video installations that are currently on view in a monographic exhibition of her work at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The artist will have video footage on hand from most of the installations that she has made over the last decade. The open format will allow participants to steer Breitz towards talking about particular works that they would like to discuss.

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Candice Breitz was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1972 and is currently based in
Berlin. She holds degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg), the University of Chicago and Columbia University (NYC). She has participated in the Whitney Museum’s Independent Studio Programme and ran the Palais de Tokyo’s Le Pavillon residency as a visiting artist during the year 2005-2006. She has been a tenured Professor of Fine Art at the University of Fine Arts in Braunschweig since 2007.  In recent years solo exhibitions of her work have been hosted by the Kunsthalle Berlin, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Newcastle, the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, De Appel in Amsterdam, the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, the Castello di Rivoli in Turin, the Collection Lambert in Avignon, the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humleb?k, White Cube in London, Yvon Lambert in New York and the Bawag Foundation in Vienna.  A museum-scale survey of her work is currently running at The Power Plant in Toronto until late 2009. The catalogue published parallel to the exhibition contains an essay by Berkeley scholar Anne Wagner.  Breitz will participate in the Performa Biennale in New York in November 2009. Additionally her work can currently be experienced on group exhibitions including the Gothenburg Biennial in Sweden and at the Tate Liverpool in the United Kingdom.  An exhibition of her work showcasing multi-channel installations ‘Working Class Hero (A Portrait of John Lennon’ and ‘Mother’ is currently at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

http://www.candicebreitz.net

There are two great new media related events over the next couple of days. The first is the unveiling of the Grey Area Foundation for the Arts with two major events today, Thursday, October 1st with Galvanize event and then a the night event, GAFFTAHours. Then on Friday, October 2, is the big OPENing of the first show, OPEN.

Barry Threw blogged about the event in detail, and I’m scraping a few details from him:

GALVANIZE Fundraiser Gala
October 1st, 2009 6:30pm – 9pm GALVANZE is a special “Gray Tie” benefit gala and preview of GAFFTA’s Inaugural Exhibition, OPEN.

Attendees to GALVANIZE will be the very first to experience GAFFTA’s inspiring new space and exclusive preview of our Inaugural Exhibition: OPEN. This limited-capacity, one-time engagement will feature a champagne reception followed by remarks from GAFFTA’s founders and The Mayor’s Office, culminating with an artist-led exhibition tour. Guests will also receive commemorative gifts and other premiums commensurate with the generosity of contribution.

Interested patrons may find more information and purchase tickets by visiting the Galvanize Page or emailing support@gaffta.org
GAFFTAHours Preview Celebration
October 1st, 2009 9:30pm – 1amImmediately following GALVANIZE, the evening will transition into the first in a series of regular nighttime preview celebrations for each new exhibition, beginning with our inaugural show OPEN. GAFFTAHours will be a 21+ limited-capacity ticketed-event (priced at $25), featuring live music from QZEN and Kid Kameleon, hosted bar and Limited Edition keepsakes.

For more information and to buy tickets to GAFFTAHours, visit the GAFFTAhours Page or email support@gaffta.org
Public Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
October 2nd, 5pm – 6pmJoined by representatives from the Tenderloin Economic Development Program, Mayor’s Office and Grants for the Arts, GAFFTA will hold a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 55 Taylor Street marking the official opening of its new digital art center. This event is free and open to the press and the public.
Public Opening Reception
October 2nd, 6pm – 10pm

Then, on Sunday, October 4, there is the Renegade Art Show and Auction in Sonoma, with several DMAX Vanguard members participating, including myself, and then some:

On Sunday October 4th, 2009 the world of art and politics will come together for one event. Best-selling author Anne Lammot, Academy award-winning director (Wall-e) Andrew Stanton, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, Survival Research Labs founder Mark Pauline, videographer Lynn Hershman and WIRED Magazine founder Jane Metcalfe will discuss what it takes to create a renegade legacy. Each is a renegade artist in their own right and they will be featured guest speakers at Renegade Art & Democracy, an art auction and reception hosted by Lynn Woolsey — the renegade Congresswoman from Petaluma.

