Out with the old, in with the new

Readers of window.org.nz will have noticed a large hiatus in posting. We're undergoing a transition as we phase out an On Site and Online curator (myself) and bring on a new team. We'll be conducting interviews on Monday to narrow the list down. Thanks to all who applied.

For those interested, I'll be focusing more on a couple projects. The Ribbon is a band consisting of myself and Campbell Birch, with keyboards, guitar, vocals, laptop, and various instruments, hovering somewhere in the grey space between dance and pop. Werkhaus, my interactive work for clients like HP, Coke, Karen Walker, and Toyota always keeps me busy. And finally we've just launched a new portfolio site for my wife, Werkhaus partner in crime and illustrator Kimberlee Munn.

Curatorial positions open

Window is seeking new curators to run its University of Auckland exhibition space. Window has been operating for over six years as an Auckland-based, University supported art project exhibiting parallel programmes of contemporary art in the physical gallery space, and virtual art online. Window prizes an emergent focus and provides a well-regarded platform for the work of young artists and curators educated at the University of Auckland both during and following their study. As a correlative, Window aims to increase the visibility of net.art and digital projects initiated by New Zealand practitioners through its Online programme and Archive. The right applicants will be able to take advantage of an open structure to gain valuable practical experience, develop their own career and build on the strength of the current programme.

Full details available in the PDF (Adobe Acrobat format, 42K)

100th Post!

A short very self-congratulatory post - Window:Scene has reached it's 100 post. I started the blog just under a year ago, and have since covered a gamut of topics, from fashion to architecture, videogames to videoart, as well as local events like gallery openings, film screenings, and sound gigs. If you've enjoyed the blog, drop me a comment.

Applications for new Online curator open

Window is on the hunt for our next Online Curator. Working closely with our two On Site curators, you'll be planning a yearly programme, working with a range of local and international artists, producing shows, maintaining the website, and assisting with publicity. Window's dual programme structure is unique and long-running, being at the forefront of online art for the last 6+ years. We'd like to see the new curator continue this and go further - commissioning work from high profile artists working in the genre, pushing for wider exposure, and integrating with the Onsite programme in innovative ways. You'll have a good awareness of this media space, an ability to collaborate with others, and a range of intermediate digital skills needed to provide support to artists and run a website. The position is on a volunteer basis, requires approximately 5 to 15 hours per week, and is based in Auckland. Interested? Send an application to luke.munn@gmail.com, with some basic information about yourself, experience in the area, your skillset, and your vision for the project.

Be one of the first 3 posts - be in to win Bachelorette

Writing the first post on the blog seems to have a little stigma attached, so I'm resorting to bribery and corruption to break the stalemate. One of the first 3 posts (not written by myself) will be chosen at random, and that writer will receive a copy of "Isolation Loops" by local solo electronica band Bachelorette, via SmokeCds.com. Of course, if you write all 3 posts, your aural bliss is virtually assured. Terms are substantial posts only and judges decision is final. ;-)

Real Groove Magazine calls the album “…Quietly psychedelic, the quavery vocal harmonies, wheezy synthesisers and attic-salvaged stringed instruments are layered with a shy urgency, a breathtaking tangle of dreaminess and directness… Having understood the implications of technology – electricity having made us all angels, etcetera – she’s fractured herself into a girl-group of one, clouds of ah-ah-ahs and shoo-wop shoo-wops both underscoring and distracting from her tales of gravitational and hormonal pull….” So for a beautiful electronic soundtrack to your writing, start posting.

Getting started

Just thought I'd do a quick 101 as a few people have had questions about logging in and getting started.

1. If you don't have a Google account, click here to create one.
   
2. You should have an invite email from Blogger containing a link. Click it and you'll be made an Author. We've got quite a few pending invites, so if you need it resent, just let me know.
3. Go to www.blogger.com and login using your Google account.
4. Click on New Post, enter text, images, video, and links, and click Publish. More info here.

New contributors

The blog is gaining momentum with some more contributors joining the fold. New recruits are:

Kentaro Yamada, designer, new media artist and expert parallel parker,
Robert Appierdo, designer, VJ, and short filmmaker based in Welli
Paul Moss, dataminer, astronomer, musician, and environmentalist
Jaenine Parkinson, writer and lecturer at the university of auckland

Update #1: Wed 16
Carol Yung, architecture student at victoria interested in digital culture
Ryan Cockburn, sound artist/sculpter orig from dunedin, currently in melbourne
Damian Frey, sound/light based installation, currently on residency in UK
Trudy Lane, digital media designer for the arts/museums, SCANZ organiser
Annie Bradley, sculptor, sound and new media artist, spam manipulator

Update #2: Thur 17
Michelle Menzies, curator, sculpture/film artist, currently at u of chicago doing postgrad
Naomi Lamb, video artist, filmmaker, VJ from wellington
Karl Willis, interaction designer, media artist, currently research student in tokyo
Yeoh Gh, designer of experimental interfaces, human interaction, based in wanganui

Update #3: Fri 18
Danny Butt, consultant, writer, educator on technology, on Cultural Futures team

Thanks for all the interest, and again I'd encourage everyone to get their first post up there. If you're having issues with signing up or logging in, let me know and I'll try to sort something out.

Welcome to all contributors

Thanks for all of you who have responded to the invitation to contribute. Not sure if you can see the list currently on the blog, so in no particular order we have:

Luke Duncalfe - ipod lover, programmer, online curator, pxter
Marcia Lyons - programme director for digital media design at victoria university
Pippin Barr - currently doing phd at comsci department of victoria on videogame values
Sean Kerr - new media artist, curator, lecturer at elam
Hye Rim Lee - artist working with digital video, 3d modeling, animation, etc
Luke Munn - curator for window, writer, digital designer
Chante Inglis - lecturer on digital art history at the university of auckland

Might take a little while for the blog to get momentum, but it's a great start. Again, really inclusive, so if you know someone who might be interested in contributing, just send through their email and they can be added as an Author.

I'm going to post a couple entries this weekend. Some of you are really experienced bloggers, others aren't so used to it. So I'd suggest just starting small: throw up some images or video of works in progress, a couple paragraphs on an event you've seen, or some notes on theories or ideas you're considering.