Toward the Sentient City: Scrapyard Challenge

Saturday, September 26
Workshop, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Performance and reception, 6:00 p.m.
The Old American Can Factory
232 Third Street at Third Avenue
Gowanus, Brooklyn
Architectural League members, $30; non-members, $50

The Scrapyard Challenge Workshops, led by artists Jonah Brucker-Cohen and Katharine Moriwaki, are intensive workshops where participants build simple electronic music controllers (both digital and analog inputs) out of found or discarded “junk” (old electronics, furniture, outdated computer equipment, appliances, turntables, monitors, gadgets, etc.). Participants also build simple drawing robots or “DrawBots” with motors, batteries, and drawing markers that can be connected to Serial or MIDI interface. At the end of the day or evening, the workshop participants have a small performance/concert where they play their instruments together as a large ensemble. No electronics skills or any experience with technology is necessary for the workshop.

This program is part of the Architectural League of New York’s exhibition Toward the Sentient City, on view at The Urban Center from September 17 - November 7. For the complete exhibition program schedule, please visit sentientcity.net.

NB: Attendance at the workshop is limited to fifteen participants, but the performance and reception at 6:00 p.m. is open to all for free admission.