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Maia Grotepass is the first research by Dissertation student at the Digital Arts Division of the Wits School of Arts. Most of our MA candidates take the coursework program. Grotepass came into the research from an Engineering Degree from Stellenbosch University and a Bachelor of Arts from UNISA in 2010. Grotepass’s research paper address the difference between engineers as coders and artists as coders. The difference in conception, implementation, testing and delivery shows interesting differences in convention and rule making and breaking. Grotepass’s research centers on how the two approaches can inform and assist each other towards better development practice and ultimately better art making.

The exhibition nullPointerException is made up of four interactive pieces developed in Open Frameworks. Grotepass has used a Microsoft XBox Kinect sensor for each of the four individual pieces. The pieces explore the relationship between code, developer and audience, expanding on what is seen externally and what is developed artistically internally in the code. Each piece speaks to process and engagement, the titles indicating the area of exploration:  comment_compile, interface_instead, commit_often and init_before. Full descriptions and photo’s can be found on the nullPointerException site.

The exhibition opening was a massive success and the pieces run effortlessly with live interaction. I highly recommend a visit if you are in the Western Cape.

Nathaniel Stern, returns to the Digital Arts Division, where he used to teach in 2004/5 and is still a regular contributor and collaborator with the Division. Nathaniel will be speaking about is artwork and practice around the exhibition opening at Art on Paper Gallery titled: Giverny of the Midwest.

For more information please contact me (Tegan) at the Digital Arts Division or visit Nathaniel’s Website nathanielstern.com

Finally! Remote Lecture No. 4 - the first Remote Lecture for 2011 hosted at the Digital Arts Division of the Wits School of the Arts. Thiel is an internationally renowned media artist working with dynamic and interactive 3D virtual worlds.

In this Remote Lecture:
Tamiko Thiel’s interactive 3D installations are 3D virtual worlds in which users’ own movements and decisions trigger the dramatic structure of the experience. Using examples from these works, Thiel will talk about what she considers to be the unique dramatic characteristics of this medium.

Tuesday 17th at 18:00 at the Digital Arts Division at Wits University.
For more information on this and other Remote Lectures - as well as the live streaming for the night.
Visit: www.digitalarts.wits.ac.za/remote

Still from “Beyond Manzanar” Tamiko Thiel

I’m re-blogging this from Andrew’s blog soundplusdesign - the “Motor-Bike Man Post”.

We are having alot fun, even though it is slow fun. We now meet once a week and Joao has joined us too! For the time being we are very gratefully using what the Open FrameWorks community is sharing and slowly getting a sense of what it is we need to make for our own project.

Along side manifesting this project for ourselves as a way to learn more about the Kinect. Maia is in process of finding ways to use the Kinect in her installations and I’m comfortable enough (and excited) to include Kinect in this years MA course work program.

So watch this space!

Hackinect Wednesdays are an off-shot of the Hacksaws Art and Technology group supported by the Digital Arts Division at Wits School of Art and Upgrade! Joburg. Please contact us if you are interested in joining in.