Tapio Makela on Sat, 11 Apr 1998 00:56:08 +0100


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Syndicate: Polar Circuit Call


############################ call ###########################
Here is included:
- E-mail call to Polar Circuit media art workshop
- Workshop program
- Application form as e-mail

:) 	feel free to distribute to good people 		(:
############################ call ###########################

media art workshop in the midnight sun

CALL TO PARTICIPATE: POLAR CIRCUIT 2
Rovaniemi, Tornio, Haparanda June/July 1998

(application deadline April 21st)

Polar Circuit media art workshop was organised for the first time in 1997,
at the College of Art and Media in Tornio, Souht-West part of Finnish
Lapland. 52 artists, writers and students gathered there to work on
projects, discuss and enjoy the 24 hour access to sunlight and media labs.
The response from those who visited was very positive. I am glad to release
this call for Polar Circuit 2.

This year´s event starts in June in Rovaniemi, even closer to the Arctic
Circle. Two workshops are hosted by New media research lab at the
University of Lapland. The workshops are given by Steve Bradley and Darij
Kreuh. Between and during the workshops the lab is offered for the use of
Polar participants as a "free space". The environment is a new Silicon
Graphics lab, where Olli Mannerkoski and Lassi Immonen will assist in
technical issues. All together 15 participants will be accepted to this
starting phase of Polar Circuit 2. (see the program for more details).

The second part of Polar Circuit 2 takes place in Tornio and Haparanda.
This session is hosted by the College of Art and Media in Tornio and the
Swedish-Finnish vocational institute in Haparanda, Sweden. (It is just a 10
minute walk across the border). This is the main event of the Polar
Circuit, bringing together 70 artists, writers and students from
approximately 15 different countries.

pc2@tornio includes, like last year, the free space where each artist or
student may work on their own projects either together or individually. The
workshop program is splendid: many artists have volunteered to exchange
their ideas with a group of likely motivated guests. There are worksohps
given by Adrianne Wortzel, Ken Gregory, Owen Kelly, Steven Bradley, Rasa
Smite and Raitis Smits, and others. Topics range from Sound art to on-line
drama, real audio to using Director on the Internet. One thing is common
with all workshops: bringing together a brainstorm to create new ideas.

The first year was produced 90% by myself (Tapio), I loved it, but this
year I will work on my own projects. I am very happy that Oli Mannerkoski,
Jeff Taylor, Merit Sahlberg, Amos Taylor, Maxim Narbrough and others are
helping to build the next event. There are technical coordinators and
responsible individuals for different tasks in this collaborative
environment.

In Rovaniemi, the workshop selection process is handled by Olli Mannerkoski
and Jeff Taylor. Organisational work is done by Amos Taylor and Maxim
Narbrough. In Tornio, the selection process is done by Tapio Mäkelä and the
organisational work by Merit Sahlberg.

All who participate are welcomed to join our new association called Polar
Circuit. It is the official body that organises the event in co-operation
with the two schools. Also, this event is part of a larger development
called ARCH (Art, Region, Commerce and the Hybrid Media), a set of local
art, youth and media projects that is, well, also coordinated by me.
Another affiliate project is Virtual Revolutions, a workshop series
produced by Iliyana Nedkova. vr@polar is one of the 4 meetings that lead to
a presentation in ISEA98.

What do you get if you come to Polar Circuit? The most important thing is
the time off from your own every day sphere, and the second is time to
spend with other artists and writers to explore. Thirdly, Polar Circuit is
arranged in a very well equipped environment (70 Macs, 20 Pentiums, 5
Intergraphs, 4 Avids, 2 Sadie & 2 Pro Tools sound edits in Tornio, and the
SGI lab in Rovaniemi). That should make intense work on your own projects
quite worth the trip.

We hope to offer housing for free in double rooms. However, at this point
of funding, we also want to know whether 50 USD rent for a month´s stay
would be a problem, if we were unlucky with that application for which
there is no decision yet. Last year we were able to offer housing for free.
If you want a single room, that would cost 100 USD per month. Access to the
labs is for free, the workshops are for free. The thing that does cost are
video tapes, removable media such as zip-drives, cd-rs, dat tapes etc.
Workshop teachers, who do not get any money for their effort, get a free
single room.

