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| foam_newsletter_winter_2013 [2013-12-12 15:46] – maja | foam_newsletter_winter_2013 [2013-12-12 15:57] – maja |
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| A colourful congregation of artists, scientists, technologists and enthusiasts came together at FoAM in Brussels to explore the fuzzy edges between the craft of fermentation, the science of biochemistry and the interesting socio-technological developments surrounding the phenomenon known as bio-hacking, biopunk or DIY biology in the [[http://fo.am/biochymickal-arts/|Biochymickal Arts workshop]] this September. Led by [[http://tarantinofoodvice.wordpress.com/|Maria Tarantino]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_L._Patterson|Meredith L. Patterson]], [[http://transitlab.org/|Brian Degger]] and the core team of FoAM Brussels, the group spent a weekend engaged in charged debate about such issues as the ethics of synthetic biology, biomimicry in design, fermented fish, and bacterial cultures in pickled vegetables. The workshop adopted the form of a curated open space, with several parallel experiments taking place in FoAM's kitchen and makeshift wetlab. The wetlab will remain operational until further notice, as several of the participants continue to perform biological experiments. If you are interested in using the lab, feel free to contact bxl@fo.am for more information. See also the [[http://lib.fo.am/biochymickal_arts_2013|notes, summaries and references]] emerging from the workshop, and the [[http://flickr.com/photos/foam/sets/72157635582680823/|Biochymickal Arts photos]] on Flickr. | A colourful congregation of artists, scientists, technologists and enthusiasts came together at FoAM in Brussels to explore the fuzzy edges between the craft of fermentation, the science of biochemistry and the interesting socio-technological developments surrounding the phenomenon known as bio-hacking, biopunk or DIY biology in the [[http://fo.am/biochymickal-arts/|Biochymickal Arts workshop]] this September. Led by [[http://tarantinofoodvice.wordpress.com/|Maria Tarantino]], [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_L._Patterson|Meredith L. Patterson]], [[http://transitlab.org/|Brian Degger]] and the core team of FoAM Brussels, the group spent a weekend engaged in charged debate about such issues as the ethics of synthetic biology, biomimicry in design, fermented fish, and bacterial cultures in pickled vegetables. The workshop adopted the form of a curated open space, with several parallel experiments taking place in FoAM's kitchen and makeshift wetlab. The wetlab will remain operational until further notice, as several of the participants continue to perform biological experiments. If you are interested in using the lab, feel free to contact bxl@fo.am for more information. See also the [[http://lib.fo.am/biochymickal_arts_2013|notes, summaries and references]] emerging from the workshop, and the [[http://flickr.com/photos/foam/sets/72157635582680823/|Biochymickal Arts photos]] on Flickr. |
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| <html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/9785759003/" title="L1006409 by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/9785759003_6b27061dbf_z.jpg" width="640" height="426" alt="L1006409"></a></html> | <html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/9785759003/" title="L1006409 by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2874/9785759003_6b27061dbf.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="L1006409"></a></html><html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/9783935026/" title="_MG_8572 by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/9783935026_535ebb5c43.jpg" width="500" height="319" alt="_MG_8572"></a></html> |
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| After weeks of planning, preparation, testing, tasting, listening and above all cooking, we hosted [[http://fo.am/smoke_vapour/|Smoke & Vapour]], two etherial evenings and degustation dinners dedicated to smoke and vapour in their many forms. Maja Kuzmanovic, Stevie Wishart, Rasa Alksnyte, Nik Gaffney and Alkan Chipperfield composed a synaesthetic experience where food and sound melted and evaporated into one other. On the first evening we invited guests from within the FoAM network who gave us feedback about the experience, based on which we tweaked various aspects of the dinner. Two days afterwards we hosted the wider public event, with visitors ranging from civil servants to food stylists, performance artists to food activists. We’re happy that both evenings were well received by our guests, and also gave us such exhilarating pleasure to produce and perform. You can find an 'insider's perspective' of Smoke & Vapour's creation in [[http://fo.am/blog/2013/12/09/creating-smoke-vapour/|Maja’s blog post]], browse the [[http://libarynth.org/open_sauces:smoke_vapour|documentation of the process, inspirations, and specially designed recipes]], and peruse the [[http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/sets/72157635490865219/|photos spanning the entire