ni9e blog: March 2009 Archives

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March 31, 2009

Day #1 in LA....

I will be video blogging progress on the fffff.at Tempt One eye writing project all this week. Fffffollow along.

Posted by fi5e at 05:45 AM | Comments (0)

March 28, 2009

Speaking at SCI-arc: Los Angeles

I will be giving a presentation titled Release Early, Often, and with Rap Music this Wednesday (04/01/2009) at SCI-arc, in Los Angeles. In honor of my return to the halls of architectural academia I will be showing some embarrassing architectural endeavors from a former life. I will also be presenting past and future works, including a new collaborative project between the Graffiti Research Lab, FAT, Open Frameworks and Tempt One.

SCI-Arc
960 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles (directions)
W.M. Keck Lecture Hall l
April 1, 2009
7pm

Posted by fi5e at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)

Madonna & Kardashian De-Touched

DeTouch: the brighter the pixel the more it has been altered.

Posted by fi5e at 12:41 AM | Comments (0)

March 26, 2009

8 Rules For Getting Famous On The Internet

I've been involved in co-teaching a course at Parsons the last couple of years called Internet Famous (along with fellow FAT members Prof Powder and Prof Dubs). Last semester I wrote a blog post for the kiddies called, USA USB: A Case Study In Internet Fame, in which I outlined techniques I use in attempting to seed content onto top 100 blog sites.

This may not be of interest to everyone, but for those of you who like to count your stats the full post here:

8 Rules For Getting Famous On The Internet

Posted by fi5e at 11:42 PM | Comments (0)

March 16, 2009

TSA Communication Update....

Project page: http://evan-roth.com/tsa-communication.php.

Posted by fi5e at 12:58 AM | Comments (0)

March 15, 2009

Why I Won't Be At SXSW....

I know the last thing anyone wants to hear are artists whining about money (trust me I am one of them). But with all the hype surrounding SXSW I thought I would chime in with why I won't be in Austin this week amongst all of the web 2.0 illuminati twittering and drinking Mexican beers.

A couple of months ago I had a conversation with SXSW that went something like this:

SXSW: Hi, we'd like to invite Graffiti Research Lab to keynote at SXSW!
Me: Great. Thanks for the invitation. Our standard fee is $X.
SXSW: Oh, we only pay for flights and hotel.
Me: Really? Even for a keynote? Giving talks is in part how we pay for rent and food. How about $X/2
SXSW: Nope. Airfare and hotel.
Me: How about you just pay for meals while we're in Austin so we aren't losing money?
SXSW: Nope. Airfare and hotel.
Me: Thanks, but no thanks.

I am somewhat more understanding with events that are grassroots and hence under funded, but the Graffiti Research Lab keynote presentation at SXSW (a private company) is sponsored specifically by Microsoft (a giant corporation). Beyond the moral implications of having the largest proprietary software giant funding a talk about free culture and open source, what I would first like to know is where is that money going? I know it's not going towards fees or food for the presenters. My suspicion is that the people extending the invitation will be paid, the person setting up the audio and video equipment will be paid, and the janitor cleaning up after the talk will be paid. So, is it really that difficult to pay for a handful of meals for the artists while they’re in Austin?

The problem with this as a precedent is that it leaves artists in a position where they will never be able to pay rent. This issue of not paying artists (which I have blogged on in the past) extends well beyond me and well beyond SXSW, and is something that is becoming more common as the world economy continues to crumble. In the end I'm writing this not because I'm greedy and looking to fund my Champagne lifestyle, but because in general it is a system that benefits private for-profit events (e.g., SXSW) and corporate sponsors (e.g., Microsoft) at the expense of artists (e.g., me). In the end I have two messages:

1. Event organizers: If you respect the artists you are inviting, then pay them. You can't buy bananas with publicity, so don't try to pedal this as a form of currency (especially since the artists are also bringing you publicity). If you can't afford to pay artists, then you don't have enough funding to host the event.

2. Artists: Airfare, hotel, and publicity are not payment for your time. If corporately sponsored events can't pay artist fess then tell them 'no'. By accepting gigs like this, we are just as guilty as they are for perpetuating a system that ensures we stay eating Ramen Noodles until the day we die.

In summary: Event organizers, show some love to those you love. Artists, god gave you middle fingers for a reason, don't be afraid to use them.

Posted by fi5e at 02:56 AM | Comments (0)

March 14, 2009

Free As In Free Beer....

Mr. Baca has posted more photos from our travels in Vienna.

Posted by fi5e at 01:42 AM | Comments (0)

March 12, 2009

Of A Revolution In Lameness....

Just when I thought I was at the bottom of the bell curve on how lame Throwies can get, OAR releases the video for their new hit single, This Town.

Just to be crystal clear on this, I (and G.R.L.), had nothing to do with the creation of this video. The first time I heard about this was when GB excitedly Skyped me this morning so he could watch my face as I viewed this for the first time (it looked a lot like this).

And just to further illustrate Throwies seemingly infinite potential at wackness, don't miss out on "THE MAKING OF":

Posted by fi5e at 12:08 AM | Comments (0)

March 05, 2009

30++

Posted by fi5e at 03:12 AM | Comments (0)

March 03, 2009

10 for 10

http://www.google.com/search?q="available+online+for+free"

Posted by fi5e at 04:12 AM | Comments (0)

March 02, 2009

AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FREE - Walkthrough

Aram took most of the photos above, view his complete set here.

More opening photos here, and gallery photos here.

The exhibition will remain open at Advanced Minority gallery in Vienna until the end of March.

Party over:

Posted by fi5e at 03:47 AM | Comments (0)

Faces From Vienna....

Just got back from a great two weeks in Vienna.

Always good catching up with Drago Bin Powderly..... fresh in from Berlin and now with 60% more Deutsch!

Mike (of ACC and Destroy and Rebuild fame) also had an opening in Vienna at Innoperable Gallery. How many people get hand written exhibition display tags by All City Crew?!? Huge thanks for all the help.

Aram made the trip over from Berlin as well just in time to help install China Channel, take some great photos and view some real art.

Sydney Ogidan: Exhibition curator (Apocalyptic Colors), father, sticker muscle, gallery installation crew and owner of the Ogidan Inn. Big ups to Sydney for making the show happen and introducing me to bunch of cool people (Roman, Philip, Michael, Johanna, the kids a many others).