Like last year, all participants pay their own travel and food. Finnair
usually has a special rate for July, around 100 USD from Helsinki to
Lapland. Then add the air fare to Helsinki. We are looking into a
possibility to hire a bus, which would bring the whole bunch for a smaller
price either from Tallinn, Riga or Sofia. This would mean that from Central
Europe, there would be a very inexpensive option for roughly 40 people.

How to apply? Simply fill in the attached form and send it as an e-mail.
Once accepted, you can get an official Invitation letter by e-mailing Amos
Taylor <ataylor@levi.urova.fi>.

I hope that this year´s Polar Circuit will be even more successfull than
the first one - it is entirely up to all of you.

hope to hear from you soon,


Tapio Makela
<tapio@projekt.net>

(ps. Usually there are many who send an e-mail, "please send me more
information." Well, all that there is to tell at this point is here in this
e-mail... please approach Olli Mannerkoski <omannerk@levi.urova.fi> if you
want to discuss overall questions....)

############################ program ############################
Polar Circuit 2 Workshop program, parts 1 & 2 (June & July)

PART 1: June, Rovaniemi

location	University of Lapland
		new media research lab

Contacts 	Olli Mannerkoski
		Email: omannerk@levi.urova.fi
		Tel: + 358 (0)50 5119995
		Tel: + 358 (0)16 324395 (office hours)
		Fax: + 358 (0)16 382692
		Address: Rovakatu 31 A 22, 96200 Rovaniemi, Finland

		Jeff Taylor, Associate professor
		Email: jtaylor@urova.fi
		Tel: + 358 (0)16 324354

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	 	June 8th-12th, 1998
** ws1		INTERACTIVITY, IMMERSION, INTERFACE
 		Workshop On Creative Design In New Media
 		International Summer school & Polar Circuit 2

A workshop by Steve Bradley
Steve Bradley <http://umbc7.umbc.edu/~sbradley> is an associate professor
at the Visual Arts department, University of Maryland. He is known as a
sound and installation artist. Steve has also produced web projects,
interactive sound pieces for dance. In the workshop at Rovaniemi Polar
Circuit a key theme is to look at the spatial experience in a virtual
environment. During the workshop participants are encouraged to explore new
directions of interactivity and immersiveness from a personal and critical
perspective.

Equipment: Sound Studio, Silicon Graphics workstations.
Technical assistance by Olli Mannerkoski ja Lassi Immonen.

5 participants
note: unlike the other Polar Circuit workshops which are free, this one
costs 500 FIM since it is part of the International summer school at the
University of Lapland.
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 		June 18th- July 6th, 1998
** ws2		##BODY##INTERFACE##VIRTUAL#ENVIRONMENT##
		INTERACTIVE VR-INSTALLATION

A workshop by Darij Kreuh
Slovenian artist Darij Kreuh has worked with interactive installations,
sound, as well as virtual objects. The concept of this installation and
workshop relates to a relationship between the body and technology by
refering to a conclusion that technology substitutes the corporal handicap
in the sense of techno-coded perception which enables an upgrade of natural
abilities within the digital environment. Communication and mastering of
such surroundings proceeds through the interface and the development of
suitable languages. The body's addiction to technology is, due to such a
structure, growing even bigger and more complex.

Digital space is a dead space until the presence of a user revives it
functionally and comprehensively. The revival hides the principal construct
of the concept for the workshop.

Equipment: MediaSpace - immersive space, Silicon Graphics Onyx2 & O2
workstations.
Technical assistance by Olli Mannerkoski ja Lassi Immonen.

5 participants
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	 	June 1st-30th, 1998
**ws3		FREE SPACE

The SGI Lab of the Department of media studies is offered for 24 hour
access for Polar Circuit participants. The Lab includes SGI workstations,
Internet server (Linux), video conferencing equipment (ISDN) and a few
Pentiums. It is suitable for creation of real-time graphics (video, 3D,
sound) and environments and telematic projects (The workstations includes
Cosmo HTML, Java and VRML editors and the server can be used).

