via artthrob…. Members of the interactive media department, Wits School of the Arts, from left: Nathaniel Stern [(lecturer)], Nicholas Nesbitt, Colleen Alborough, Professor Christo Doherty, Elmi Dixon, Sue van Zyl and Richard Kilpert.

Here’s a fantastic review of the WSOA digital arts final exhibition, by James Sey. This was a group exhibition of their final projects last year, supervised / managed by me and Christo, curated, produced and installed by the students (so I helped a little). Watch this space for the next batch of digital arts MAs, who will have a show opening at Franchise Gallery on 25 June!!!!

entry re-blogged from nathaniel and the non-aggressive

Well, the commons sense conference, by creative commons SA, is coming up (25-27 May), so Christo and I had a great meeting with Heather and Sylvia today, to discuss possible connections, presenters, artworks, blogs, etc.

For those of you unaware, Creative Commons is a great new way of dealing with digital copyright, and share licenses…. For example, this blog is under a creative commons “non-commercial share-alike” license, which means you can copy, edit, change and use anything I publish, so long as you credit me, and don’t make money (if you make money, you gots to negotiate with me to gimme some).

It’s kind of an arts and information-based open source, um, thing. And the digital copyright man, himself (larry lessig), will be hangin’ out in joburg, giving talks, and generally spreading creative commons cheer. There are also blog and artwork contests, with cash prizes - so get involved! Follow any of the many CC links for more….

circa the wits soiree….

This Friday we feature the first part of a short series on turntablism with a screening of Scratch, the definitive documentary that explores the world of the hip-hop DJ. From the birth of hip-hop, when pioneering DJs began extending breaks on their party records (which helped inspire breakdancing and rap), to the invention of scratching and “beat-juggling” vinyl, to its recent explosion as a musical movement called “turntablism”, it’s a story of unknown underdogs and serious virtuosos who are radically changing the way we hear, play and create music.

See turntable wizards such as Qbert, Mixmaster Mike (from the Beastie Boys) and DJ Craze (who recently rocked it at Carfax) to production geniuses such as DJ Premier, DJ Shadow and DJ Krush to the pioneer of hip-hop and electro himself, Afrika Bambaata.

[Watch out for the second part of the series on May 6 May when JHB turntablists will be setting up and spinning vinyl and then discussing their techniques and creative philosophy with Richard Rumney.]

The Friday Digital Soiree
22 March 15:00 – 17:00
Convent Seminar Room
All Welcome!

Parking available in front of the Convent. Go to http://www.wits.ac.za/artworks/contact/map.htm for directions.

circa christo doherty @ WSOA digital arts:

We are starting our Soiree programme for the 2nd term with another WSOA Digital Arts and Unyazi Electronic Music Festival  collaboration.

These collaborations are intended to develop an awareness  of the forthcoming Electronic Festival in September 2005.  The first ever such Festival in Africa!

The Friday Digital Soiree

15 April 2005
15:00 – 16:30
Convent Seminar Room
All Welcome!

LEGENDS OF STOP-MOTION ANIMATION: BRUCE BICKFORD

A rare glimpse into the dark surrealist vision of clay animator Bruce Bickford.  A world of aliens and monsters, elaborate battles and violent barroom brawls set to a music score by Frank Zappa,  the most caustic iconoclast in modern music 
 
In this documentary Zappa’s music is performed by Pierre Boulez conducting Ensemble InterComptemporain.
The film will be introduced with a talk on Frank Zappa by Dimitri Voudouris, Director of the Unyazi Festival. 2005.