Workshop Day
On Sunday May 7th, the final day of the Gray Area Festival, join us for a selection of Creative Code workshops taught by ten talented instructors, recognized for actively shaping their fields and practices. We invite you for a rewarding day of hands-on learning for a pass of only $100. Workshop passes not included in Festival Passes. Four workshops will be held during Session 1 (11am-2pm) and four workshops will be held during Session 2 (3pm-6pm), take one from each set for 6-hours of learning!
Session 1: 11am - 2pm
Interactive Inflatables: Amplifying Human Behaviors
with SENSOREE
Go beyond the screen to animate the body, amplify human behaviors and emotions.
The skin is the ultimate touchscreen! This workshop plays with sensory input and haptic feedback; arduino + drone motors + inflatables! There are many ways to animate the body and amplify human behavior or emotions. First, there are functional designs for isolation or protection, like an inflatable vest to calm down the wearer or a helmet that protects from a bike fall. Then, there are empowering forms, like a soft inflatable exoskeleton that protects personal space, or ‘muscles’ appendages that blow up when the wearer feels threatened or in response to flight or flight response. Inflatables can comfort, protect, and express emotions. What will you do? All levels welcome.
Next Level Selfies: Make Your Own GIF Portrait!
with Gretta Louw
Whether you’re looking to dominate social media, up the creativity level on your personal or professional website, or just learn a fun new skill, this workshop is for anyone who’s ever admired a GIF. Working from beginners’ level up, we’ll go through a step by step process of making simple GIF animations in Photoshop and expand outwards from there into more complicated and layered modes of making. We’ll be pushing the boundaries of the medium, looking for ways to creatively exploit movement, animation, layering, and timing to create individual portraits for unique individuals.
Music-crafted Digital Environments with A-Frame
with Yagiz Mungan
With this workshop, we will create 3D environments based on music using A-Frame. A-Frame gives us the popular WebGL library three.js a DOM-like structure and allows us to create VR-compatible worlds using the HTML. We will start with the basics of A-Frame and using javascript, we will end up with a virtual environment that is generated by music.
A-Frame or three.js experience not necessary but knowing at least basics of HTML, javascript and CSS are required. Do not forget to bring your laptop, headphones and your favorite song as a file. Also feel free to bring your mobile VR headset if you have one.
Enchanted Artifacts with 3D Printing and Projection Mapping
with Colin Parsons
Desktop 3D printers are capable of producing complex and accurate geometry. Using a projector and the free noncommercial version of TouchDesigner, it is possible to map textures, videos and shaders on 3D printed geometry. In this workshop we’ll walk through the process of calibrating a projector to fixed geometry and explore techniques for creating content for 3D surfaces. 3D printed objects and projectors will be provided. Please install the latest version of TouchDesigner ahead of time.
Session 2: 3pm - 6pm
Augmented Communities - Designing Local Monuments
with Mike Rotondo
Join us in this 3 hour exploration of local history, monument design and augmented reality. In this workshop students will learn how to create and place their own monuments in the Mission Mission using mapping APIs and the GPS/compass/gyro sensors in mobile phones.
Participants should come ready with at least web coding basics (HTML, javascript). For beginners we’ll have a simple intro to technique. For advanced coders there will be Three.js boilerplates, interactive demos and source code on GitHub.. Image courtesy of Detroit Resists
Intro to Addressable LEDs and POV Displays
with Mark Hellar
In this workshop we will combine electronics, programming, creativity and craft. We will learn how to program the low-cost Prop Shield microcontroller which is meant for making light and sound effects on small handheld props and wearable costumes. We will use this to drive a number addressable RGB leds. Participants, will create an electronic circuit and learn how to solder it together. The final result will be a programmable LED wand. We will cover programming strategies for creating complex and colorful algorithmic lighting patterns, tow to do light painting and persistence of vision displays will also be covered. $36 dollar material fee. No-pre-reqs. Laptop is required.
Remixing National Park Soundscapes with Webaudio
with Ray McClure
Recent National Park Service policy shifts risk conversion to private land, relaxed environmental protection, and inhumane hunting practices. The National Park Service hosts a library of public domain media that's free to download and repurpose. Let's discover the hidden rhythms and textures found in these recordings with JavaScript and the Web Audio API. We will transform the sounds of animals, natural phenomena and park visitors into soundscapes, synthesizers and playful audio experiences that feature the Parks' diversity and highlight the importance of wildlife conservation.
Creating Community Toolkits: Digital Security
with Lisa Wright and Rachel Weidinger
At this workshop, we'll work in small teams to create bite-sized digital security trainings for the communities we're a part of. Each participant will leave the training with a quick, topic-based, practical digital security training that they know by heart. We'll all gain new teaching and training skills together, along with leveling up our security skills collectively. The workshop will generate 5-10 creative new 'modules,' and all the modules will be documented together online.
This workshop spans three hours. The first hour focuses on the nature of surveillance and resistance strategies. You will then workshop and create your own kits for leading small privacy workshops in the future.
Together, we'll pick current topics and build resources around:
Border crossing
Trauma first aid
Surveillance mapping
Threat analysis in bite-sized steps
Encryption apps for phone
Social networks and privacy
VPNs & TOR
Malware (phishing, updates)
End-to-end encryption (OTR, PGP)
Physical threats
Passwords, managers, roll-your-own passwords (with dice!)
Backups, intentionally destroying info
Barrier methods faraday/audio plug/ lens sticker/ bodysock/screen obscurers
Protests and activism
Your work will be supported by three rad women artist/technologists: Leez and Rachel Weidinger. Leez works at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and gets excited about freely modifiable and redistributable things. Rachel has been making backpack-based Digital Security First Aid Kits, disappearing archives of current digital security training tips, and a shipping container-based Surveillance Disaster Response Center.