I’m unveiling a new artwork, Virii 2009 Conficker:

Virii 2009 is an annual acknowledgment of the computer virus which has replicated the most, globally, for an annual year. The first Virii 2009 unique plaque, VIRII 2009 CONFICKER, is presented as a certified record of authenticity, framed for hanging on a wall in a secure location. Future certifications are to be only distributed as an annual unique plaque. It is entrusted to a collector to be stored or shown securely. The attached disc and samples contained on the disc are packed in a secure manner that only the artist, Jon Phillips, or his designated agents may discuss.

Come and support digital and new media arts at GAFFTA’s events and at the Renegade Art Auction. Come find me and we’ll talk shop.

Job Opening!
Applications Programmer
UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

The mission of the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAM/PFA) is to inspire the imagination and ignite critical dialogue through art and film. One of the largest university art museums in the United States, in physical and budget size and in attendance, BAM/PFA has developed an international reputation for presenting one of the most active and ambitious exhibition programs, as well as for the quality of its art and film collections and research resources. BAM/PFA is an institution with a stellar history and an exciting future. Currently, BAM/PFA is in a campaign to fund a new building. For more information, visit our website: http://bampfa.berkeley.edu.

Responsibilities:
• Researches, proposes, designs, implements and maintains programming and other technical solutions for BAM/PFA’s online presence including website, blog, online databases, e-commerce and social media.
• Provides technical support for all aspects of the website from back-end databases to client-side scripts to dynamic data exchanges.
• Analyzes existing programs or works to formulate logic for new systems, devises logic procedures, prepares flowcharting, performs coding, data analysis and tests/debugs programs.
• Supports and modifies the back-end databases including mySQL, including making changes to fields, calculations, tables, layouts and scripts.
• Creates automated solutions for batch processes and Internet data exchanges using standards and protocols like RSS and other XML formats.
• Provides programming solutions for museum projects including exhibitions that include Internet or digital media components, media management projects and other projects as assigned.
• Provides access to, manages, and preserves media assets, including images, audio, video, multimedia, and text, and supports the databases and systems that serve these functions.
• Collaborates with curators, artists, vendors, and other digital media staff to develop and implement a wide variety of technical components for online activities, public programs and exhibitions.
• Gathers and analyzes data to prepare systems and programming documentation.
• Serves on museum’s Digital Media team and the cross-departmental Web team.

Qualifications:
• Highly developed knowledge of, and experience with web applications, web programming languages, Internet protocols, and object oriented programming concepts.
• Demonstrated skills with compilable programming language such as C++ and scripting languages such as PHP or Perl.
• Familiarity with content management systems such as Joomla, WordPress, or Movable Type.
• Strong self-motivation and ability to learn new technologies quickly and independently.
• Must be able to communicate technical information in a clear and concise manner with non-technical colleagues, and strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet multiple deadlines.
• Strong problem solving skills and creativity.
• Strong analytical and design skills, including the ability to abstract information requirements from real-world processes to understand information flows in computer systems.
• Critical thinking skills and attention to detail.
• Familiarity with the Mac platform.
• Accurate color perception and visual acuity.
• Ability to physically work in low or tight places.
• Ability to safely lift computer equipment weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Valid California driver’s license and a safe driving record.

This position has been designated as sensitive and may require a Criminal Background Check. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of a Criminal Background Check.

Hours: This is an 80% position, with additional hours up to 100% as needed for special projects.

Salary & Benefits: The full time annual salary range is $46,200 to $52,000. Actual pay will reflect hours worked. There is an excellent benefits package including three weeks’ vacation and benefits for eligible family members.

Closing date: Open until filled. First review of applications will occur on 9/3/09.

To Apply: Visit http://jobs.berkeley.edu/ and look under Latest Job Postings, or click the Advanced Search link and enter 10056 in the Job Opening ID field. Follow the application process detailed on the website. To be considered, applications must be completed through the campus online website. If you have trouble completing the online application, send an email message to hrmshelp@berkeley.edu or call 510-642-4621 for assistance.