production]]. | After weeks of planning, preparation, testing, tasting, listening and above all cooking, we hosted [[http://fo.am/smoke_vapour/|Smoke & Vapour]], two etherial evenings and degustation dinners dedicated to smoke and vapour in their many forms. Maja Kuzmanovic, Stevie Wishart, Rasa Alksnyte, Nik Gaffney and Alkan Chipperfield composed a synaesthetic experience where food and sound melted and evaporated into one other. On the first evening we invited guests from within the FoAM network who gave us feedback about the experience, based on which we tweaked various aspects of the dinner. Two days afterwards we hosted the wider public event, with visitors ranging from civil servants to food stylists, performance artists to food activists. We’re happy that both evenings were well received by our guests, and also gave us such exhilarating pleasure to produce and perform. You can find an 'insider's perspective' of Smoke & Vapour's creation in [[http://fo.am/blog/2013/12/09/creating-smoke-vapour/|Maja’s blog post]], browse the [[http://libarynth.org/open_sauces:smoke_vapour|documentation of the process, inspirations, and specially designed recipes]], and peruse the [[http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/sets/72157635490865219/|photos spanning the entire production]]. |
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| <html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/11224227816/" title="_MG_9386-Edit by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/11224227816_4294b5c832_n.jpg" width="320" height="85" alt="_MG_9386-Edit"></a></html> | <html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/10981531815/" title="L1007763 by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/10981531815_d343bafb68.jpg" width="500" height="319" alt="L1007763"></a></html><html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/10747758323/" title="131108-225543 by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5538/10747758323_6b1c2d70d3.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="131108-225543"></a></html> |
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| In our previous newsletter we celebrated the closure of [[http://lib.fo.am/resilients/start|Resilients]] and [[http://fo.am/parn|PARN]], two projects that put our work in speculative culture on the map. Since then the [[http://fo.am/parn-physical-and-alternate-reality-narratives/|PARN publication]] has been printed and distributed (if you'd like a copy email us at bxl@fo.am), and we're full swing into [[http://fo.am/future-fabulators/|Future Fabulators]], a European project that combines our work with alternate reality narratives and future preparedness and continues our fertile collaboration with [[http://timesup.org/|Time's Up]] in Linz. In Future Fabulators we're extending our research in speculative culture through scenario building, future preenactments, physical narratives and other forms that embody possible futures today. Since commencing the project in September, we've facilitated several scenario planning workshops, fine-tuning the method for different audiences. From a small team at the [[http://vooruit.be/|Vooruit]] to the partners of the European Consortium and a [[http://fo.am/human-invasive-interaction/|diverse group of experts working on exotic and invasive species]], we have applied our scenario building techniques in a wide range contexts. Although we're still developing the methods as we go along, we're convinced that they have a lot of potential for communities and organisations in transition. We are currently designing a series of scenario workshops with the [[http://www.m-iti.org/|Madeira Institute of Technology]], after which we'll take a couple of months off to research the philosophy, ethics, aesthetics and methodology of speculative culture. Keep your eyes on the [[http://libarynth.org/future_fabulators/index|Future Fabulators wiki]] to find out more as the project develops. | In our previous newsletter we celebrated the closure of [[http://lib.fo.am/resilients/start|Resilients]] and [[http://fo.am/parn|PARN]], two projects that put our work in speculative culture on the map. Since then the [[http://fo.am/parn-physical-and-alternate-reality-narratives/|PARN publication]] has been printed and distributed (if you'd like a copy email us at bxl@fo.am), and we're full swing into [[http://fo.am/future-fabulators/|Future Fabulators]], a European project that combines our work with alternate reality narratives and future preparedness and continues our fertile collaboration with [[http://timesup.org/|Time's Up]] in Linz. In Future Fabulators we're extending our research in speculative culture through scenario building, future preenactments, physical narratives and other forms that embody possible futures today. Since commencing the project in September, we've facilitated several scenario planning workshops, fine-tuning the method for different audiences. From a small team at the [[http://vooruit.be/|Vooruit]] to the partners of the European Consortium and a [[http://fo.am/human-invasive-interaction/|diverse group of experts working on exotic and invasive species]], we have applied our scenario building techniques in a wide range contexts. Although we're still developing the methods as we go along, we're convinced that they have a lot of potential for communities and organisations in transition. We are currently designing a series of scenario workshops with the [[http://www.m-iti.org/|Madeira Institute of Technology]], after which we'll take a couple of months off to research the philosophy, ethics, aesthetics and methodology of speculative culture. Keep your eyes on the [[http://libarynth.org/future_fabulators/index|Future Fabulators wiki]] to find out more as the project develops. |
