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Oct 142014
 

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This Thursday is a busy night for art in Nashville. At the monthly Thursday Night Things at OZ, photographer and recent Nashville transplant Michael Weintrob is presenting his collection of 75 photographs dubbed InstrumentHead. Weintrob photographed Nashville musicians with their instrument of choice replacing their head. Full disclosure: I’m one of the musicians featured. For my portrait, I went with one of the first toys I circuit-bent, a sleep machine that plays sounds of the ocean, ticking clocks, chimes, etc to help people fall asleep. I bent it to make all sorts of crazy noises back in 2007. It was just something visually-interesting that I had handy at the time of the photo.

Many of the musicians profiled will perform Thursday evening, including Brian Siskind, Black Cat Sylvester, Roy Futureman Wooten, Jeff Coffin, Sam Bush, and more. The show opens at 6:30 p.m.with Brian Siskind kicking things off. Tickets are $12 at the door.

Over at Third Man Records, the Light and Sound Machine returns with the Czech mindfuck Valerie and Her Week of Wonders. I was lucky enough to see this at a private screening James Cathcart hosted for his birthday a few years back. I can’t say I loved it, but it’s definitely an experience. Tickets are $10 at the door. Show starts at 7 p.m.

Thursday night also marks the premiere of a new art series at Adventure Science Center’s Sudekum Planetarium. For years, I’ve been hearing people talk about what an amazing space our planetarium is … followed by wishes that it get used for more than star maps and laser light shows. Someone at ASC seems to be listening.  From the ASC press release:

What happens when you turn art and music loose … in a planetarium?

To find out, the Sudekum Planetarium at the Adventure Science Center is opening Dome Club Nashville. This monthly event will showcase immersive programs and artistic experiences designed to envelop visitors within the unique fulldome planetarium environment.

Wait, what’s “fulldome”?

“Fulldome” refers to technology that covers the entire surface of a planetarium dome with graphics. Seated within our 63-foot diameter dome, you’ll be surrounded by visuals in front of, above, and even behind you. Without the rectangular frame of a TV or movie screen, you’ll feel a part of the scene. Powerful surround sound adds to the effect.

The Sudekum Planetarium presents fulldome science experiences every day. Dome Club provides a venue for alternative programs. These may include immersive cinema or visualization projects, dance, games, or concerts … anything that takes advantage of the fulldome environment. Dome Club is also a place to connect and enhance the lines between the art of science and the science of art.

The grand opening of Dome Club Nashville will be on Thursday, October 16, 2014, at 7:30 pm. This first night will feature Home Grown Dome, a 45 minute compilation of fourteen short works created by students, artists, and animators from around the world. These pieces were finalists in the annual DomeFest fulldome film festivals between 2004-2009.

Hell. Yes. Learn more at sudekumplanetarium.com/domeclub.

Sep 162014
 

The 2014 Nashville Mini Maker Faire was last Saturday, and I had an absolute blast! Erica Ciccarone and I displayed 3D-printed objects and textile art at the Make Nashville booth. I also taught a papercrafting course using Rob Ives‘ wonderful paper automata.

Here are some pictures Erica and I took at the Faire:

 

Our Make Nashville booth. Photo by Erica.

Our Make Nashville booth and Erica’s Fancy Fox quilt. Photo by Erica.

Our Make Nashville booth. Photo by Erica.

Our Make Nashville booth. Photo by Erica.

Our Make Nashville booth. Photo by Erica.

Some 3D printed inventions in our Make Nashville booth. Photo by Erica.

I demonstrate how to make your own carbonated soda. Photo by Erica.

I demonstrate how to make your own carbonated soda. Photo by Erica.

I demonstrate how to make your own carbonated soda. Photo by Erica.

I demonstrate how to make your own carbonated soda. Photo by Erica.

I demonstrate how to make your own carbonated soda. Photo by Erica.

I demonstrate how to make your own carbonated soda. Photo by Erica.

I demonstrate how to make your own carbonated soda. Photo by Erica.

I demonstrate how to make your own carbonated soda. Photo by Erica.

Photo by Erica.

Photo by Erica.

Photo by Erica.

A local artist asked people to draw their favorite places in Nashville. Photo by Erica.

Photo by Erica.

A local artist asked people to draw their favorite places in Nashville. Photo by Erica.