The University of California, Berkeley is one of the world’s leading universities in research, teaching, and public service. The campus employs 2,028 faculty and over 14,000 staff in more than 130 academic departments and interdepartmental groups, libraries, museums and more than 65 interdisciplinary research units contribute to this dynamic and vital research and teaching environment.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We offer a diverse working environment, competitive salaries, and comprehensive benefits.

• Compensation: The full time annual salary range is $46,200 to $52,000. Actual pay will reflect hours worked. There is an excellent benefits package including three weeks’ vacation and benefits for eligible family members.

CANCELED

SFAI Fall, ACE – Artists in Virtual Spaces

CANCELED

Instructor: John Sappington

Time: 10:00am–1:00pm

Location: San Francisco Art Institute

This course focuses on the technical, aesthetic, and critical skills integral to the creation and interpretation of Internet art. Through the writings of artists, scientists, and theorists, as well as the work of contemporary net artists, we will examine issues surrounding Internet culture: its history, evolution, and impact on art, society, and the human condition. Central to this study will be the identification of trends, issues, and key concepts critical to our understanding of emerging contemporary net culture. The course will also focus on design strategies, tools, and applications used in website production. We will apply this technique to the creation of new forms that are net-specific, as well as those that bridge virtual and physical space. Students are expected to produce net projects, to create a home page/on-line portfolio, to independently research and critique net artworks, to engage in class discussion, and to participate in the online forum in which they will collaboratively record their reflections on the issues presented.

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After receiving his MFA in Photography in 1992 from SFAI, John Sappington established an electronic arts production company (bASE.ARTS), collaborating with internationally recognized artists to produce a number of interactive CD-ROMs and diskettes. For over fifteen years he has worked as an IT manager, systems consultant, and media producer in both the private and nonprofit sectors. He has taught a variety of courses around the bay area in analogue media and all ranges of digital media production.

Introducing BAM/PFA NetArt
http://netart.bampfa.berkeley.edu

In this online gallery we bring you an experimental work of Internet art every three months, back to back, 24/7. The sun never sets on BAM/PFA NetArt. BAM/PFA NetArt is a showcase for the full range of this evolving and maturing art form, from the iconic works and veteran artists of the latter 20th century to later generations of net artists who are creating some of the most compelling and critical art of our era. Each online exhibition will feature a 3-minute interview that lets the artist talk over your shoulder as you experience their art. 

Open-Source NetArtchive

Once a BAM/PFA NetArt exhibition concludes, each work becomes part of the open-source net art archive, the old always accessible alongside the new. Each artist decides how they would like their work represented in the archive and they allow relevant source files to be made available for download. This access opens up new possibilities for including these artworks in research and teaching. The NetArtchive encourages viewers to upload their own remixes, allowing these works to inspire an ongoing cycle of new artistic creation.

Angelo Plessas
Sept 1 – Nov 30, 2009

The inaugural presentation of the BAM/PFA NetArt portal features work by young Greek-Italian artist Angelo Plessas. In a series of four related works, Plessas offers his whimsical and nuanced critique of the society of spectacle, appearance, and commodity. These works are like small derailments or turnabouts that disrupt the dominant glitz blitz via the Internet. The purposeful and limited interactivity of these hypnotic works alludes to no goal, no score, no mastery to attain; it functions like electronic prayer beads instead of a virtual joystick.

Every morning I go to my sister’s twitter address, and I see her tweet “We are okay, don’t worry”. It is one of the few ways to communicate with my family back there. Text message system is totally blocked. Phone calls to Iran are being terminated. And internet bandwidth is so low that only 140 characters can go through! These 140 characters are long enough for my family to tell me that they are safe and sound.

If you were following Iran crisis, you already know that all of the foreign reporters are kicked out of Iran by the government. In the meanwhile social networking websites and micro blogging services have been playing a major roles in spreading the news about the crisis. Don’t let the news fool you though. Fraudulent elections and massive protests is not really new in Iran.  But it is the first time that people all across that country get updated about what is happening in Iran. They can organize protests using facebook and twitter. Share links through Google reader and facebook. And get the updated news from a Persian digg clone called balatarin.com . Some people have access to ADSL internet that is not controlled by the government and those can upload videos to youtube.

