The softer side of software: [link]

Golan Levin writes software that he uses for performance art. The movements he creates with the mouse/tablet are reproduced by the software as looping animations and sounds. It's like a very literal language that bridges video and audio.

The loops he creates in this video seem pretty simple and aren't particularly aesthetic, but this opens up some really interesting doors as to processes that can synthesize sight and sound.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. It's a series of lectures held in Monterey, California, and the best of the lectures are posted online for free. Homepage: [link]

"Instruments to Perform Color" is an article about the history of "colour-organs" (instruments designed to display different colours on a screen depending on the pitch played)- the part I find the most interesting is the series of colour-note associations that were developed. (I found the article at [link] but I don't know if it is still posted there.)


Castel keyboard colours for his clavecin oculaire (1700s):

C: Blue
C#: Celadon
D: Green
Eb: Olive green
E: Yellow
F: Apricot
F#: Orange
G: Red
Ab: Crimson
A: Violet
Bb: Agate
B: Indigo

Rimington's keyboard colours for his Colour-Organ (1893):
C: Deep red
C#: Crimson
D: Orange-crimson
Eb: Orange
E: Yellow
F: Yellow-green
F#: Green
G: Bluish green
Ab: Blue-green
A: Indigo
Bb: Deep blue
B: Violet


In a general way it seems to be indicated that harmonic colours are the results of vibratory effects upon the eye of multiples of like measurements, thus fulfilling exactly the analogy according to which harmonious effects are produced upon the ear.
-E. R. Monteith

There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea
And you became the light on the dark side of me
And love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill

And did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
The more I get of you the stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
The light hits the gloom on the grey

There is a so much a man can tell you, so much he can say
You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain
Baby, to me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby

But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can't be seen
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you the stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
The light hits the gloom on the grey

I've been kissed by a rose on the grey
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey
If I should fall along the way...
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey

There is a so much a man can tell you, so much he can say
You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain
To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny
Now won't you tell me is that healthy, baby

But did you know that when it snows
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you the stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
The light hits the gloom on the grey

Yes, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey
Ooh, the more I get of you the stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey

Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hits the gloom on the grey

The art of creating creatures: [link]

This video shows the self-propelling inventions of Theo Jansen- as much as I'd like him to explain more about the design and how they work, it's nonetheless an inspiration to creativity.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. It's a series of lectures held in Monterey, California, and the best of the lectures are posted online for free. Homepage: [link]

Dan Piraro's blog on Feb. 22: [link]

Bizarro website: [link]

For any artist who doesn't know about Dan Piraro (creator of Bizarro), you should definitely check him out. Unlike most cartoonists I've seen, he's got great ability with paint brushes. And I'm not much of a reader but I really enjoyed his book, too.