Lee.org

And I’m the named artist. :-)

Of course, SWARM is actually a rag tag fugitive fleet of about 25 people. But this is still pretty dern cool.

Internet Explorer viewers of this blog can now see what Firefox viewers have been enjoying for the last year or so…

The green bar behind “Lee.org” at the top of the blog wasn’t visible in IE til I fixed a .css file. Actually, the issue was that IE didn’t follow CSS specs, but it’s hardly worth griping about. IE 6 doesn’t see the background image in my CSS file when it reads as such:

background-image: /* url("http://lee.org/blog/images/reason-villege-old-spring-green.jpg");*/

url("http://lee.org/blog/images/reason-villege-old-spring-green-right-justified.jpg");

I suppose it’s because IE sees the text being on 2 lines (there’s a carriage return in there)  as being 2 elements. But I’m not going to spend any more energy figuring it out.

The writing actually phonetically spells my name in Japanese. Logically, it’s an odd collection of thoughts… “Lee” sounds like “Reason”. Then “Son” and “ko” sound like “village” and “old”.

I have to thank Miki Kawabe for the translation. At Burning Man in 2004, we won the Second Annual Semi-authentic Finnish Wife Carrying Event. We won her weight in beer.

Yes, really!

Check out our art project, Mutopia.

Ripped from the page:

In 2008 we are creating Mutopia our latest collaborative project. It will celebrate the innovation and spirit of our community. Infusing form with greater dynamism and interactivity. Every participant brings new ideas to the work which manifest in fire and animation.

STRUCTURE

• 13 Seedpods
• 97’ x 60’ installation footprint
• Made of cast aluminium, steel, copper, fire, and light
• An interactive LED illumination system throughout installation

FIRE, STEAM, & ELECTRONICS

• Ambient flame effects throughout the installation
• 6 computer-and-participant controlled multi-directional propane poofers
• 6 computer-and-participant controlled Promatic effects (propane pneumatics)
• Liquid fuel canopy misters
• 3 x 50 foot multi-dimensional liquid fuel fire effects erupting out of 3 central Seedpods
• Sound wave driven propane flame effect
• Sonar activated proximity sensors, giving Mutopia awareness
• Steam seeping throughout installation
• Proximity activated video nodes
• Human activated movement controls, via hand cranks and levers

INTERACTIVITY
Mutopia is a participant controlled fire art installation. An individual can initiate sequenced patterns for the fire effects, LED lights and steam. Interactivity is multi-layered in the installation activated via custom buttons, sonar sensors, hand cranks and levers.

You are going to LOVE it!

My favorite part (thus far, nothing is built) is the “Liquid fuel canopy misters”. It’s not too different from a wonderfully dangerous effect I was playing with that I call Fire Fog. Rosa Anna and Mills’ idea is safer than mine but it’ll rock nonetheless!

My friend Geo worked on this amazing expanding automobile robot thing. Here’s where you can find it. It’s called Totemobile

Amorphicrobotworks.org

Watch a video of it changing

From the site:

The Totemobile is cubism in action. The iconic object is radically fragmented as it grows upwards. Its several sides are seen simultaneously from all sides.

A Citroën DS transforms through three stages of abstraction. First the structure separates into its geometric parts. These parts become organic forms, and by the time the sculpture reaches its 20 meter “totem” stage, the organic forms bloom with pure light.

MacMurtrie says: “The totem is a frequent reference in my work. I have created many totems as sculptures; as they grow upward, images and narratives are exposed.

“During my first visit to Citroën’s Champs-Elysees showroom, I was very excited about the possibilities offered by the height and windows in the architecture. I clearly saw an image of a totem growing from a car to great heights.

“I chose the Citroën DS, not because of Citroën’s sponsorship, but because it is an icon for European cars, and I felt that the live qualities it represented (hydraulic suspensions, organic curvature, and mechanical ingenuity) were emblematic of the time. I also chose the DS because it influenced my Mexican-American low-rider car culture. A low-rider was used by the Latin culture as a medium of expression… converting classic cars with hydraulic suspensions, utilizing elaborate paint jobs, became an art form.”

Get it while it is HOT!!!! Flaming Lotus Girl 2-year calender with all the trimmings

Sexy Flaming Lotus Girls with power tools!
Magnificent sculptures on fire!
Beautiful pictures of the playa!

What more do you need to celebrate the holidays?
A two-year Flaming Lotus Girl calendar featuring big flaming metal sculptures!

They make amazing excellent gifts.