I am very impressed by the role of new media in informing people. either in Iran or here in the US. Although it is very sad for me to hear about all these killings it is also exiting to see people use this new media so efficiently.  I follow bbc coverage on Iran but I find huffingtonpost live blog much more up to the minute. I know a number of Iranian journalists that update their tweeter accounts with accurate news. and on facebook my friends share videos from rallies that have happened 40 minutes ago. Google has just released it’s Persian to English translator so other people can read Iranian tweets.

This is a youtube video from CNN. A young lady “Neda” was shot by militia two days ago in Tehran. Her name is now being chanted all over Iran. Her father is shouting “Stay with us” but she is already gone (Note the video might be disturbing to watch)

We are all witnessing the birth of a new world. A world in which no dictator can suppress people’s freedom. And people fight for their freedom even with 140 character tweets.

After an exciting month of graduation events, family in town, and sending out applications, I finally have time to explore the Bay Area’s art community. Of course, one of my first stops is BAVC (Bay Area Video Coalition). I have been involved with the organization for many years, and this week I am very excited about two events, one of which already happened and the second one coming up this Sunday.
I’ll start with the upcoming event: the screening of socially conscious youth films at ATA this Sunday, 6/14/09, at 2pm with a reception starting at 1:30pm and Q&A with the filmmakers to follow the screening. In the past few months, I was fortunate enough to work with some of the Digital Pathways (DP) video students at BAVC, who will be showing their finished works at this screening, along with soundscapes set against images from various BART stations, presented by the DP sound students. The films take up various social issues from hate crimes against the LGTBQ community, to the local foods movement, exemplified through Mission Pie. The screening is free, so come and support young filmmakers and see what they are passionate about.
These films, as well as socially conscious projects in general, are intended to inspire the viewer to go out into the real world and take action, and that’s exactly where BAVC’s Producers Institute picks up. For the past 3 years, BAVC has hosted the institute, a 10-day residency for independent producers to explore interactive, multi-platform ways of reaching and engaging their audience. In the past, I was more actively involved in the institute, however, this year I only made it to the final presentations of the projects at Adobe in San Francisco last Friday – and was blown away. To get a better idea of this year’s projects, check out this blog by one of the mentors of the program. In addition, podcasts and other coverage of the institute will be available at BAVC’s website soon. For the filmmakers, the institute is only the first step towards the realization of their multi-platform projects, but it is the most important step in the process. This one of a kind opportunity gives the teams access to experts in a variety of interactive media, from game design, over second life, to graphic design; specialists present and share their knowledge, and work one-on-one with production teams throughout the institute. The energy created during the 10 days between mentors and filmmakers is phenomenal, and invaluable partnerships are created every year.
I don’t know what exactly the future holds for the institute, but looking at its past and current success, I am certain that there will be many more. So, if you are an independent filmmaker looking to engage your audience outside the theater, start sorting out your ideas, check the BAVC website for deadlines, and apply for the next Producers Institute.

Hey folks, tomorrow night (Friday, June 5) is the Sub-Zero event in San Jose. It looks to be a fun evening of media, art, and performance on the streets of downtown. Things get started at 6pm and wrap up around 11:30. Make sure not to miss Tristan Shone’s Drone Machines at 7:30. He performed the dirge at the Funeral for Analog TV and brought down the house (and that house was the concrete bunker known as the Berkeley Art Museum where he shook loose a light fixture, so that’s really saying something!). See you there.

Hello readers and subscribers to this blog,

You will have noticed that this blog has a new home, at the Berkeley Center for New Media! But not to worry, it’s the same great blog, same Berkeley players, same community of subscribers and bloggers. All user accounts and archived posts remain intact and we have URL-forwarding from our old address so that links and subscriptions should also remain intact. But it would not hurt to update any links you may have. Our new handle and address are:

BCNM Blog

http://bcnm.berkeley.edu/blog

As always, this is an open community blog/forum and we encourage you to post YOUR events and YOUR ideas. So, see you here soon!