"There’s a huge geek scene in Philly," says Smith, citing not only the Hacktory, but Chiptunes, Make Philly, Ignite Philly, iSepta.org and video game competitions.

Thank you Liz Spikol for the nice writeup in this week's Philadelphia Weekly Lit Gloss column. Geek on.

Click here for the article in Philadelphia Weekly.

Click here for the video in Philadelphia Weekly.

In Zagreb I hooked up with Marcell and his happy crew of hackers at the MAMA. G33koscope is an event, pictured above, that they sponsor that explores the cultural aspects of the hacking and geek culture. They also organize a weekly exchange of skills that fills up a room with people hacking away on their projects and helping each other. Kind of like Indy Hall, Philly Startup Hackathons, or our own Open Hack.

They maintain a space of around 4000sqft that is used as a public access internet cafe, conference room, and general hacking space. The cool thing is that they also get politically active in anti corruption and urban planning campaigns.

We have much to learn from this group, and I hope we get to do a joint event one of these days.

Background Information features several new pieces by artist Marisa Olson, including a site-specific wallpaper installation, prints, paintings, and video animation. The works all start with the same source materials: animated gif files designed as "background images," downloaded from the internet by the artist in an intentional act of conspicuous consumption. This diverse range of forms is intended to explore the translation into the physical world of images meant to be ephemeral and seamless. They are as flashy and vibrant as they are meant to flicker silently, behind the scenes. Together, the works in the show are intended as a point of entry to begin considering shifting notions of transparency and privacy in digital culture.

Friday, July 11th from 5:00 pm through 8:00 pm

Click here for more information.

One person had to cancel from our max/msp course that is starting next week. Now is your chance to get in on the action.

Click here to sign up.

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm - 10pm
june 17, 19, 24, 26 (four meetings)
instructed by b.crabtree

$250 for 12 contact hours
enrollment limited to 10 people

What is Max/MSP?

With Max/MSP, you can make your computer do just about anything. It’s an erector set for digital media. It’s a musical instrument. It’s a real-time video mixer. It’s the brain behind an interactive installation. It’s a tool. It’s a tool to make tools. It could balance your checkbook. It’s whatever you need. It’s a Thneed.

Thanks to a generous grant from the LINC Philadelphia we are now offering this course at half price ($75) to five qualified artists. Artists working in any performing field or physical media will be accepted.

To apply submit:

1. A one-page concept proposal for a project that combines kinetics with your current practice. Include a proposed description of the kinetic work.

2. A short one page bio. Please include a summary of your most recent public performance or exhibition with its date and location.

There will be no expectation that the project is completed within the scope of the workshop. Additional support, or a request for future exhibition or performance may be proposed to the successful applicant.

Submit digital copies of the two above documents as pdf, Word (.doc) or OpenOffice files to contact [at] thehacktory [dot] org .

Rick Valenzuela gave our Brain Machine workshop a great review in the City Paper this week. Thanks Rick.

Click here for the original article.

Sat., May 10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $40 ($25 if at least 12 people attend), the Hacktory, 1524 Brandywine St., 267-687-9996, thehacktory.org

Some people have trouble meditating. Others are all thumbs when it comes to building. And then there are those who crave the crazy visuals that often involve breaking the law. Any of these problems can be solved Saturday at the Hacktory, which will be hosting a workshop on how to build something called a Brain Machine.