Workshop Statement

The idea is to introduce the general public into the act of creation in electronic art. Next to our simple “classic“ synthesizer noise-toy we also build the 1x_pixel, which allows an insight into interactive visual arts: The circuit controls a single RGB LED through an audio frequency filter attached to a small microphone. By this, the participant can build a little interactive toy that reacts to the pitch of the voice and displays the full range of colours inside of a pingpong ball. The BitBadge is even more simple and uses a DIY method of reflow-soldering to make a cute little LED badge with a customizable light pattern. mechatronicart.ch     mechatronicart.ch/diymakeaway

Swiss Mechatronic Art Society (SGMK) established in 2006) is a collective of engineers, hackers, scientists and artists that joined to collaborate and promote on creative and critical uses of technology. They develop DIY technologies and organize collaborative events, such as a yearly research-camp in the mountains and local regular workshops in electronics, robotics, physical computing, diy-biology, lofi-music etc. They run a public hacker space MechArt Lab (since 2009) and organize the international diy* festival, held every year in Zürich since 2005. They also cooperate with various socio-cultural organisations to hold creative technology courses at schools and youth communities. With the diy makeaway, a series of mini-workshops for kids and other open-minded people, they have been present internationally at various exhibitions and festivals, such as SHIFT Festival in Basel, at Copy!, Poolloop and Dorkbot in Zürich, MediaLab Prado in Madrid, CTM.09 in Berlin, CEMA in Bangalore, Cellsbutton#03 in Yogyakarta and many more.

• Dr. Marc Dusseiller (CH) is a transdisciplinary scholar, lecturer for Micro- and Nanotechnology and artist.
• Andy Gracie (UK) is an artist working between various disciplines including installation, robotics, sound, video and biological practice.

Full text (PDF) p. 521-523