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| <html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/10058098033/" title="L1006710 by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/10058098033_563d4ac1c8_z.jpg" width="640" height="322" alt="L1006710"></a></html> | <html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/10190891016/" title="L1007117 by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3743/10190891016_444bd3c3c6_c.jpg" width="800" height="403" alt="L1007117"></a></html> |
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| To (re)connect with audiences interested in futurology and other forms of speculative culture, we spoke about our work at the [[http://fo.am/improving-reality/|Improving Realities conference]] in Brighton. Amidst futurists like [[http://changeist.com/|Scott Smith]], [[http://justinpickard.net/|Justin Pickard]] and the people from [[http://www.arcfinity.org/|ARC]], [[http://libarynth.org/improving_realities|Maja's talk]] looked at using future preenactments and alternate realities as ways to guide us through the swarm of uncertain futures. Following this Nik and Maja headed off to the Brionian islands in Croatia for the [[http://fo.am/summit-practical-utopias/|Summit of Practical Utopias]], a four-day workshop where participants playfully designed and experimented with the seemingly paradoxical notion of creating a utopia that can be practical. We realised that FoAM might actually be an exercise of practical utopianism, balancing on the fine edges of the impractical. | To (re)connect with audiences interested in futurology and other forms of speculative culture, we spoke about our work at the [[http://fo.am/improving-reality/|Improving Realities conference]] in Brighton. Amidst futurists like [[http://changeist.com/|Scott Smith]], [[http://justinpickard.net/|Justin Pickard]] and the people from [[http://www.arcfinity.org/|ARC]], [[http://libarynth.org/improving_realities|Maja's talk]] looked at using future preenactments and alternate realities as ways to guide us through the swarm of uncertain futures. Following this Nik and Maja headed off to the Brionian islands in Croatia for the [[http://fo.am/summit-practical-utopias/|Summit of Practical Utopias]], a four-day workshop where participants playfully designed and experimented with the seemingly paradoxical notion of creating a utopia that can be practical. We realised that FoAM might actually be an exercise of practical utopianism, balancing on the fine edges of the impractical. |
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| | <html><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/foam/10058098033/" title="L1006710 by _foam, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/10058098033_563d4ac1c8_z.jpg" width="640" height="322" alt="L1006710"></a></html> |
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| A few days afterwards, Maja and Nik welcomed the Australian artist [[http://www.sarahneville.com/about/|Sarah Neville]] and her five-month-old daughter Florence as [[http://fo.am/family-residency-sarah-neville/|family in residence]] at Castelletto Parenzana, FoAM's temporary residence in Istria, Croatia. The four of them spent an intensive week exploring the past, present and future of weather lore in a time of turbulent climate change. Our collaboration with Sarah will continue at our mobile studio in Adelaide, Australia during February 2014, and may involve Sarah's return to Europe to participate in one of Future Fabulators' events. Read more in [[http://lib.fo.am/research_report_parenzana|Sarah's research report]] and the [[http://lib.fo.am/parenzana_residency_notes|Parenzana residency notes]]. | A few days afterwards, Maja and Nik welcomed the Australian artist [[http://www.sarahneville.com/about/|Sarah Neville]] and her five-month-old daughter Florence as [[http://fo.am/family-residency-sarah-neville/|family in residence]] at Castelletto Parenzana, FoAM's temporary residence in Istria, Croatia. The four of them spent an intensive week exploring the past, present and future of weather lore in a time of turbulent climate change. Our collaboration with Sarah will continue at our mobile studio in Adelaide, Australia during February 2014, and may involve Sarah's return to Europe to participate in one of Future Fabulators' events. Read more in [[http://lib.fo.am/research_report_parenzana|Sarah's research report]] and the [[http://lib.fo.am/parenzana_residency_notes|Parenzana residency notes]]. |
nik