Sound and Image.F09

Portfolio Website

2009-11-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

Art 345

Final Project Part 1

Create a Portfolio Website:

Your website is a representation of you and the work you have accomplished over the course of the semester.

You are free to create the website using any of the examples Ben shows you in class today. These can range from custom designed, HTML coded sites to adapting existing, free blogs to showcase your work:

Required minimum content:

Here is a good site to model: (there are many others, keep it simple, let the work be the primary visual feature on the site).

http://www.mandiberg.com/

You are required to have:

CV/Resume

Bio

Contact Information

If needed a “Front Page” or “Home Page” link

As to projects - each project completed for the class is to be featured in reverse chronological order - ie, last project is the first thing you see when you come to the site. You are also required to write a brief description/statement about each project, as on Michael Mandiberg’s site linked above.

For Art 345 website the projects will be:

Assignment #4 The two sound files made for assignment #4 - the sound compositions created one through a random process the other with intention. Post these as quicktime files without video.

Assignment #5 The two completed videos made to compliment your two sound compositions. Post these as embedded videos from Youtube or Vimeo.

Assignment #6 Triptych - post this either as one video with the three parts playing on a single channel or if you are able, create a web page that features all three videos next to each other.

Assignment #6 Part II - link to the mixed page featuring the expanded/revised triptych projects.

Final Projects - feature documentation of your final project (embed video, photo documentation, whatever is most appropriate).

#7 Post your two writing assignments/reviews of visiting artist’s lectures and Prospectives.09.

WEB PORTFOLIOS ARE DUE COMPLETED DECEMBER 14, 2010, MIDNIGHT!!!

Easy:
blogger.com
wordpress.com
tumblr.com
flickr.com

(These are all relatively user friendly, with existing templates and designs that you can adapt to fit your work, these do, however, lack in terms of having the flexibility to truly design a personal web portfolio page. If you are just starting out with web publishing, however, these are likely a good place to start!)

More Advanced:

http://www.indexhibit.org/ - downloadable CMS (FANTASTIC web based, portfolio specific web application!)

wordpress.org - downloadable CMS
drupal.org - downloadable CMS
(These require web hosting (ie: siteflip.com), FTP (file transfer protocol), I would also strongly recommend acquiring your own domain address (ie joeblow.com). Hosting and domains are available on the cheap, you can do all of this for just around $30 a year, well worth it for professional designers and artists. If you have web skills beyond the beginner, this is the way to go, you will get here eventually in the Digital Media program. Requires knowledge of how websites work and will again take time to setup. Ultimately much more flexible in terms of setting up your personal portfolio site, thousands of open source codes, plugins, templates, etc.)

Final Projects!!!

2009-11-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

Final Projects Part 1 and 2

Part 1 - Create a portfolio website of all projects created to date.

Part 2

Listen to this and check out his other work linked below....

Objective:
The objective is to arrive at a concept that facilitates the creative utilization of digital technologies for the completion of a significant project or series of works to be presented, displayed or performed. Develop an idea and write a proposal describing both formal and conceptual intentions. Use the remaining time in the semester to complete the work. You are to choose one of the listed options below for your final project. Works will be graded according to form, content and as to the overall quality of your presentation. You are responsible for the entire presentation of the finished work – choose the most appropriate method for the display of your work. Finally, you will create a written artist’s statement that will be read during the final critique.

Choose one of these options for your final project:
-Work on a collaborative sound and video work with a student from the Electronic Music Composition class for full-dome projection in the Planetarium.
-Create an unexpected public presentation of video and/or sound.
LINKS:

http://graffitiresearchlab.com/ - electronic graffiti in public spaces, etc.

http://www.resoundings.org/ - amazing sound artist in public spaces, etc.

http://eriktburke.com/stilllife.html - nice animation in public space, etc.

-Other (collaborate, genius concepts, etc.)

Monday, November 16 Assign Final Projects
Wednesday, November 18 PROJECT PROPS DUE/Web Site demo
Monday, November 23 Sound and Video Works part 1
Wednesday, November 25 Open Lab
Monday, November 30 Sound and Video Works Part 2
Wednesday, December 2 Sound and Video Works Part 3
Monday, December 7 FINAL CRITIQUE PART 1
Monday, December 14 FINAL CRITIQUE PART 2

Triptych+ Assignment...

