Google, 2009, by Michael Mandiberg
If you caught the Summer Reading show at Jen Bekman Gallery last year, you will surely recognize the laser-cut and shrink-wrapped phonebooks above as the work of interdisciplinary artist, designer, and technologist Michael Mandiberg. Since Summer Reading, Michael has been working on lots of exciting new projects, talks and exhibitions and he shows no signs of slowing in 2010.
As part of the Transmediale Festival in Berlin, Michael collaborated on a "book sprint" with five authors, one programmer and several remote contributors to write a 130-page book called Collaborative Futures in just five days. Starting with nothing but the title, this group of strangers put together a book in which the process embodies the content.
Michael writes,
I just got back from one of the most intense and satisfying work weeks I have ever had. We started Monday morning with only two words: the title of the book. As we raised a toast to our success with the festival director Stephen Kovats at 10 p.m. Friday, we sent the book to the printer.
The book will be printed on demand for visitors to the festival. If you pre-order, it will be available for pick-up at a book launch party on March 4th at Eyebeam in New York City. You can read more about the book here and download a free PDF.
Collaborative Futures Book Launch
Thursday, March 4th, 7:30pm
Eyebeam
540 West 21st Street
New York, NY
The other project Michael has been working on is a Kickstarter project called Bright Bike, an initiative to make riding your bike at night safer. The Bright Bike kit, starting at $10, includes a set of custom-cut vinyl stickers which look normal in daylight but become super reflective in car headlights.
Michael writes,
Right now, we make each kit by hand, which takes time, and is expensive. We are actually afraid to really start promoting the idea, because right now, we are not ready for the kind of interest that might be possible. We need to streamline production so that we can lower prices and be ready to get this kit out to the cycling community.
To learn more about helping fund the Bright Bike project, click the Kickstarter badge above.
We could go on forever, but instead will leave you with this list of Michael's upcoming events:
- If you're in Chicago, don't miss this talk at CAA titled "Giving Things Away Is Hard Work: Three Creative Commons Case Studies on DIY"
- New Yorkers are advised to attend this panel titled "Mashups, Memes, and HOWTOs: New Forms of Online Video" on new forms of online video and keep their eyes peeled for more details on "The Digital University," a day-long conference on "the impact of digital media on academic work."
- In Portland, The Great Recession, a solo show at Pacific Northwest College of Art, opens April 1- May 31 at Feldman Gallery
.
.
Comments