FlamingLotus.com/calendar

FLG is a female-driven collaborative arts group and we made a calendar. Help us fund big flaming metal art by getting our calendar. Forward and post this freely!

Check out more of our art at SerpentMother.com

And take a look at who’s in August!

Images from Ben Thompson’s merciless peep army

On November 2nd, there was a talk given at Swissnex in San Francisco titled “Fire Arts and Burning Desires: Flame as a creative medium with Burning Man fire artists”. The presenters were Dave X, Crimson Rose, Lucy Hosking, Wally Glenn, Bill Codding, Louis Brill, and (certainly not least) several Flaming Lotus Girls!

You can watch the entire 100 minute presentation on Fora.tv!

Whether you haven’t quite decompressed from the Burn, or perhaps you missed this year’s trek to the desert, there’s one last opportunity to experience a little taste of the playa for 2007. On Saturday October 20th, XEssential presents, “Best of the Burn”- featuring some of the best music and art from Burning Man 2007.

Bringing you the sounds of the playa…
Zach Moore [Deep End Sound Camp]
Friction [Purgatory Cruiser Art Car]
Tamo [Garage Mahal Art Car]
Ross Barringer [BrassBunnyRita Sound Camp]

Featured Art from the playa…
Belisama of the Celtic Forest [Laura Kimpton] - www.celticforest.net SWARM autonomous machines [Michael Prados] - www.orbswarm.com Equatorial Encounter [Matt Evans] - www.xessential.net Sunflower Robots [Stefano Corazza] - www.sunflowerrobots.com

For more details on the djs and art of this event, please visit:
www.xessential.net

supperclub sf
657 harrison st @ 3rd
doors open @ 10pm
cover::$10 in playawear - $15 w/out
*********************************************************

We will be updating our site with artist info and links. If you have any special requests pertaining to this, please let me know.

Glad to have you all part of the event. See you Saturday.

Cheers,

John Kobé
Creative Director
XEssential

I’m not there [slight pout] but Lynn has taken a terrific set of photos chronicling her trip to Amsterdam, Robodock and setting up the Serpent Mother. A mini vacation.

And follow the trip more on the FLG blog

The two members of Lulacruza are in residency at the Red Poppy Art House for the fall. They are having a myriad of musical workshops and whatnot. I’ll be at at least one and Charlotte another. Find out about the workshops, open laboratory, film screenings on Lulacruza’s Residency site.

What I’ll likely be attending:

Nov 6, 13, 20, 27
Mirroring Nature with Music: Sound Composition using Ableton Live

This 4-week workshop will use loop-based software music sequencer “Ableton Live” to understand the connection of nature and music. We will learn a series of audio manipulation techniques to create sonic landscapes. We will start with acoustic sound and learn ways in which electronic processing can be used to expand, change, and re-create sound. We will listen to and process field recordings to explore the places they are able to evoke. We will be introduced to computer-generated rhythmic and textural material to broaden our sound world. We will explore and discuss naturally occurring acoustic phenomena and its applications in music. We will listen to bird songs, listen to music, and read about nature & technology.

Participants will gain basic knowledge of “Ableton Live”, as well as expand their concepts of sound, music, space, place, silence and nature. Bring some sonic material to create your own personal sonic landscape. All levels welcome.

Instructed by: Luis Maurette
Cost: $80 / 4 classes ($20 each)
Nov 6, 13, 20, 27
Class size limited to 10 students.
Length: 2 hours

 What Charlotte will likely be attending:

Oct 3, 10, 17, 24
Joyful singing: A Voice Workshop for the whole body

This 4-week singing workshop will work with breathing and singing exercises to free and strengthen the voice. By grounding ourselves and connecting to the whole body, we will explore the vocal timbre and range, undo hindering vocal habits, and develop a loving non-judgmental singing practice.

Based on the practices of yoga and tai-chi, we will experience mind/body awareness and breath control techniques. We will also discuss the body mechanics of voice production and learn tools for a more aligned posture and present mind. Participants will work with toning and visualization to expand the resonance, color, and flexibility of each individual voice. We will use “sound showers”, collective improvisations and other fun tools to cultivate self-confidence, free the voice and rediscover the joy of singing. Ultimately, we will deepen our connection to ourselves and our community through sounding.

Beginners, amateurs and professional singers are equally welcome.

Instructed by: Alejandra Ortiz
Cost: $100 / 4 classes ($25 each)
Oct 3, 10, 17, 24
Class size limited to 6 students.
Length: 2 hours

Check out all their programs in San Francisco.