art and tech | implicit art

You see, T?

Thanks, Carine (see below); it was a great drive!

Sitting here in the Michaelis School of Fine Art’s computer lab (IFNM = Institute of Film and New Media), Cape Town (UCT), not knowing exactly what to expect from the students this afternoon (and the rest of the week), but totally excited to finally be out of bed (still recovering, but much better than the deathliness of the last six weeks), and introduce a whole new group to Interactive Video. Looking forward to seeing what they come up with, and maybe showing some of it here.

Remember that open lecture I gave in Joburg on the Interactive Video Landscape? I blogged it here. Well, that (and more) is basically what they’ll be getting today, as an introduction to a week of developing such projects. They will not sleep this week. Woot.

I’m also giving one of those Michaelis lunchtime lectures on Wednesday, 13h00. It’s about my own work and open to the public – please come if you are at all interested; I’ll be nice to you. Bring chocolate and beer, get nice things said about you on ‘the blog.’

Any readers in CT wanna volunteer to take me gallery hopping one morning this week?

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11 June 2005 by kaganof

joshua

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10 June 2005 by nathaniel

goldberg 11 june events

via christo at atjoburg

This promises to be a very exciting weekend in Johannesburg for anyone interested in the connection between art and new technologies. Digital artist-in-residence, Joshua Goldberg will be presenting an open workshop on VJ software at the Bag Factory in Newtown from 10:00 in the morning. He tells me that attendees can expect an overview of the various popular packages and then a hands-on introduction to one of the VJ programmes that Josh himself has written Dervish.

flyer design by nic nesbitt

Josh half-jokingly describes Dervish as a fiendishly difficult programme; but he’ll be giving away free copies so you can take it home and practice, practice till you’ve got it. note the flyer misprint. the workshop is 10 – 1, not 10 – 4.

Later that evening you can catch Josh in performance with a dance party. He’ll be playing with the A-list of JHB VJs and the city’s top house DJs at Carfax in Pim Street, Newtown. Once again it is R30 at the door; but you should expect a bigger and slicker event.

rhythm02 flyer
flyer design by nic nesbitt

The event starts at 09:00 pm and should go on until late. At this stage the line-up runs like this:

VJs: Nicky; Templar; Andre; Christo_D; Josh; Matr-x; and then a jam session.
DJs: Greg; Glenn; Pierre; then Glenn & Pierre as the GP Bus Drivers.

Running on the side screen will be interactive patches designed by the Wits Digital Arts Interactive Design students – Mayav; Tegan; Onica; Mac; Nicky; and Mitch.

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07 June 2005 by nathaniel

improv

::::: and after the digital soiree at wits about Joshua Goldberg’s own work (15h00 – 17h00, Digital Convent – watch this space for more info) :::::

joshua goldberg and joao orrechia at the drill hall

improv
improvisatory performance

improv abstract animator Joshua Goldberg (NYC)
&
live electro-acoustic musician joˆ£o orrechia (Berlin / JHB)

meet for the first time at the Drill Hall this Friday
2 projections, 2 guitars, lots of equipment

cash bar

in celebration of the one-year anniversary of the renovated drill hall.
sponsored by and in collaboration with:
The Joubert Park Project
Art&Technology, Johannesburg (http://atjoburg.net)
WSOA Digital Arts
US Consular General

Bie cc
Logistical assistance in contemporary art and exhibitions
Office: +27 11 402 3414
Fax: +27 11 402 3508
Cellphone: +27 83 728 5606

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05 June 2005 by nathaniel

when cities collide

So, Joshua Goldberg (our visiting digital artist in residence) is nearly over jetlag after a really fun night at Carfax last night (er, two nights ago now, as I took a while to blog this). Christo and my students from Wits Digital Arts flexed some VJ / live visualisation skills, and I have to say that given this was their first stint, they did a bit of alright! Josh also gave a preview of his “improvisatory abstract animation” with his homemade (open source, and free!) software, dervish, and it was hot.

But then yesterday, I decided to start showing Josh a little of our SA pride, by bringing him to solo exhibitions by two of our most prolific, living South African artists.

kentridge: preparing the flute, at the goodman gallery

I’m speaking, first of course, of William Kentridge, and his current solo exhibition (opened yesterday) at the goodman gallery. Believe it or not, Josh had never heard of him, and knew nothing about his work. This show, which shows sketches and projections that were Kentridge’s preparation for his version of Mozart’s Opera, the magic flute, was as articulate and stunning as ever. There were a couple of projections in his signature style (with more bodies and flesh as they go along), but the real treats were the archival remnants and sketches, some of which Josh related to watching quark patterns in microscopes, but ones which disable us from doing anything other than searching for meaning.

We’ll have to go back when there is not a traffic jam.

minnette vari at gallery momo

And then we headed over to gallery momo to see the Minette Vari show I had yet to see. Her famous art south africa cover work was being shown (it was a little washed out from the light, but I got to see this stunning piece at the KKNK earlier this year), as well as several beautiful screenshots as lambda prints. New to me, was the above piece, a circular, abstract animation-like video work of utter beauty.

I think we got Josh off to a good introduction of contemporary South African art, and he really loved it. More to come….

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03 June 2005 by nathaniel

the live visualist cometh

joshua goldberg (left); photo credit melissa ulto
joshua goldberg (left) performing in NYC; photo credit melissa ulto

Me bring Joshy!!!!

So, this guy is bloody brilliant. I know I’m supposed to be some kind of authority on new media technologies in South Africa (or whatever), especially live video and interactive tech, but this guy taught me a lot of what I know, and in the few hours I spent with him today, I learned a whole lot more (and more to come!!!!). We did grad school together in NYC, and now he’s making stuff happen for a few weeks here in Jozi and CT.

Here’s what we planned for him:

tonight is rhythm_01, a first test of Vjing and interactivity in joburg over at carfax – mostly student work, but he might do a short guest set
this coming week, Joshua is at wits, teaching, lecturing, sharing, critting
Friday 10 June, 15hoo, talk about his stuff and VJ and interactive video culture, burning man, open source… Digital Soiree, Digital Convent, Wits
Friday 10 June, 19h30, live, outdoor performance with local electro-acoustic musician Joao Orecchia (Berlin / NYC / JHB), Drill Hall
Saturday 11 June, 10h00 – 13h00, free VJ workshop at the Bag Factory (we’re giving software away, too!)
Saturday 11 June, 20h00 til late, huge VJ party with Joshua headlining, and deep house music

away at kruger for few days….

Friday 17 June, 11h00 – 13h00, presentation of a donated, site-specific, artwork using his own software/technology. Johannesburg Art Gallery

He is also one of the most generaous spirits I have ever met, and will share knowledge, resources and whatever else he has at his disposal with you (probably including embarassing stories about me).
Come and be amazed. I am.