The Empty Shop Revival Fund has been made available by central government to help reverse the decline of high streets in these recessionary times, so there is money available for installations to be made in disused shops and windows.
When in Boston a few years back Cefn and I saw a whole set of great tech-art shop window interactions - including Jeff Lieberman’s Slink, plus some solar creatures, video pieces and interactive displays. There have also been some very nice street based multitouch systems such as CityWall in Helsinki. All pretty ambitious but shows what can be done in these spaces.
Tom and I went to see the folk at Slack Space in Colchester in the summer - where artists had taken over empty shops for galleries and workshop spaces.
I think this is a very exciting initiative indeed and would like to discussing ideas if you’re interested too
The next get together is Tuesday 3rd November in Ipswich from 8pm - we’ll be in the Green Room at McGinty’s again opposite the library on Northgate Street, Ipswich.
The next get together is Tuesday 20th October in Ronnie’s Bar upstairs in McGinty’s opposite the library on Northgate Street, Ipswich from 8pm.
This time around the we’ll be thinking mostly about the forthcoming Dark Show (working title) in St Mary’s - curious tech in the cold and dark!
The idea is that this is more of a short residency - so we go into the space on the first weekend spend the week finding out what works well within it. Then show the results on the second weekend.
Unfortunately I can’t be there in person, but hope to join by the wonders of the technological age. If you can’t be there either but want to be involved in the show - please drop me an email - dave_chatting at mac.com
Our friend Mark Dixon is showing Breaking Up as part of the opening celebrations for the new dance house.
“Breaking Up is a moving installation which documents the demolition of Cranfield’s Mill, where now stands the tallest building in East Anglia and the home of the New Jerwood Dance House on the Ipswich Waterfront.“ (download the flyer)
We also talked about the changing path of the river Orwell and ideas for a forthcoming show in the dark, amongst other things! Oh and we decided we “needed” a makerbot!
The next get together is next Tuesday, 25th August.
We’re in McGinty’s, opposite the library on Northgate Street, Ipswich from 8pm - we’ll be upstairs in Ronnie’s Bar - that’s directly above the main bar
There’s plenty to discuss: walking to Newcastle, Ars Electronica, fairy stories (a new theme), uselessness and the psychogeography of Ipswich (starting with the ghost tour). Also hoping to have something to show for my adventures with video processing on the Arduino… perhaps! Please bring anything you’ve been working on too.
