I recently had the opportunity to talk with Kate Hartman, an artist, teacher and member of the Interactive Telecommunications Program at Tisch School of the Arts. Kate works in a variety of mediums from simple analog wearable projects that explore how we communicate with ourselves to Arduino powered devices that let our plants Twitter their needs. What most draws me to Kate’s work is the way it combines practicality with playfulness and whimsy. Botanicalls, for instance, is a boon to those of us who regularly murder the most robust houseplants due to lack of attention. Kate’s device enables our usually stoic and inanimate green friends to reach out to us when they need help (I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!). Her Muttering Hat project instantly reminded me of a garment that might be worn by a little Hoo from Hooville. But it also serves as a wearable illustration; a garment that gives us an opportunity to get some distance from thoughts that may be immediately overwhelming and even assist us in sharing those thoughts with others.
Kate Hartman creates new tools for expression through innovative and playful applications of technology. Her individual and collaborative projects span the fields of telephony, electronics, fashion, and art. She holds a B.A. from Bard College in Film and Electronic Media and a Masters from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program.
Last week I got a chance to talk with two cofounders of NYC Resistor, Eric Skiff and Bre Pettis. NYC Resistor, located in Downtown Brooklyn, is a hacker space that is home to 30 artists, designers and technologists who bring a mixed bag of skills and interests to this eclectic space. The vision according to their wiki is to “Build a group of hackers who work on projects together to increase awesomeness.” Aside from serving as their studio, the group also opens the space up to the public for Craft nights that happen every Thursday. Various technology classes are also offered and are taught by members and visiting specialists.
The DIY revolution is taking on a new shape as rapid prototyping technology becomes more accessible to the general population. This service has been available since the late 1980′s but is notoriously expensive and generally only used by companies and professionals. Today there are groups of individuals who are looking to lower the $20,000 entry fee and producing an open source 3D printer for approximately $500. There are several types of different machines capable of taking a design from hard disk to object. I hope to illustrate a few of these technologies and show how they are being made to serve the individual rather than the corporation.
First I’d like to touch on the Laser Cutter. These are machines starting around $8,000 for basic models that are capable of cutting some light thin sheet materials. The more expensive models can cut a larger variety of materials and thicknesses but can also begin costing $20,000 and up. There is a lot you can do with one of these machines but you need to remember that it only cut’s sheet materials so making a 3D object requires some kind of construction technique or layering. (more…)
When I think of American craft I think of quilts, strange wooden dolls to hide whisky in and a good sturdy broom. I do not, however, think of knives, at least not until now. The name Cut Brooklyn has been tossed around a lot lately and I was surprised to find out that it is the studio of Joel Buiekowirz who produces hand made kitchen knives.
So from my understanding of the current articles written about Joel, he gets a piece of steal and cuts the knife shape. He then sends out the knife for it’s heat treatment.
The heat treatment is the part that really determines the finished quality of the knife’s steal. When you are working with steel there is a balance that needs to be struck between how hard it is and how brittle it is. For knives this is very important because the blade edge is so delicate. You need it to be hard so that it can retain it’s edge but not be so hard that it cracks away. So what Joel does by hand is shape and sharpen the knife as well as apply and form the handle.I am wrestling with whether to put in an order for one. On any given day my Wusthoff performs admirably and a Global 7-Inch Santoku seems like a logical addition to my cutlery set. Is the added price of Mr. Buiekowirz knives worth it? The easiest thing to site, though the most difficult thing to justify monetarily, is the “buying local” hand made appeal of this object. Having that unique item that was made within a few miles of your apartment makes want to order one of these pretty little pieces. The balance is always an important factor as well though I have not had a chance to hold one in person so it’s hard to say. Right now the few hundred dollars I would save on a Global is making me feel like that is the better buy. If you have a few hundred extra to spend and you use your knife constantly then the Cut blade may be the way to go. I hear he offers life-time service for free on all of his blades as well.
Above Sea Level? American Sign Language? Argininosuccinate lyase? Nope. What does the title of this post refer to? For me it refers to a phrase buried deep in my past when I used to use AOL. You would constantly see this pop up in chat rooms and, although I am no longer a user of chat rooms, I am sure it still does today. Age / Sex / Location. I made a little php page in honor of this memory from my early years on the world wide web. Just a random little thing that can help you out if your ever caught in a chat room and posed that brain teaser of a question.
It would seem that these three priori are the basis of forming any sort of relationship with someone, fantasized, virtualized or otherwise. You can build an entire drama around an individual by knowing these 3 facts. How old are you, are you male or female and where are you right now. My iPhone is constantly asking me for the later of those three whenever I open a new app. Even if that app really has no feature that would, at first glance, need my location. I am waiting with trepidation for the day that it asks me for the other two pieces of information.
Kroosh and I should be heading over to NYC Resistor to check out Craft night. I am hoping to buy a little time on the laser cutter (LAZZZZZOOOOOR) to get a few pieces cut for a little lighting project I have been thinking about. The space collectively purchased a 35 watt Epilog laser. Occasionally there are classes that go over the basics of designing for and using the laser.
If you have not checked out Resistor you definitely should. The best way to jump in would be to take one of their fantastic classes I mentioned above. I have taken a few so far and they are really fun. Lots of good ole friendly people hacking interesting things and sharing what they know.
I have heard very good things about the Arduino classes (If Funky, Get Loopy) but I haven’t seen any posted in quite a while. You have to keep close tabs on the class list because they have a tendency to fill up very quickly.
seems like a logical addition to my cutlery set. Is the added price of Mr. Buiekowirz knives worth it? The easiest thing to site, though the most difficult thing to justify monetarily, is the “buying local” hand made appeal of this object. Having that unique item that was made within a few miles of your apartment makes want to order one of these pretty little pieces. The balance is always an important factor as well though I have not had a chance to hold one in person so it’s hard to say. Right now the few hundred dollars I would save on a Global is making me feel like that is the better buy. If you have a few hundred extra to spend and you use your knife constantly then the Cut blade may be the way to go. I hear he offers life-time service for free on all of his blades as well.