5 participants

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polar circuit 2
_________________________________________________
P A R T 2       July 1st - July 30th 1998, Tornio

place		Tornio College of Art and Media
		(1 course will be held in Haaparanda, Sweden)

contact		Tapio Mäkelä
		E-mail:	tapio@projekt.net
		gsm 	+358-40-5071965
		fax 	+358-10-2905004

All of the following workshops take place in July and last 2-4 weeks. In
addition to the projects that each artist is doing on their own, you are
recommened to apply for three workshops in preference order. However, you
may only access one. But in the Polar Circuit, everyone has the chance to
talk to everyone, so you can catch up on what happens in other workshops
that interest you. The reason why we want to limit the number of people in
each workshop is to keep them dialogic and productive.

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** ws4		GLOBE THEATER  <<VIRTUAL THEATER WORKSHOP>>

		Virtual theater workshop and production
		Adrianne Wortzel

Adrianne Wortzel is an artist who teaches Media Art at the Cooper Union for
the Advancement of Science and Art and the School of Visual Arts in New
York. Earlier known as a leading American painter, in the past few years
she has worked on web based projects, robotic installations, hyperfiction,
and, most recently, on-line theatre. This Spring, Adrianne wrote and
produced "Globe Theater:  Sayonara Diorama" an on-line and offline theater
piece with robots and CuSeeMe actors at Lehman's Lovinger Theater in New
York.

Virtual theatre is the topic of Adrianne´s workshop @pc2. Participants will
create the script, staging, characters and the actual show for a live net
event. Interfaces include CuSeeMe and text based Moo.

8 participants

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** ws5		TINKERING, SENSORS, MACHINES, AND METHODS
		Ken Gregory

Ken Gregory is a Canadian sound artist, who uses often interactive
techniques in his installations. He has lots of experience in constructing
the devices, the sensors, and programming the chips that operate the
external modules, which are then connected to a computer.
Artists in this workshop will study the possibilities of using sensors, and
building them, for interactive sound environments. Participants should be
prepared to weld and program. Max software will be used.

6 participants

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**ws6		DIRECT (OR) TO INTERNET
		Owen Kelly

London based Owen Kelly is a teacher and a researcher of new media culture.
He is a wizard of, not oz, but lingo. In the Polar Circuit workshop the
main aim is to study how to connect to Internet using Director, how to
creat hybrid, innovative techniques instead of the standard browser
solutions. Those who participate should have basic skills in Director,
hopefully version 6.0, and some skills in Lingo. The content of the
projects that will be realized will be produced through brain storming.

7 participants

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**ws7		REAL AUDIO & NET RADIO WORKSHOP
		Rasa Smite, Raitis Smits

Sound art and experimental music on the net? How does a live band in Riga
mix with a dj in London through an eternal loop? What possibilities does
Real Audio offer for sound art on-lineR´? Rasa Smite and Raitis Smits are
Latvian artists who started E-lab, an artist run media lab in Riga, and net
radio OZOne
(http://ozone.re-lab.net/live.ram). Check out the project Xchange which
they initiated at:
 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
(a) (c) (o) (u) (s) (t) (i) (c) ( ) (s) (p) (a) (c) (e)
 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
information&comunication channel | for net.broadcasters
http://xchange.re-lab.net  (Xchange)  net.audio network

7 participants

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**ws8		DOBBELGÄNGER - MEDIA DOUBLES  (collaborative workshop)

Many contemporary artists work with the concept of the double identity, or
double self; in writing and on-line. How is "self" presented on-line? What
are forged selves and created avatars? This topic is both theoretical and
imaginative and takes a lot of discussion and research. Space for net
projects.
At least the following have shown strong interest in moderating:
Owen Kelly and David Casacuberta.

A drive in workshop where many people during pc2 can contribute.

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**ws9		VIRTUAL REVOLUTIONS
		Iliyana Nedkova, Andreas Broeckmann, Javor Raitchev and TM

A series of workshops that begins from Sofia, goes on to Rotterdam,
Salford, Liverpool. This workshop has a separate selection process, based
on earlier call. So, vr@polar will look into issues of virtual migrants and
refugees, issues of ethnic identity in a virtual geography, at least. But
mostly the participants brain storm & discuss to produce new ideas.

pre selected group - but there will be a vr@polar campfire for wider
discussion!
((if you have already applied to this one, but have not been selected, you
can still apply to polar circuit as a whole))

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**ws10		WRITING REAL TIME - ENGAGING THEORY
		Andreas Broeckmann, Tapio Mäkelä with others

This workshop is aimed at critical writers to develop ways in which media
art, shown at different events, could be discussed during the public event.
What could be the form and forum for a real time critique? How could new
media tools be used to enhance communication also in the situations where
people share the same event space?

