MAKE Newsletter for January 11, 2008

Interview with Dutch artist and maker Gijs Gieskes.

Happy New Year Makers,

The Year of the Rat, 2008, has arrived! The new year, for some, is a clean slate, resolutions to do more of something, resolutions to do less of something. This year, why not pick up an old habit? That's right, do something that you remember made you happy. Lots of people say that they "used to make things," but now there's never enough time. Believe it or not, creating things doesn't take time -- it makes time. The joy from bringing something new that you're passionate about into the world keeps you on your toes and gives us all something to look forward to, and most important, share with friends. So in 2008, what are you making?

Cheers,
pt

Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
MAKE Magazine
Red Bull Art of Can 2008 Exhibition

Red Bull Art of Can 2008 Exhibition

Red Bull Art of Can is a national exhibition where both amateur and professional artists create a piece of original artwork that is inspired by or made from Red Bull cans.

Interested artists can register by April 6 at www.redbullartofcan.com.

From the MAKE Blog

MAKE Interview: Modding Consumer Electronics Devices into DJ Tools with Gijs Gieskes


"Spinning beach ball of death" and "Loading PCB" - video, (Gieskes, 2007)

Interview/Article by Jonah Brucker-Cohen

In the illustrious world of case-mods and console hacking, artists and makers are re-inventing the design and function of these ubiquitous consumer electronics devices by creating hybrid systems and creative artifacts that challenge the corporate status quo. Taking this credo to an extreme with his inventive hardware projects is Dutch artist and maker, Gijs Gieskes. From casting a Nintendo Gameboy in concrete in order to build a garden path with "GameBoy Bricks" to creating an analog version of the hated spinning cursor in the Mac OSX operating system with "Spinning Beach Ball of Death", Gieskes' work and live performances are an inventive look at how closely entrenched we've become in the world of glitchy hardware and scrambled noise producing machines. MAKE recently caught up with Gieskes to discuss his practice, philosophy, and exactly how important the current crop of hackable consumer electronics might be to future generations.

Read the full interview with more videos by clicking below.


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