Studio News

Empiricist League: Darwin v Robots May 9th

Empiricist League: Darwin v Robots May 9th 4.26.12No Comments

 

The Empiricist League, who we’ve branded, has their first event, “Darwin Vs Robot”  on Wedenesday, May 9th at the Lolita Bar at 266 Broome Street in Manhattan. Beer + science? What could be better?

Three amazing speakers will be presenting.

Darwin’s Devices: What Evolving Robots Can Teach Us About the History of Life and the Future of Technology

Biorobotics expert John Long creates robots that look and behave like extinct animals, subjects them to evolutionary pressures, lets them compete for mates and resources, and mutates their ‘genes’. In short, he lets robots play the game of life.  Professor Long will speak to the Empiricist League about his new book, Darwin’s Devices, where he tells the story of these evolving biorobots—how they came to be, and what they can teach us about the biology of living and extinct species.


Unleash the Bots of War: Envisioning the Robot Army of the Future

Noah Shachtman is the editor of Wired magazine’s national security blog, Danger Room, as well as a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution. He’s reported from Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, and the U.S. military’s classified military drone “cockpits” in Nevada. He has spoken before audiences at West Point, the Army Command and General Staff College, the O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference, the U.S. Strategic Command Cyber Symposium, and the National Defense University. The Empiricist League is pleased to host a Q&A session with Mr. Shachtman on the topic of the robot hordes that will soon be marshaling their forces, and what it means for both our security and our very survival as a species.

God’s Mistakes: Bizarre Plants and Animals from the Frontiers of Science

Michael Malice is a horticulturist and subject of Harvey Pekar’s graphic novel Ego & Hubris. He is also the co-author of five books, including forthcoming works with Bret Michaels and D.L. Hughley. Mr. Malice will speak to the Empiricist League about the most grotesque inhabitants of the natural world.

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Wandermonster featured in BIG kids magazine 3.29.12No Comments

Our son-and-dad blog Wandermonster, has a feature in the Australian kids’ magazine, BIG. This is their second issue, exploring the theme of treasure maps, which is one of those things that makes my heart beat a little faster. We contributed three before-and-after Lunch Posts, and the readers are encouraged to do their own “afters.” We’re very curious to see what the response is….

We post (almost) daily at www.wandermonster.com

UnMap Polaroid show up at Pratt

UnMap Polaroid show up at Pratt 3.7.12No Comments

The UnMap Queens show is hanging in the Communications Design office at Pratt Institute. This is a collaboration with designer and artist Carl Gambrell of Projector Creative, sponsored by the Impossible Project. Gambrell and I spent several weeks exploring the mysterious corners of Queens, armed with Polaroid Spectra System cameras. Queens is a fascinating spot on the planet, rich in history and culture, but overshadowed by NYC’s other boroughs. We hope our photographs reveal some of its depth and weirdness.

UnMap Queens had previously hung at the Queens College Art Center and the Manhattan gallery space of the Impossible Project. Thanks to Communications Design Chair, Kathleen Creighton, for the opportunity to show our work again.

More of the UnMap Queens photos here.

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Where’s My Jetpack? 2.26.12No Comments

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Where’s My Jetpack show opening and Social Media Week panel. The show is still up at Cyber-NY for the month (by appointment only 212 475 2721 ). Here are some shots from that night, by Mike Brown, our host. More on my installation here and more to come….

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Join us for the opening of “Where’s My Jetpack?” tomorrow night 2.16.12No Comments

We’re gearing up for the “Where’s My Jetpack?’ opening tomorrow night. There’s a lot of spectacular work—from Benton Collins’ film, to Matt Carr’s photographs to curator Matt Held’s paintings and sculptures.

My contribution is a Roc Jetpack Laboratories installation.

Please join us at Cyber-NY, 23rd and Madison, from 6pm to 9pm. Check out the show site, http://heldjetpack.com for more information.

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Garamaniacal! 2.6.12No Comments

2012 is rich in sci fi projects. In addition to our work on Black Dawn and the “Where’s My Jetpack?” show, we’re participating in the Garamaniacal group show at FOE Gallery in Northampton, Massachusetts. Curated by Jim Shea of Foe and Michael Nordstrom of Garamania, this show is an homage to the iconic Japanese monster Garamon. I grew up on kaiju, and they are a key part of my creative DNA, so it’s been a treat to work on this.

Please join us at the opening, February 10th, or stop in to see the work, which hangs through March 4th.

There’s also a cool coloring contest, which raises funds for the  Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

 

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Jet Pack press 2.1.12No Comments

The official site for the Where’s My Jetpack is up.

Matt Held has been getting some nice press in advance of our “Where’s My Jetpack?” show.

We’re exhibiting in the “Where’s My Jetpack?” group show for Social Media week.

We’re exhibiting in the “Where’s My Jetpack?” group show for Social Media week. 1.19.12No Comments

We’re excited to be part of the upcoming “Where’s My Jetpack?” show. The show, at Cyber-NY in Manhattan, 23rd & Madison, opens on Friday, February 17 for Social Media Week with a moderated panel discussion at 4pm, “The Collision of Social Media and the Arts,” with representatives from fashion, music, interactive, and the arts, followed by a reception at 6pm.

Our contribution is an installation featuring treasures from the Roc Jetpack Laboratories archive, recently discovered in a Chicago warehouse.

Please come out and share a drink with us, while you ponder why we don’t have the future we were promised.

Go here for more information.

Friday, February 17, 4pm–9pm

Cyber NY
34 East 23rd Street, Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10010

 

 

We’re participating in a Kaiju-themed art show at FOE gallery.

We’re participating in a Kaiju-themed art show at FOE gallery. 1.5.12No Comments

One of our favorite discoveries in Western Mass is the FOE gallery in Northampton.

We’re excited to be participating in the upcoming show Garamaniacal, curated by FOE co-owner Jim Shea and Garamania’s Michael Nordstrom. The show does homage to the iconic 1960′s kaiju Garamon (and its tiny incarnation, Pigmon). I was first introduced to this creature, and his cohorts, as a kid. Growing up in Chicago in the 70′s, I got to watch a slew of Japanese shows most kids in the States were denied, like Ultraman, Spectreman, Johnny Socko and his Giant Robot, and Space Giants. Thanks to the interwebs, I’ve been able to introduce my son to these old school gems. So I leapt at the opportunity to join in the show at FOE.

Please join us at the opening, February 10th, or stop in to see the work, which hangs through March 4th.

There’s also a cool coloring contest, which raises funds for the  Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Image thanks to http://jbwid.com/art63.htm

Popcorn Noir on NPR

Popcorn Noir on NPR 12.2.11No Comments

Our first Western Mass client, Popcorn Noir, was featured on NPR recently.

It is a wonderful addition to the area, a free movie theater showing an eccentric variety of good films. And it’s an inspiring re-invention: a former storefront church transformed into a comfy Art Deco space. Listen to the NPR piece, then join me at Popcorn Noir for a flick.

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