2009-10-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

Triptych from paranoidguy on Vimeo.

Triptych from Emily Rusk on Vimeo.

triptych from grimikins on Vimeo.

Assignment #6: Three/Five/20? - Video Triptych+ for Installation and Web Distribution

Objective:
Part 1) Create a triptych using video and sound as imagined for a projected video installation. These works will reflect both the further development of your conceptual expressions through video and sound using three consecutively projected video pieces that will include sound.

Part 2) Expand your triptych to at minimum a five-screen project for web distribution and access. You will be developing a webpage as a multichannel video/audio work similar to the In Bb 2.0 as available online: http://www.inbflat.net

Your project is to have at minimum two additional channels – you are encouraged to consider the grid form as a creative online template for developing this second phase of the project.

Examples:
Imagine this work as existing in a dark gallery or museum environment – your viewers enter the space to find three wall sized projected video images – each screen is the same size perfectly aligned with the next with perhaps one or two feet of space between the three projected images. You have no control over when people enter the space - your work is to loop continuously to be experienced not so much as a traditional video work in a screening room or a theatrical setting – rather, this is to be experienced as a discrete artwork/installation.

For the second part, imaging someone coming to your webpage and randomly clicking on your videos to create a unique, live montage of your videos and sound.

There are a wide range of possibilities and variables to consider as you develop these pieces.

-timing – are all the videos perfectly in sync or are they designed with the timing to be slightly off to allow for random associations of imagery?

-subject matter – this is completely up to you! Consider the wide range of subjects covered throughout the history of art, film and video. The only requirement is that you continue to actually record all of your own imagery through a camera. Consider location, lighting, camera position (tripod or hand-held) and all the various possibilities available through the camera (zoom, pan, close-ups, focus/out of focus)

-processing – use techniques explored with the first video projects or others, effects can be used very effectively to play across three screens. Or keep it simple as straight video, through the camera.

-sound – this is an incredible opportunity to play with layered sound – for the triptych you have three sets of speakers, potentially 6 different audio channels if you use stereo. You can meticulously time your audio or allow for random overlay to inform/create the piece as it runs. The use of audio to create spatial relationships with the imagery and your audience is very pertinent to this project. For the second part of the project you have up to 40 audio channels!

Techniques:
Continue to explore and utilize Finalcut Pro, you will also be making your own DVD’s for this project – we will be viewing these on the final critique date which is:

Triptychs due Monday, October 26th. Online, expanded part II’s due Monday, November 2.

You are to turn in THREE DVD's, one for each channel of your triptychs!!!

For grading purposes I will also need a quicktime composite of your triptych where I can view all three channels at once.

At minimum we will be looking at these on three LCD panels, I will be working to see if we can facilitate an actual three projector viewing environment for these projects! IE: it should look like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vr93EdUZpY

Assignment #5 - Two Videos...

2009-09-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Links to films mentioned in the reading, watch these for Wednesday's discussion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nrGKWMaX-4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaGh0D2NXCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z1sOsIrshU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAxUWfe_PJY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7idi_5IaMrk

Look at this:

http://www.theoneminutes.org/

Read this for Monday:
http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/39/cutups1.htm

Assignment #5: Video and Sound two 1 Minute works

Objective:

Using both of the your finished sound pieces from Assignment #4 as your soundtracks, create a one minute videos using the digital video camera and Finalcut Pro on the mac.

The intention, in part, is to create an experimental combination of images in time using your sound works as the foundation for expressive video projects. Use your soundtracks as the point of departure for your image ideas. Each soundtrack is to be used verbatim, without any alteration as the starting point to create two time-based video works that are defined by the structure of the audio. The disparate fusion of audio and video will likely create unexpected meanings – allow this to occur. We have been engaging in strategies of control and randomness – continue to think on these lines.

