Friend of The Edge and Queensland zinester Jeremy Staples has posted his last blog entry about his time in Japan. Here’s a taste:

Seeing girls skip, dance and sing on the streets for no apparent reason while the male hosts hustle the corners became a regular sight when I tried to find Irregular Rhythm Asylum (Tokyo’s zine and info shop). It became a mission every time I got off at Shinjuku station. Even though every time I thought I knew the way and exit to leave the station. I guess the 200 or more exists didn’t help the situation.

And the rest is over at his Bearded Hobo blog.

1-2:30pm Saturday 14 August 2010
Where: The Edge
Who: Artworkers Alliance
Cost: Free
Book: sold out!

Presented by the Artworkers Alliance and The Edge, this workshop is aimed at artists who don’t think they are particularly computer savvy. It will cover:

• How to make images web ready
• How to resize and crop images
• How to save files in best format
• How to control image quality

Friend of The Edge and independent publishing extraordinaire/zinester from way back Jeremy Staples has been traipsing around Japan for the last few weeks meeting with as many cool people as he can.

He’s been posting all about it over at his blog. There are some amazing photos over there too.

He’s also got his very own YouTube channel where you can listen to his interviews with fellow zinesters and digital media explorers.

Get your hands on cameras, tripods and wind-up toys with Edge Catalyst Sandra Landolt.

Surroundings 5.1.3 is an audiovisual performance and interactive installation at The Edge on the first weekend in August 2010.

Inspired by the cultural icon of the Australian backyard, the project includes two performances and an interactive exhibition, all free entry.

The artist

Richard

The man behind Surroundings 5.1.3 is Richard Byers, one of The Edge’s four foundation Residents. Richard is a visual design artist who focuses on artistic video based projected imagery that merges drawing, painting and sculpture with light and video, often involving human interaction.

His projects have been featured across diverse spaces including clubs, museums, galleries, basements and abandoned spaces in Sydney, Tokyo, Berlin and Brisbane.

Richard’s project at The Edge, extends the interactivity of his latest project, Sound.Transmission.Light, by developing multi-channel audio input, movement triggering, capture and detection, and the inclusion of data streams from sensors, databases and online social media feeds.

The performance and exhibition

As the key output of Richard’s Residency at The Edge, Richard developed this unique performance exhibition, in which performers and audience alike will improvise, educate and enjoy the interactive experience.

There will be performances on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 August 2010 featuring musicians Aphonia, Arongo Te Whiu and Hannah Shepherd who will provide sound while Richard provides visuals.

On Sunday 8 August, the interactive exhibition will be open from 12pm to 6pm for people to interact with, influencing the sound and visuals simply by being in the space.

Come, enjoy, experience, engage.

Click for more about the events.

1–4pm Saturdays 7 August–2 October 2010
Who: Beh Wattenburg, Edge Resident
Where: The Edge Basement
Cost: Free
Bookings: book.it@edgeqld.org.au

10 weekly workshops creating and destroying, learning and jamming with electricity, electronics, programming, sound, light and hacked toys.

If you’re the kind of person who gets on with gadgets or wonders what makes things go, then bring a toy to dissect, reconfigure and re-animate.

We will start by learning basic electrickery and safety stuff, from there we will explore several paths of inquiry before embarking on a wild tech-art adventure and landing on the shores of the Island of Extravagance sometime in late September.

We have 10 spots for intrepid tinkerers.

4–6pm Tuesday 3 August 2010
Who: Stephen Stockwell, Edge Catalyst
Where: Lab 1, The Edge
Cost: Free
Bookings: book.it@edgeqld.org.au

The internet changed journalism. When profits fell staff cuts ensued and for a while it all seemed rather bleak.

But with the capabilities of the internet being realised we’re beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. The platform of the web allows us to post content in every medium to a single outlet. What does this mean? It means you can have text, audio, video and still images on the same page at the same time. Take that old-school outlets.

But what does this mean for journalism? How will we adapt and how will we know what works?