You can join sessions if you have good ideas to contribute. Intensive, does
not last the whole duration of pc2.

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**ws11 		STORIES FROM THE ATTICK
		Steve Bradley, Tapio Mäkelä

This is a project, part of ARCH (Art, Region, Commerce and Hybird Media)
project cradle. Steve Bradley and 12 local students seek for stories in the
atticks of Tornio and Haparanda, using both stored objects and memories by
people. A borderless net-town will be created based on the experiences.

Polar Circuit visiting artists are encouraged to contribute small web based
impressions of the local area for this project.

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**ws12		NET OF ARTISTS  -
		A Documentary on the Polar Circuit Workshop
		Juha Huusko

A local student in his last year, Juha Huusko will do his final work during
Polar Circuit. He will interview the artists and document the life and work
@polar.circuit. The aim of the work is to look at how the net works as a
social stimulant that creates real life events, contacts and relationsips.
Where do the artists come from? What kind of cultural luggage they have
with them?

Visitors to Polar Circuit are asked to donate small video travel stories to
be used as material in the documentary: footage from the place where you
are when you start your journey to Lapland.

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**ws13		FREE SPACE

Like the first Polar Circuit, open and free exchange of idas, and a chance
to carry on your own work is at the core of Polar Circuit. The workshops
last 4-6 hours daily, but sunshine lasts for 24 hours. Parts of the lab
will be made available for the whole night. The dorm will have Ethernet
cables...

When you apply, please specify the project you are doing, or at least, the
kind of equipment you will need.

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q u e s t i o n s ?   e - m a i l s  b e l o w:
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For questions regarding workshops 1-3, Rovaniemi, contact
Olli Mannerkoski <omannerk@levi.urova.fi>

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For questions regarding workshops 4-13, Tornio-Haparanda, contact
Tapio Makela <tapio@projekt.net>

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For questions regarding travel & housing, once selected to the workshop,
contact
Rovaniemi: Amos Taylor <ataylor@levi.urova.fi>
Tornio: Merit Sahlberg <merite@students.llaky.fi>

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For questions regarding local technology, once selected to the workshop,
contact:
Rovaniemi: Olli Mannerkoski <omannerk@levi.urova.fi>
Tornio: Merit Sahlberg <merite@students.llaky.fi>

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FOR VISAS AND OFFICIAL INVITATIONS, once accepted:
please e-mail or fax your personal information, what should be on the
invitation, and the fax number with a country code, or your post address to
which the invitation should be sent.
All Visa and invitation enquiries to:
Amos Taylor <ataylor@levi.urova.fi>

There will be soon a new set of web pages created for pc2 by Amos.
Also a mailing list for the participants will be opened shortly.
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###########################  application form #######################
APPLICATION FOR POLAR CIRCUIT WORKSHOP

name:_____________________________

e-mail:___________________________

fax:______________________________

If I am selected, I can come with ___ % probability

Please explain who you are, what kind of art work or critical writing you
do, and what would you like achieve by participating to polar circuit.
Please describe the project you want to work on and the technology you need
to do it. Also, list in preference order three workshops that you would
like to attend (you can attend 1 + free space). Express shortly why you are
interested in that very workshop.

Your application text, free form, here:

-
|
scroll as needed
|
-
Related websites:
Related attached documents (cv or plan):

I want to participate into a workshop (list three in prer. order):
1.
2.
3.

