New piece: abstract01js. Built with Processing.js

I finally had an excuse to take Processing.js for a spin. Aram Bartholl is doing one of his Speed Show exhibitions this Wednesday (SPEED SHOW vol.4:’Super Niche’). The Speed Show format is based on taking over an internet cafe and showing artworks that can run in regular browsers without any special software.

Since most of my pieces use OpenGL they’re not suitable for web I decided to try porting an old 2D sketch to Processing.js. Rendering Processing code in the browser by using the HTML5 Canvas and Javascript is a nice idea, but I was curious to see if it would work for my purposes.

As it turns out, the code for Abstract01 from 2003 (originally created for Abstraction Now) worked on the first attempt. After a few adjustments I now have one interactive and one “automatic” version running perfectly in Firefox and Chrome. I have to say I’m officially impressed with Processing.js, my hat off to John Resig and crew!

SPEED SHOW vol.4 takes place today Wednesday, Oct.27 at 90 Bowery in Manhattan, in the 90 Bowery Internet Cafe. Here is the list of participating artists:

Erik Andersson, Cory Arcangel, Michael Bell-Smith, Charles Broskoski, Jon Cates, Aleksandra Domanovic, Doubble Happiness, Constant Dullaart, JODI, JK Keller, Greg Leuch, Olia Lialina & Dragan Espenschied, Duncan Malashock, Eva & Franco Mattes aka 0100101110101101.ORG, Aaron Meyers, Mark Napier, Katja Novitskova, Paper Rad, Jon Rafman, Ariel Rebel, Ryder Ripps, Evan Roth, Brad Troemel, Marius Watz

It’s an honor to be showing in such excellent company…

Processing introduction post on Studio Mode’s modeLab blog.

Exciting news: Studio Mode (aka Ronnie Parsons and Gil Akos) and I are working on plans for a parametric design workshop using Processing and Rhino/Grasshopper in New York later this year. Studio Mode have already conducted a series of successful workshops dealing with parametric design and digital fabrication. See Material Intelligence and coLab Casting for reference.

Our proposed collaboration will join knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes with the flexibility and real-time nature of Processing applications. Processing may lack the geometry functions of Rhino, but its capacity for interactive dynamic models makes it a powerful tool for parametric modelling.

Exact dates and format of the workshop are to be determined, but we’re hoping for early December. Watch this space.

In anticipation of the workshop I will be posting a series of Processing tutorials on the modeLab.nu blog. The first has now been posted, featuring four examples that introduce basic syntax, variables, mouse movement, and for loops. Upcoming tutorials will explore more complex topics related to parametric design.

Visualization sketch built with Processing

I will be teaching an intermediate Processing workshop at Devotion Gallery in Brooklyn in a couple of weeks. Devotion is dedicated to showing work at the intersection of art, design and technology. In addition to exhibition activities they are now busy setting up Devotion Learn to offer workshops in related topics.

My Processing workshop will be divided into 4 days x 4 hours, Monday-Tuesday Oct 18-19 and Oct 25-26. See below for details.

• Dates: Mon Oct 18th – Tues Oct 26th
• When: This course meets 4 times on Monday and Tuesday from 6 pm – 10 pm.
• Where: 54 Maujer, Brooklyn, NY 11206
• Level: Intermediate
• Prerequisite: Computer literate with some coding experience.

Tuition: $350 for Professionals / $250 for Students (School ID required for discount)
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