Photo by Erica.

A local artist asked people to draw their favorite places in Nashville. A Photo by Erica.

Photo by Erica.

A local artist asked people to draw their favorite places in Nashville. Photo by Erica.

Bubbles! Photo by Erica.

Bubbles! Photo by Erica.

Bubbles! Photo by Erica.

Bubbles! Photo by Erica.

Photo by Erica.

This guy. Photo by Erica.

Photo by Erica.

Some young makers. Photo by Erica.

A suspicious face at the origami booth. Photo by Erica.

A suspicious origami artist. Photo by Erica.

Origami club. Photo by Erica.

Origami club. Photo by Erica.

Origami club. Photo by Erica.

Origami club. Photo by Erica.

Photo by Erica.

A future refrigerator poet. Photo by Erica.

Puppets! Photo by Erica.

Puppets! Photo by Erica.

Puppets! Photo by Erica.

Puppets! Photo by Erica.

I teach a course on Rob Ives' papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives’ papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives' papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives’ papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives' papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives’ papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives' papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives’ papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives' papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives’ papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives' papercraft automata. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives’ papercraft automata, and Erica enjoys the company of a future engineer. Photo by Tony.

I teach a course on Rob Ives' papercraft automata. Photo by Erica.

I teach a course on Rob Ives’ papercraft automata. Photo by Erica.

I teach a course on Rob Ives' papercraft automata. Photo by Erica.

I teach a course on Rob Ives’ papercraft automata. Photo by Erica.

I teach a course on Rob Ives' papercraft automata. Photo by Erica.

I teach a course on Rob Ives’ papercraft automata. Photo by Erica.

 

Sep 122014
 

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The Nashville Mini Maker Faire is Saturday, September 13th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Adventure Science Center. I’ll be there at the Make Nashville booth, showing off my Printrbot Simple 3D printer and lots of printed goodies, including the Make Nashville keychain bracelet pictured above. The bracelet is a joint project of Erica Ciccarone and myself. She did the sewing, I did the 3d design and printing. We’ll give them out while supplies last.

I’m also teaching a class on papercraft automata, using Rob Ives’ wonderful designs. What’s papercraft automata? This video explains it better than I can:

The FREE class is from 12 to 2 p.m. in the workshop tent. It’s for ages 5 and up (with a parent to help with the cutting and glueing).

Circuit Benders’ Ball alumn Mike Hester will be conducting a presentation in workshop tent from 3 to 3:45 pm on turning image files into sound and sound files into images. It’s really fascinating stuff, and you shouldn’t miss it.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Expect lots of creative making, including a hot-rodded Power Wheels race, the ever-growing Full Scale Millenium Falcon project, robot battles, screenprinting, electronics projects, and much, much more. See you tomorrow!

NMMF-2014-Schedule-for-Web

Jul 182013
 

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I love making stuff. I’ve had a subscription to Make Magazine since issue #6, and every year I wish I had the funds to go to the Bay Area Maker Faire. Those of you who’ve attended the Circuit Benders’ Ball know how vital making is to experimental music culture.

I’m part of a local maker’s group called Make Nashville (which recently merged with HackNash). We’re one of the groups partnering with the Adventure Science Center to bring the Maker Faire to Nashville.

Yes, you heard correctly. Nashville is getting a Maker Faire. The Nashville Mini Maker Faire takes place on Saturday, September 21, 2013 from 10am to 5pm at the Adventure Science Center. (“Like” the Faire on Facebook here.)

The call for makers is now open, and we’re looking for exhibitors, speakers, teachers, performers and volunteers. Participating is absolutely free, but time is running out to submit. The application deadline is August 1st at 11:59pm.

As the Director of Performances, I’m seeking musicians, acting troupes, magicians, puppeteers, multi-media artist, science presenters, and pretty much anyone who has an act that happens on a stage. The performances NEED to involve making. If you’re a circuit bender or instrument designer, you’re golden. If you make your own costumes that show off your unique flair, we want you. In short, we’re looking for makers who perform.

The faire will be free and open to the public. Because our funding is limited, we are unable to compensate participants. That may change as the Nashville Faire expands in subsequent years.

if you’re interested in performing or any other form of involvement, go fill out an application. Do it now. The sooner the better.