This is an interesting interaction with the environment and observation technology. While recording visual data from various cams the resulting visualization is a compile of time-lapsed images from a single location. Last is a clock that is a record of its own history. Like a familiar analogue clock, it has a second hand, a minute hand and an hour hand. The hands are arranged in concentric circles, the outermost circle being seconds, the middle circle is minutes, and the innermost circle hours. Each of the hands of Last are made from a slice of live video feed. As the hands rotate around the face of the clock they leave a trace of what has been happening in front of the camera. Once Last has been running for 12 hours, you end up with an easy-to read mandala of archived time.

detail image 08:42:08 Eugene USA

The Last clock was created by:

Jussi Ängeslevä & Ross Cooper ©2001-2004

Site Link: http://www.lastclock.co.uk/

A lot of the content we have been discussing in class about Convergent Technologies, maps out the future of media. Another school that has been researching these concepts is MIT and they have developed several projects regarding convergence. I came across this link a while back and decided to revisit some of their projects due to our class topics.

Check out the link http://cms.mit.edu/research/projects.php I found all of these projects that have similar ideas. Convergence media the future of media development, virtual environments, mobile technologies, social networking and interaction. I found that the emerging patterns of cross combining entertainment, advertising, brands and consumers with virtual and social experimental media to be the main theme. I think all of the projects are relative although the Center for Future Civic Media attracted my attention along with the Digital Humanities project.

Cheers,
D.T.O.

Jean Claude Christo, Valley Curtain, Rifle, CO, 1970-72-

These two artist are amazing the amount of effort to get a project up and running is an art form itself. Unfortunately a few months ago Jean Caude passed at the age of 74. Although the expected Arkansas River project is still under way this demonstrates their dedication and resilience. I have been marveled be their works since childhood and hope to be able to see this project completed and in person.

This is an example of a time and site specific work of art that alters ones perception of the common place. The art form expresses the vision and ideas of the artist that could not be fully realized in theory. The final artworks needs to be experienced to gain full appreciation. Their installations provide a new way of seeing landscapes and other forms.

October of 2008 An exhibition of Christo and Jeanne Claude’s personal prints and photographs where hosted at The Center for Visual Art “CVA”. I was very fortunate to have seen this exhibition and become more aquatinted the the two artist work. The CVA displayed the show with great detail outlining the cumulative development behind the art. Each piece was grouped according to date and labeled with reference numbers tied to additional information. This exhibition gave insight to the complex planning and proposals that make the installations possible. The overall presentation was immaculate with a variety of models, diagrams, blue prints, and video documentation.

Many aspects of art history and theory culminate together in the course of defining these installations. Their progressive contemporary artworks question the fiber which art is threaded from. The process Christo and Jeanne Claude use to construct proposed installations are individual works themselves. I felt privileged to have witnessed the actual conceptual models and illustrations.

Since I was in high school Christo and Jeanne Claude’s work has been influential. I fondly recall a video documentary on the piece Running Fence and it’s flawless beauty. The art seemed so different that my perception would be forever changed. The interaction with the environment and management of the production crew assembling the work captivated me.

Christo and Jeanne Claude incorporate many artistic skills from traditional illustration to environmental planning. The individuality of each piece is amazing utilizing several traditional skills. One may find a personal connection regarding the location or objects used in the installations. The artwork in the show demonstrated Christos attention to detail as he drafts up a project. His designs incorporate mathematical scales and geographical surveys as blue prints for visual conception.

Despite the tragic loss of Jeanne Claude, the two artist made an obligation to their work and the show must go on. The current Over the River proposition has been in the works for sometime and will take place in southern Colorado’s Arkansas River region. This will be a magnificent achievement, the triumph of blood sweet and tears.

D.T.O.

http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/

This is another one of those industry things. It just happens to be here in Colorado June 6-9 
A good career Networking opportunity. They also host a Creative Freelance panel. This is one for the grant writing guru. Maybe their is some poor student ticket discount???

http://www.howconference.com

http://www.noisefold.com/

If you had the opportunity to experience another dimension in theory would you? Collaborative performance composed by David Stout and Cory Metcalf is the digital equivalency. A Gates Planetarium special noise fold envisions communication with supplementary image generated audio. An ambiance of 3D space frequencies constructs a microcosmic environment. The duet creates an alienist dialog between sound and image unlike any other. The theater is virtually transformed into a cybernetic simulation.

A science fiction theme builds on early electronic instruments like the sonic phone. These two artist programmers interact with visual music and noise made from invisible equations. Through a node base program they are able to interface with physical parameters. They built custom software using Max/Msp/Jitter in combination with Isadora. This networked interfacing allows them to manage multiple data sets. 3D object manipulation is done with electromagnetic and infrared sensors. This process is translated in real time through multiple switches and amplifiers. The software mathematically visualizes algorithmic patterns by transcodes image to sound. An impressive incorporation of hardware and software used to explore creative artistic expression.

D.T.O.

This was a project done a few years ago that I find very motivational. The site is a great example of networking and map making. Cracks in the Pavement was started in Austin, Texas, in June 2004. The project featured site-specific works by 15 Austin-based and international artists both in Austin and in London, UK and was presented as part of the London Biennale 2004

http://cracksinthepavement.com/

A local artist I was introduced to in 1990 and have respected since. His site is up and running with his marvelous creations. The work responds to social issues of violence with abstract solutions. The functioning devices are restrictive, dangerous and empowering.

A glimpse of the Cremasteric Reflex Corset

http://www.shermansculpture.com

ENKI is a series of experiments concerning the ability of electric fish and humans to commune on the same level – that of electrical fields and brain waves – avoiding the use of language as such; instead stimulating a shared empathy through and actual physical connection. Using the bioelectric communication signals from live Electric Fish to control an immersive sensory environment for humans – through which the human can communicate back to the fish.

Check out other projects @ the site http://www.antonyhall.net/

On the top left, the ‘read’ button opens a movie file using a standard ‘open’ dialog box. The file plays in the upper left window.Then the video information (which is actually a 4-layer matrix consisting of transparency, red, green and blue data) is downsampled to a 32 x 24 pixel grid.The next set of boxes, ‘jit.matrix 1 char 32…’ extract one row of the pixel data from the red, blue and green planes. You’ll see that the srcdimstart object is currently fed by the number 9, which means I’m using row 9 of pixel data to drive the chain.The extracted data is glued back together in a matrix 96 measuring 96 columns by 1 row. This shows up in the third black rectangle.The three boxes on top which contain the numbers ‘3 6 9 …’ are the DMX channel addresses. Each pixel sits at 3 consecutive DMX addresses. Finally, the color data is merged with the channel information and sent as a list to the DMXUSB object, which packs it up and sends it out the door to the USB-DMX interface. Very simple in retrospect.

This was created by John Chapman. I’m concidering something similar to use the DMX USB interface to tether a monome midi device with multiple video feeds.

David Tinapple and Collaborators found at his .com

http://www.davidtinapple.com/

Great artist working with MaxMSP his concepts are intriguing Interactive video. To start the video playing, the viewer must press a button. Pressing this button causes an electrical shock in the hand, but in return the viewer sees the video of the previous person being shocked. To my surprise, over 300 people interacted with this piece on opening night.