Stephen Stockwell doesn’t plan to present the future of journalism but he will give you the skills you need to file in every medium. He’ll even go one step further and show you the different ways you can combine this content into one rather exciting package.

Book to make sure you get a spot.

First there’s a screening at GOMA and then there’s a party over here at The Edge.

Image from Dear Lemon Lima

Come along and explore the possibilities of working with digital video and sound. In this workshop we will produce and re-mix an audiovisual collage from scratch.

Learn skills in filming, editing, sound production, VJing and animation and become a super-star-audiovisual-ninja-attack-robot. No experience necessary.

Virion is a screen-based digital art exhibition with works being played at variety of sites around Brisbane—including The Edge—until 1 August 2010.

Each screen around town will play a compilation of diverse images and video that represent a wide and integrated range of local and international art practices and styles.

Screens are located across a range of public, gallery and institutional sites to offer unique viewing experiences and to maximise and diversify Brisbane audiences’ exposure to new media practices.

There will be a workshop at The Edge, where people bring their own content to remix on Sunday 25 July 2010.

Performances: Friday 6 and Saturday 7 August 2010
Exhibition: Sunday 8 August 2010
Who: Edge Resident Richard Byers, Aphonia, Arongo Te Whiu and Hannah Shepherd
Cost: Free
Bookings: book.it@edgeqld.org.au

Inspired by the Australian icon of the common backyard, Surroundings 5.1.3 is a surround sound, surround video performance and exhibition project being held at The Edge.

It is a collaboration between new media artist and Edge Resident Richard Byers, musician Aphonia, and vocalists Arongo Te Whiu and Hannah Shepherd comprising two performances of an improvised audio-visual work and an interactive installation.

The installation created by Richard as part of his Residency uses multi-channel audio and video along with proximity sensors that enable the audience to influence the mix of sound and music, video and light that makes up the work, just by being in the space.

Performances and exhibition are free.

6–8pm Wednesday 21 July 2010
Who: Triptych Concepts Limited
Cost: Free
Bookings: contact@triptychconcepts.com.au

Triptych Concepts Limited invites you to attend a test screening of the pilot of a new web/TV show, The Verge.

Come along to get a sneak preview of the first full episode and give your feedback. We will also be announcing a local Queensland celebrity appearing in the show.Seats are limited so please RSVP by emailing your name to contact@triptychconcepts.com.au to guarantee your place.

Designing worlds and narratives across multiple platforms

1pm–6pm Saturday 17 July 2010
Who: Hoodlum Media
Cost: $95
Bookings: www.qwc.asn.au or 07 3842 9922

Digital technologies allow audiences to access media anywhere, anytime. Many storytellers are taking advantage of this new found freedom by creating innovative stories that move between media platforms to create rich, interactive experiences.

Skipping between television, websites, games, social networks and virtual environments, multi-platform storytelling is an exciting new form of narrative.

This workshop, lead by Hoodlum, an award-winning entertainment company based in Brisbane, will introduce you to the basics of multi-platform storytelling.

In partnership with Queensland Writers Centre

2pm–5pm Saturday 24 July 2010
Facilitator: Jason Nelson
Cost: Free
Bookings: email The Edge

This is an advanced workshop exploring the creative/artistic use of Adobe Flash and related software packages. Net artist Jason Nelson will guide participants through building and breaking interactive techniques within Flash, exploring both its myriad of uses and its dangers and problematic future.

Specifically, Jason will coax students into thinking multi-dimensionally and incorporating the full spectrum of media (both new and old) into their work. The workshop will also introduce students to Flash alternatives such as the Canvas element in html 5 and the generative code project Processing. Students are strongly encouraged to have prior experience using software to create art and should have a basic knowledge of Adobe Flash or related software/code.

You may remember this idea from such internet polls as this one. Well, we listened to you, thought about what you said, and decided we could change for you.

Starting on Thursday 1 July 2010, The Edge will have new opening hours:

Tuesday to Saturday: 12–8pm
Sunday: 12–6pm
Monday: closed to the public but still available for organisational bookings

Email book.it@edgeqld.org.au if you have any questions or comments.