Thursday, September 3, 2009

The beginning of a new academic year

This is the start of the new academic year, and with it, lots of different things are afoot.

I will be teaching a couple of class sections this term on physicality, the body, movement and technology, and (of course) electronic performance art. I was told today that I am one of the primary researchers in my program in physicality, and so I was the best fit for these lectures. Should be fun!

The kavadi project is moving forward again, starting next week. The project is slow moving, as is the suspension project, as I've been busy working on grant proposals, project proposals, and in general, recovering from a busy year. I'll be posting again pretty regularly now, so get ready for new art weirdness!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Kavadi pictures 2






Photos by Linda Zhang, 2009. Thanks, Lin!!!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Kavadi rig performance prototype


This was the first run of a new performance/instrument prototype I"m working on. This version used Galvanic Skin Response sensors to control video. The next one will use a constant current in my body of audio signal.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Been a while, but still here

It's been a while since I posted here. I was working on my PhD qualifying examinations, and the creative side of things had to drift off for a short while. I passed.

So here is the current trajectory: I'm working on a hand made myograph (muscle monitoring system) and building a personal kavadi rig to use in a performance. I'll be wearing the rig and using the myograph as a control system in the performance. This will happen in about two weeks time from now.

May 1 I have a performance that is low key- with my glove system from a year ago. It will be great to use it again, though it isn't exactly what I want to work with. The system needs to be redesigned, which I am planning on doing this summer. Things are busy, as usual.

My body is pretty much recovered from the surgery and medical issues from December and January, so the body project will get going again pretty soon. I'll keep you up to date.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Monday, March 23, 2009

Seattle Time

I'm in Seattle this week to work on the project ab: from/to today. It is a collaborative project with Jürg Koch and I. This is a still from todays rehearsal:



We've also started a blog for it so that we can keep people up to date with the project happenings. It premiers this June at Northwest New Works at On the Boards.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Body Electric, II

My class Body Electric is amazing. I truly love talking about my concepts with a really skilled artist and electronics technician.

The next project is going to be a prototype of the Kavadi rig. Woot! Wait, did I do that, seriously? In any case, it is going to be amazing. The exciting thing is that by the end of this class I may have figured out a way to bypass the transducer and figure out how to make me a transducer. Subcutaneous nerve stimulation may be the key to that. We shall see.

New treats: Will be building a muscle monitor system and muscle stimulant unit in the next month. I will be rigged out for electricity like none other. Okay, so that isn't true, but I will be the DIY body electric grrrrlll of the future. It will be lovely.

I will video the kavadi rig if it is possible and post it. The whole project will be divine.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

light work 1






These photos are from a prototype installation from this week. It is currently untitled, and is a work in progress. The media that I am working in for it is light, mirror, rope, wood, plastic, and milk.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

New Release!



K + M




Commute Series Volume I

New Releases from Iynges records in PVD. These are free! Also, check out the rest of the music on this label. Providence has a lot of hidden gems, and there are several right there!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Back to the Body Shoppe

After a short bout of illness, I'm not fully recovered and ready to go back to work on the body projects. There are a few additions, a few changes, and of course, more art!

Next week I begin working on the electricity course. I'm excited to work on electronically controlled muscular contractions (the Huge Harry stuff I posted the picture on a bit back). I'm also excited that I will be able to start really researching and delving into the notions of pain from the 1970's. Stelarc, I'm coming for you!

The audio-speaker project is starting up again, and soon. I had to find a new supplier for hooks, as the ones I'd been testing with recently were not as comfortable as the ones I first had, so with any luck I'll have a new batch of hooks soon. Also, the needles I purchased last were, well... not so comfy either. Turns out that the length of the needle shaft is very important, as it can increase pain dramatically. I'm no stranger to nor am I afraid of pain, but I really don't need to make things more intense than they already are.

What else? Oh yeah. Turns out you can do a lot of damage internally with certain audio frequencies, so I am definitely going to stick with the 'bowed string' model I'd initially discussed until I know exactly what frequencies will and will not mess me up internally. I've also figured out a non-invasive testing model for resonance, which will be my new mode of testing rather than going up on hooks as I originally planned. As much as I love going up, I like the idea of non-hook testing modes. So the obvious solution? Kavadi spears! Yes, you hear me right, kavadi spears. They are wonderfully resonant, bowable, and will make lovely test subjects.

It looks like the first major public performance will be in late March, Early April (Right on target with my initial estimates!). I'll keep you posted.

On other news, I have two releases that will be coming out this friday, so check back then when I post the press release!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Autumn Films





Video compression isn't fabulous on the second video, but the audio turned out great on both. Enjoy!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Release!



Octagrammatic segments is being re-released this year via mysterycabal.com.

This is a duet project with my good friend, Denver based artist Brandon Viccaro. I am, of course, playing theremin in this recording. You can listen to it here:

http://www.myspace.com/slynbrandon

and if you are so inclined, you may purchase it for download here:

http://store.mysterycabal.com/process.php?pname=ShowAlbumProcess-Start&CategoryID=7¤cy=price.USD

Please enjoy the listen, and have a wonderful new year!