One of the fun things about writing a musical, as opposed to say, an experimental multimedia work, is that there is a long tradition of conventions and precedents to draw on.  I guess it's more like being a painter, or a sculptor: there are a million opportunities for wry commentary on previous works, or for tweaking an established tradition (think of all the revisionist takes on the Last Supper for example.)  Or as my colleagues in the Humanities might say, "you get to go...

this week, i got sick. really sick. then my wife got sick. really sicker. not a good week. while down and out, drinking Vernor's which, by the way, is straight up full on medicinal in these parts and if you don't know you better "aks" somebody. anyway, i watched the worst movie ever made, They Live, starring former wrestling curiousity "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. i am not going to describe this film to you. rent it, buy it, steal it and then watch in horror. only good part is the epic...

Definitely not for kids, this commercial is HILARIOUS. I cited it as an inspiration for my IP project last year, and just discovered the outtakes.

The Digital Music Ensemble is presenting its experimental theatrical take on the novel Huckleberry Finn tomorrow night, using John Cage's mesostic score CIRCUS ON to reinterpret the novel's text through chance procedures. The show's taking place in a barn. With a coffin. And a rocket. And thievery. And incarceration. And a bluegrass band. You should come. You can see the barn in the video above, with an early version of the DME Bluegrass Band's take on Amazing Grace.

For...

If you are an After Effects user, you probably have wondered at some point how to animate text per letter. I always forget, but this tutorial is fantastic at explaining it. There's more from where this came from, too! Creative Cow has excellent tutorials and Aaron Rabinowitz is very thorough with his explinations. Wonderful teacher.

Cripes!  Sorry no updates from the studio for 3 weeks, but the truth is, we're too damn busy right now to stop and take pictures.  If anyone else has some, send 'em in.  Because slow, we are not.  The studio is re...diculous busy right now.  One thing I didn't miss was the esteemed Jeff Han of TED talks fame.  Jeff was brought in by TCAUP who also brought in a delicious rotisserie-ed goat today in a bacchanalian great-Friday feast.  Nice one Lone Star Kennedy!

Mr Han is...

Saw this on my favorite site, Motionographer, it's pretty spectacular.

Here's more about the project from the site:

Johnny Kelly and Matthew Cooper have just made a series of 56 hilarious and poignant animated GIFS called I Am Not An Artist for Elisava, a Barcelona-based design school. The piece, subtitled An Animated GIF Paranoia About Nonstop Design Workers, illustrates the process of design as hard and sometimes painful work using stop-motion and animated sequences that...

guest curator, detroit thinker/maker extrordinaire, ryan standfest just dropped these suckers off. catalogues from the Funny (not funny) exhibition which, was fantastic and set precedent for more outstanding offerings at our gallery in the D. they are available via ryan's site. truly well written and designed, it is an artifact which proudly signals the sort of creative energy we promote and support around here. plus my name's in it. makes a swell gift!

Growing up with Chicago as the nearest big city, I'm nostalgic to get out there as much as possible.  During a recent trip, I visited the Museum of Contemporary Art (free on Tuesdays!).  The museum itself is on its way to becoming a personal favorite.  It's tall open space is welcoming when you first walk in, but as you explore the museum further you find nooks here and there holding even more interesting work.

MCA currently spotlights Chicago-based artists.  One artist that made...

The Game of Life Foundation's Wave Field Synthesis system, a 192-speaker surround sound system.

The last half of the Sonic Acts 2010 conference was just as jam-packed as the first. The third day focused primarily on field recording and music, beginning with one of the figureheads of contemporary R. Murray Schaeffer-influenced recording practice, Barry Truax, lecturing about his own work composing music with environmental sounds. I was particularly interested in his discussions...