Reed College, Portland, Oregon 2015
Monday June 29 – Friday July 3, 2015 – 10AM – 4PM
(Studio Time Available After 4PM Each Day)

Fee: $675

Housing in Portland – HERE

DESCRIPTION

The XBox Kinect has become an essential tool for artists who want the movement of the human body to influence digital media in real time. During this year’s Live-I Workshop, Troika Ranch Co-Directors Mark Coniglio and Dawn Stoppiello will focus on using the Kinect as a tool to create interactive performances that are both compelling and dramaturgically sound.

During the first two days of the workshop, participants will learn how to use open source tools to gather movement data from the Kinect, and how to use that information to impose real-time control over video, sound and light via the software Isadora. The remainder of the workshop will be spent working individually and as a group to create scenarios where that information can be used artistically. As a group, we want to consider three key questions: what am I tracking, why am I tracking, and why is it important dramaturgically. The last word of that sentence is key. In the end, any technology one uses in a performance must be there to support the piece, and the ideas behind it. This workshop will ask those questions in relation to motion tracking and the the capabilities offered by the XBox Kinect.

Troika Ranch will have ten Kinects on hand. So you needn’t purchase one to take this workshop. In addition, students will receive a six-month license for Isadora, the user-friendly, real-time media manipulation tool created by Mark Coniglio. So, aside from your laptop computer, we will provide everything you need to get started.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Include one paragraph explaining why you are interested in attending the workshop and one paragraph describing the kind of work that you make. Briefly tell us about your level of expertise with computers. Please include your name, address, telephone number and email address.
Applicants must have a basic understanding of using a computer, i.e., opening and saving files, copying and pasting information, basic navigational skills, etc. Applicants must also have gone through the Isadora tutorials 1-6 before the workshop begins. Send applications to info [at] troikaranch [dot] org

A note about the selection process: please know that, beyond your application information, an important factor in choosing the participants is how the group fits together as a whole. When the skills of those participating vary too widely, it means that someone participants will be overwhelmed while others will be waiting for the others to catch up. So please understand that if you are not chosen it is not a reflection on your abilities or your skills as an artist.

The workshop fee is due no later than the first day of the workshop. Payment can be made by check, bank transfer or PayPal.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Computers: We require that you bring your own Mac or PC laptop.

Macintosh Requirements: Intel based computer with a bus speed of 2.0 Ghz and 2.0 GB of RAM (4GB Preferred); Mac OS X 10.6.8 or greater; latest version of Apple’s QuickTime.

Windows Requirements: Intel based computer with a bus speed of 2.0 Ghz and 2.0 GB of RAM (4GB Preferred); Windows 8, 7, Vista or XP, latest version of Apple’sQuickTime.  (If running Windows XP, you must be sure that the drivers for your graphics card are v2.0 or better.)

Video & Audio Inputs – Read Carefully!

Some means of capturing live video and audio is required. Click this link for detailed information that will help you ensure you have both live video and live audio feeds into your computer.

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

Sensory Systems: Users may also bring additional sensory systems if they have prior skill in connecting and using those systems with their computer. Isadora can receive input from OSC (Open Sound Control), MIDI, Serial devices and via TCP/IP. Isadora can also receive video from other program via Syphon (MacOS) and Spout (Windows).