New electronics classes at Harvestworks in March

[harvestworks]

Harvestworks announcing New Workshops in March, 2010

596 Broadway Suite 602



Electronics: Hardware


A series of Lectures and Workshops led by Phillip Stearns



Harvestworks is offering an extensive Spring line-up of lectures and workshops in hardware based electronics, led by 2010 Van Lier artist in residence, Phillip Stearns. There are 5 pairs of lectures and workshops offered in this program. Detailed below are the first two lecture and workshop pairings offered in the weeks ahead:



LECTURE 1: Electronics Basics // A Brief History


Monday March 15th, 7-10p



A survey of electronics from its discovery in Greece, to the development of the battery, up through to present day semiconductors and a glimpse of future technologies. Will feature an extensive demonstration of different food based batteries, way beyond the potato or lemon based cells from grade school.


WORKSHOP 1 : Bent-O Boxes // Circuit Bendable Sonic Sushi


Saturday March 20th, 1-6p



Build your very own bendable snack-sized sound synthesizer music kit that comes in a bento box project housing. The circuit is a 1-bit digital sound synthesizer and sonic mangler made from simple digital logic chips that can be used as a stand alone synthesizer module or as an effects pedal! Includes parts for the base sound generator circuit and extras for your own modifications. No experience necessary. The class covers basic kit building skills, how to solder, identifying components, wiring design and installing knobs and switches. As we build the kit, we'll discuss the analog and digital components involved, how they work together, and how they can be short circuited, re-routed, and customized.


LECTURE 2: Audio Electronics // A Crash Course in Audio Engineering and Analog Design
Wednesday

March 31st, 7-10p



Block diagrams, signal flow, patching, routing, amplifying, filtering, signal processing, balanced vs unbalanced, audiophile vs lofi, it's all gonna be covered here. This lecture is a brain cram covering all the key topics in audio engineering in just enough detail to get you working with analog electronics on the macro and micro level. Emphasis will be placed on signal flow, reading block diagrams, and basic audio electronics.


WORKSHOP 2: Analog Rules // Operational Amplifiers: Oscillators, Filters, and Feedback Machines


Saturday April 3rd, 1-6p



From oscillators and filters to authentic distortion, gritty delays, and fluid phasing, analog electronics are very much alive in the realm of effects and synthesis. In this workshop, you will learn about transistors, operational amplifiers, and how to combine them with various networks of diodes, resistors and capacitors to form simple mixers, distortion effects, filters and touch controlled feedback machines! This hands on workshop will review the theory behind all of the components involved, a handful of simple components, concepts and skills that will enable you to build your own custom analog instruments and effects.



About the Instructor:

Phillip Stearns (AKA Pixel Form) is an interdisciplinary multi-media artist and electronics arts educator who specializes in making noise and glitched out electronic art using hand-made electronics. His interactive electronic installations, sculptures, audio video performances, and sonic art are all centered about the notion of the circuit as a physical site for direct intervention. He is the recipient of the Harvestworks Van Lier Residency for 2010 and has presented, performed, lectured, exhibited, led workshops, and screened works at various festivals, conferences, residencies, museums and institutions around the US, Latin America and Northern Europe including FILE (2009), NIME (2009), FONLAD(2009), Transitio(2009), Torrance Art Museum (2008), Optica(2008), Filmer La Musique (2008), Spark(2008), Bent Festival (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Soundwalk (2006,2007,2008), GLAMFA, Machine Project, STEIM, Experimental Television Center, Solar1, Chaos Communications Camp (2007), and Darmstadt (2006).
About Harvestworks: http://www.harvestworks.org

Harvestworks mission is to foster the creation of artistic talent using electronic technologies. Founded in 1977, Harvestworks' programs provide the artist with production facilities, grant opportunities, education, communal lab practice and distribution. Located in Soho, New York City, Harvestworks offers a creative environment where artists learn new technologies, create art and exhibit new works in an integrated way.