Hey - what happened to "SpaceProbe Update"? Well, this is mostly a recognition that I can't quite keep up with a weekly newsletter. So I'm going to be sending short reminders weekly (so that I will actually do it!), and a more detailed report once a month.
In case you didn't know, the XXX Artlab show came off as a great success. About a dozen works were shown, there was a great turnout - the timing with Artsweek also brought in a lot of people that wouldn't have seen it otherwise - and a lot of positive feedback. "I've never had so much *fun* at an art show!" was a typical comment! Congratulations everyone. I'm hoping to be able to edit the video we shot during the evening of artists' talks, and make it available for distribution on VHS and the web site.
This week, November 11th, we'll be meeting at InterAccess again. The week after, November 18th, we will be going to Eric Rosensweig and Willy LeMaitre's studio at 96 Spadina (where InterAccess used to be), studio 509. Eric and Willy will present their work as "Screen", particularly their "Fleabotics" performances. For November 25th, at InterAccess, Nell Tenhaaf is organizing a discussion of topics in Artificial Life.
Related to the change in the newsletter format, I've also come to the conclusion that there's no way I can handle organizing - let alone doing! - all the various things we'd like to accomplish in the next several months. It's not quite so much a matter of time, but of trying to juggle too many things and decisions at once. But I hate to bore the whole group with a lot of planning discussions, so I'm asking anyone who feels particularly energetic to meet me at InterAccess at 7pm this Tuesday to form a kind of steering group. Some of the things we need to plan for include: lining up interesting visiting artists, teleconferences, presentations, topics, etc., for the meetings - this includes doing a survey of what's out there, contacting and contracting, organizing a calendar, etc.; defining equipment and materials needs and organizing purchases and re-sales; producing reference material and web pages; developing technology, eg. sense bus, a serial I/O platform, etc.; creating a documentation/promo package, video, etc., and approaching potential sponsors; investigating outreach activities; promoting critique and writing; plans for the future - "beyond SpaceProbe" - and probably a bunch of other stuff. ARG!
It's been suggested that we break the InterAccess meeting into two segments. The first, starting at 7:30, will be for hands-on work and technical workshops (see below). Then, at 9:00, we will move on to a discussion-oriented segment of a more conceptual/aesthetic nature. I think this will suit the various interests - and arrival times! - of the group a little better.
Last week, we attempted to come up with a list of conceptual/aesthetic discussion topics. These included: the process of contextualizing technologically-based artwork, issues of "interactivity", many topics related to artificial intelligence and artificial life, kinetic behaviour, use of language and code systems, evolution, bio-semiosis, subsumptive architecture, the relevance of "sense, transform, express", aesthetic, deconstructivist, and identity theory; thesis, motivation, materials, and "how not to be gimmicky"! We soon realized that trying to do a wide overview of all the relevant topics would end up just skimming. We decided that given the main focus of SpaceProbe - to promote the production of artworks - the best approach would be to present specific artists and artworks and discuss them as related to the above topics. So, any ideas for visiting artists - either in person, by videoconference, or by sending videotapes - are greatly appreciated.
The previous week, I handed out a list of about twenty potential technical workshops - sensors, motors, development systems, networks, fabrication techniques, etc. - to be presented each week. However, I have been reconsidering the strategy for this. Partly, this reconsideration is related to the above - I'm afraid we would end up skimming a wide variety of technical information rather than focussing on actually producing artworks. Secondly, it is related to some of the criticism (gasp!) of the XXX show, namely, that the works seemed to be largely on their own tangents; that there was little common motivation or thesis apparent. I think this was not unexpected given the way we set up the show. But now, I'm going to propose something radical.
Let's work together.
By working together on actual projects, we learn - quickly - what we need to know, no more and no less. Everyone can be involved and see the real, practical issues that are involved. It's learning by solid experience, and sharing our knowledge.
What I *don't* mean is "let's set up a framework or set of rules to fit into, and then all go off and build our own pieces". I mean, "let's put our heads together, design a challenging artwork, and then come in on Tuesdays with soldering irons, chips and motors, and actually build the thing". And then let's do it again. And again.
I don't know whether this will work. It might be a huge disaster; perhaps people will feel frustrated or left out, or pressured to be involved with something that doesn't interest them; or to work with people they don't like, or... But I think if we are thoughtful, we can avoid that. We can have more than one project on the go - if you don't like the one we're working on, you can go ahead and start another one. We can also say that people who just want to work alone on their own project are welcome to do so, and no-one should demand or be expected to put a lot of work into something if they don't feel like it. Everyone can participate to their own level of comfort. But I really feel that we should take advantage of the fact that we have a great group of brilliant, talented, and committed people. And in the end, we will have really created something, by pooling our knowledge and skills, that no one of us would have accomplished on our own.
What do you think?
See you Tuesday... -Jeff Mann