Here are the worksohps as a reminder
JUNE, ROVANIEMI:
__ ws1		INTERACTIVITY, IMMERSION, INTERFACE by Steven Bradley
__ ws2		INTERACTIVE VR-INSTALLATION by Darij Kreuh
__ ws3		FREE SPACE

JULY, TORNIO:
__ ws4		GLOBE THEATER REPERTORY THEATER by Adrianne Wortzel
__ ws5		TINKERING, SENSORS, MACHINES, AND METHODS by Ken Gregory
__ ws6		DIRECT (OR) TO INTERNET by Owen Kelly
__ ws7		REAL AUDIO & NET RADIO WORKSHOP by Rasa Smite, Raitis Smits
__ ws8		DOBBELGÄNGER - MEDIA DOUBLES  (collaborative workshop)
** ws9		VIRTUAL REVOLUTIONS Iliyana Nedkova, Andreas Broeckmann,
		Javor Raitchev and TM (this one is pre selected)
__ws10		WRITING REAL TIME - ENGAGING THEORY
		by Andreas Broeckmann, Tapio Mäkelä with others
_*ws11 		STORIES FROM THE ATTICK
		Steve Bradley, Tapio Mäkelä
		(contributions or related projects accepted)
_*ws12		NET OF ARTISTS  -
		A Documentary on the Polar Circuit Workshop
		Juha Huusko
		(contributions on video accepted)
__ws13		FREE SPACE


PRACTICAL STUFF

h o u s i n g
__ I want to pay 100 USD for a single room
__ yes, I can afford 50 USD for a month´s rent for a shared double room
__ nope, I need to be among the 30 people out of 70 who get housing for free

I am male__ or female__
If you have special allergies, please let us know.
__ I have a laptop and wish to get a room with Ethernet

t r a v e l
IF there is a bus going from Central Europe (Sofia/Riga/Tallinn/Helsinki),
would you use that as a transportation instead of flying? Timing most
likely June 28th->. The approximated price for return bus travel is around
260 DM, but then you do need to stay the whole 4 weeks.

approximated/exact(delete the other) date of arrival:________________
approximated/exact(delete the other) date of departure:______________

t e c h
- all computers are connected to Internet via Ethernet, part inside, part
outside firewall
- if you use video or audio recording & editing, please indicate the
approximate daily or weekly time in hours that you will need the unit

I expect to need following resources:

My work at polar circuit is mostly (order of importance):
__ Internet
__ Video
__ Multimedia
__ Writing
__ Graphic design
__ 3-d modelling
__ Sound art
__ other, what?

ROVANIEMI:
__ I have worked before with SGI´s
__ In addition to the SGI,s I need:

TORNIO:
__ any Macintosh with basic software for text, html & Photoshop
__ as powerful Macintosh as possible, why?
__ Pentium, why?
__ 3-d modelling /Intergraph
__ Analogue video edits, which quality:
__ Digital Bravado video edit with Premiere
__ Digital AVID video edit
__ Digital still camera
__ Digital video camera
__ S-vhs camera
__ Beta camera (why - this is limited access?)
__ Sadie sound edit
__ Pro tools audio edit
__ Deck 2, Sound designer, Audiomedia 2 edit on a Mac (easier than above)
__ DAT audio recorder
__ microphones, what quality?

___ I want to buy video tapes, dat-tapes, cd-rs; please indicate kind and
amount (this is the lowest price you can get them in Finland, but most
likely your price there is cheaper)

note: if you want to use NTSC format tape, you should bring your own tape
recorder or camera to import it from! Please also take your portable hard
drives along.

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SEND YOUR APPLICATIONS TO:
omannerk@levi.urova.fi if you apply for June
tapio@projekt.net if you apply for July
DEAD LINE: by April 21st, 1998

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For questions regarding workshops 1-3, Rovaniemi, contact
Olli Mannerkoski <omannerk@levi.urova.fi>

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For questions regarding workshops 4-13, Tornio-Haparanda, contact
Tapio Makela <tapio@projekt.net>
or Merit Sahlberg <merite@students.llaky.fi>

################### end of file #######################

best wishes,

Tapio

Tapio Mäkelä
writer, critic, researcher, producer, X
Projektnet Ab Senior Project Manager <tapio@projekt.net>
Media Base satellite coordinator
www: http://www.projekt.net  http://muu.autono.net.
Address: Lapinrinne 4 D 30, 00180 Helsinki, Finland
gsm +358-(0)40-5071965
fax +358-(0)10-2905004 (1 page at a time to my e-mail)