Join the team from Cabaret Mechanical Theatre for a new workshop that explores the world of digital and physical materials.
This experimental workshop is an online course for artists, makers and educators interested in combining programming electronics and crafting with cardboard, wood and wire.
We’ll work with the BBC micro:bit – an affordable and accessible pocket-sized computer that can control lights and motors and respond to switches and sensors.
The workshop will also provide opportunities to reflect on the ways that CMT automata artists use technologies like cam timers, microcontrollers and even pipe organ player rolls and bellows in their work.
It will take place in six, 2-hour sessions on Wednesdays from November 11th to December 16th 2020 at 4-6 pm in UK (8-10am PST, 5-7pm in Europe)
This workshop is suitable for those who have had some experience building automata or those who have taken our first CMT Automata Tinkering Workshop
It is perfect for you if:
You want to go deeper and add new programmable elements to your contraptions
You are an educator who wants to inspire adults and children with computational science and STEAM activities
You are a practicing artist who wants to experiment with building mechanized kinetic sculptures and integrating microcontrollers into your work
You’ve experimented with arduino or micro:bit but want to develop a more artistic practice into your coding experiments
You are interested in engaging with a group of practitioners in different fields with different levels of experience
You will need
a computer with a good internet connection (and the ability to connect a standard USB cable)
a place to work (kitchen table, workshop, garage)
the ability to procure a set of common household materials from a provided list.
Kit components including a BBC micro:bit, prototyping materials and a copy of our book, Cabaret Mechanical Movement, will be mailed to you before the course of workshops commences.
Ryan Jenkins from Wonderful Idea Co. will serve as the instructor for the course and along with a crew of educators, artists, and surprise guests, he will guide participants through the workshops.
We’ll engage with automata artists, examine Cabaret Mechanical Theatre creations and all get the chance to try out new technologies, code moving sculptures and create personally meaningful elements. By the end of the workshop, students will have built several automata prototypes that combine physical and digital elements.
Week One – Welcome and introduction to Micro:bit and Automata
Week Two – Cardboard Arcade: Coin switches and Buttons
Week Three – Shoebox scenes with LEDs
Week Four – The World of Servos pt 1 – continuous motors
Week Five – The World of Servos pt 2 – positional motors
Week Six – Automation and Robotic Personality
Price: Early Bird until 9th October 2020 £375.00
Full Price until 1st November 2020 £425.00
Registration closes 1st November to allow for materials to be sent to participants.
You can book your place using the button below or via the workshop Eventbrite page.
Don Clarke says:
Hi,
I would like to sign up for your COMPUTATIONAL CONTRAPTIONS WORKSHOP in NOVEMBER 2020.
I’ve been a fan of automata for many years and have tinkered around with them, but I haven’t yet made a complete piece. I don’t have much experience with electronics, but I am very eager to learn about it, especially using it with automata.
I’m still off work for probably the remainder of the year, which is why I was thinking to try and get into this workshop since I probably won’t be able to do it the next time you offer it. Do you think I would be ok with this workshop?
My computer is a Mac, so I’m hoping that’s ok. I have a great wifi connection.
Thank you.
Kelly Maxey says:
This sounds amazing. I like in California and would love to do this workshop with my STEM colleagues. Unfortunately, we are all in distance learning through the semester and cannot do a live session from 8am-10 am. We have classes at that time. Is there any other option to participate. Video recordings? Alternate times in the US. I really hope so.
I have been working with the microbits for a few months and would love to get some great ideas together.
Christina Ozminkowski says:
I would like to take the course as well. Live in NY and can’t be live, as I’m teaching all day.
Sarah says:
Hi Christina, this course is being delivered as a real-time class, where participants and facilitators will interact live. We will not be recording the sessions for later viewing. However, we are planning to release pre-recorded courses, demonstrations and interviews in the future. You can sign up to our makers mailing list to be the first to hear about new courses: CMT Makers mail list