Also consider the overall direction of the last four projects – we have been exploring the issue of self-portraiture through the development of sound experiments that all came together as two audio collages. Feel free to consider aspects of your everyday life as recorded through the lense of the video camera and the editing with the software to be a continuation of this process of building and assembling complex artifacts or personal representation. We have been “hearing” about you and your environments, perhaps this project could be considered an opportunity to now visualize what have so far been aural spaces.

All imagery for these pieces are to be recorded through the camera – no directly appropriated imagery.

Techniques:

Learn to use Finalcut Pro, go over basic techniques through tutorials online and through trial and error. You will be learning by doing! Learn to use: basic editing, importing sound, transitions, etc. Learn basic video camera operation, downloading to the Mac, etc. There are numerous sources on the web available regarding Finalcut – tutorials, discussion boards and such - use these resources and the Dynamic Media lab in the library. I will be posting links to tutorials as a place to start! Good luck and have fun!

Projects are due Wednesday, October 7th!

Sound Mixing Tutorials - How to...

2009-09-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

Links to some interesting work with sound:
Here are some links to software and some helpful tutorials on getting started with audio mixing software:

Interesting blog with links and info on a variety of projects:
http://www.ethanham.com/blog/labels/sound.html

Amazing project, watch the video:
http://www.pitaru.com/

Christian Marclay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yqM3dAqTzs

Cut ups William S. Burroughs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B6NGPOUslI

Audacity:
Free, opensource software, one the more popular, can be a bit buggy here and there, just save as you go...
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

http://wiki.audacityteam.org/index.php?title=Tutorials

These are from youtube, this guy's tutorials are very helpful, clear and understandable (there are many more...look for them as you become more familiar with the program):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZjaTebJVPA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbqJVC6kQ50&feature=related

Soundtrack Pro:
Apple's sound editing and mixing software, a bit more sophisticated than GarageBand:
(loads of tutorial info here)

http://www.apple.com/support/soundtrackpro/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBoEVYarZsg
Many other tutorials on youtube, look around!

GarageBand:
Apple's music mixing software.

http://www.apple.com/support/garageband/gettingstarted/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpUUKJeP7jE
Loads of other tutorials on youtube, look around, this one is most popular.

Sound Mixing - Assignment #4

2009-09-16T15:06:00.000-07:00

Art 345 Sound and Image
MW 4-6:30pm Fall 2009 Joseph DeLappe

Assignment #6: Audio/Sound/Random/Intentional-Two Compositions

Objective:
Working with an audio processing software of your choice, (Audacity, GarageBand, Soundedit, etc.) you will make two final, one minute long, audio pieces combining the three sound projects created to date. (recorded tape loop, musical instrument, voice).

1) Three Track Mix. First create a one minute long project featuring 3 tracks, one each of the above mentioned works works. Keep it simple. Repeat your tape loops to fill the one minute duration - play your instrument for one minute - play your voice piece as many times as it takes to fill one minute. No manipulation beyond controlling sound levels and cleaning up the audio sources if need be. This basic, four track piece needs to be saved to be used to make the two pieces described next - keep this as your back-up source audio!

2) Controlled. Use the same source material to create an audio work that involves the intentional use of mixing, effects and filters in your chosen sound software to create a one-minute audio collage. Have fun and learn to use the software to seriously alter and engage your audio source material to create a new piece. 1minute in duration.

3) Random/Structured. Use the same source material that you saved in the first step, but this time, create a conceptual structure or game which defines how you integrate the sound and how you use the effects and filters. This one should be created entirely from choices made through your chosen conceptual structure/game. Be creative in developing a conceptual approach that will define how you put your work together - invent a system which will define you develop the finished work - ie: you system should instruct you on when to affect differing tracks (1,2,3), volume, balance, use of effects, etc.(we will discuss this further).

Examples:
Artist making sound. The tools available to you for audio processing are as interesting and complex as those in Photoshop for engaging visual imagery. Think of your works as audio collage. Cut, paste, re-assemble with the intent of making a work that ties your three audio sources into a cohesive whole.

