serial consign

[michael bartosik / model of parking lot usage patterns]

This past fall, my friend and peer Liav Koren began programming the Dorkbot Toronto artist tech-talk series. Since taking the reins (Kristin Trethewey ran the Toronto chapter of Dorkbot for the previous two years) Liav has curated a diverse range of events which have tackled distinct topics such as how technology-based art is deployed in rural and urban contexts, public space and emerging democratized tools. That last topic is of particular interest to Liav as he is pushing to organize a RepRap research group at Interaccess, a local artist-run, new media/technology focused gallery.

Of the talks given at the first three events, the talks given by Cary Peppermint, Stan Krzyzanowski, Patricia Rodriguez and Michael Bartosik have really resonated with me. These artists not only presented great work, but were able to hyper-articulately contextualize their intent, process and the means of production driving their various creative practices.

[wieslaw z. michalak / imaginary places #6 - saddamiat al tharthar, iraq]

The next Dorkbot explores car-based work with Kim Adams and Steve Laurie (Thursday February 21st) and the April event is entitled Geography and will feature talks from Laura Nanni and Wieslaw Z. Michalak. If you are in Toronto, perhaps I'll see you out at these events.

If you are interested, you can keep tabs on Dorkbot Toronto and subscribe to their email list here.