John Cage, Marcell Duchamp, Mondrian, Pollock and many other modern artists have utilized random chance, numerical systems and conceptual thinking for the creation of works of art. Developing your own system for defining your audio composition involves the use of an invented structure to define the creation of your second piece. Think creatively. We will discuss these in class before you proceed. Consider the notion of time, random happenings, assign numbers to the various tracks and to the various preferred effects, roll dice, draw cards, take notes every time your phone rings, etc..

Screening for Lecture Credit

2009-09-04T08:08:00.001-07:00

http://www.gbfs.org/

Feel free to attend this screening of experimental films and early "music videos".

Instrument/Found Sound and LINKS!

2009-09-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

Links for flash mob/public interventions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo

look at the "more from" section on the side of this youtube page, Improv Everywhere does some amazing work.

Links for homemade music:

http://www.oddmusic.com/

http://www.instructables.com/tag/category:music/?sort=none&q=instrument&limit:type:id=on

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=homemade+instruments&search_type=&aq=f

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Z-zEXEb6o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hBqgp9JGOo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2_VwcGyeMU

Assignment #2: Instrument/Found Sound Continued…

Objective:

For this project you will be creating a home-made musical instrument/sound making device/sculpture. Using found materials of your choice, manufacture a piece that creatively emits sound as a result of being struck, strummed, dropped, blown through, thrown, or somehow otherwise manipulated by a user. The final piece must also incorporate a functional microphone - which will be used for recording and amplification purposes. A simple computer microphone with a mini-plug or suction cup input will suffice. These are available cheap at Radio Shack, Bestbuy, etc..

Consider the notion of sculptural assemblage - the combination of disparate elements into a visual object with the addition of musical/aural functionality. I also want you to think about your instrument as a continuation of your self-portrait sound loop - not literally but in the sense that the sound serves as a type of audio metaphor. The materials used should be meaningful - consider the objects in your everyday life and conceptualize your piece accordingly.

Examples:

You can approach this project from many different angles. Think about the many thousands of musical instruments that exist and create your own version from simple materials. Or, bring together a group of "stuff" from your life and just start experimenting with different combinations. The sound need not be pleasant as in the strum from a well tuned guitar - think about the sound as representative of some aspect of you.

This piece can be constructed using any materials at your disposal, books, bike parts, paper, cardboard box, motors, glass, plastic, duct tape, wire, screws, string, bottles, etc… Be creative, don’t be lazy…

Wednesday, September 9th Project due, bring to class and be prepared to play!

First Assignment and John Cage links...

2009-09-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

Assignment #1: Found Sound Loop – Self Portrait
Sound a. A vibratory disturbance in the pressure and density of a fluid or in the elastic strain in a solid, with frequency in the approximate range between 20 and 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by the organs of hearing b. A disturbance of any frequency c. The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such a disturbance d. Such sensations collectively e. an articulation made by a vocal apparatus f. The distinctive character of such an articulation g. auditory material as recorded h. meaningless noise

Loop a. something having a roughly oval, closed or nearly closed turn or figure. b. a closed circuit

Objective:
Using an answering machine “endless loop” tape and a portable tape recorder, record found sound or a series of sounds from your everyday experience. The sound you record and present to the class will serve as an audio self-portrait – a snapshot of sound from/of your life.

Upon leaving class today, open your ears – spend several hours intentially just listening to your life – do not record anything. Use this experience as the foundation to choose what you would like to record tomorrow. Consider the form of the loop as a primary conceptual aspect of the work. Use the looping tape in a creative manner – this piece literally has no beginning our end.

Carefully think about the concepts expressed in the John Cage video – the nature of sound and the belief that all sound, whether intentional or thru chance, could be considered meaningful. Consider audio as metaphor, symbol, and as a unique medium for creative, artistic expression.

Examples:
There is so much sound in our lives that to give specific examples is almost defeating the purpose of this project. Experiment! Listen! Consider the “music” as defined by John Cage that surrounds us constantly. Allow your recording device to inhabit your life. We will discuss further examples and possibilities in class. Please avoid music in the familiar sense(no favorite songs) - expand your ears….

DUE Wednesday September 2, 2009

John Cage Links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcHnL7aS64Y
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cage
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_cage.html