MIT: Independent Activities Period: IAP

IAP 2014 Activities by Category - Art and Architecture

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ACT (Art, Culture & Technology) TA Training

Val Grimm, Academic Assistant

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/10
Limited to 15 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

This workshop is designed to simulate an ACT (Art, Culture & Technology) class. Most ACT classes have a hands-on component and involve the exhibition of work. TA administrative tasks include marketing, budget management, and facilitating approvals. The hands-on and administrative elements are incorporated into the workshop. Emulating the structure and requirements of a course allows facilitators to introduce prospective TAs to the flow and needs of courses, identify potential issues, and discuss methods and resources for addressing issues.

Please register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W9TK53X

Sponsor(s): Architecture
Contact: Val Grimm, E15-213, 617-324-6289, valgrimm@mit.edu


Tue, 1/28 - Day 1 of 4

Jan/28 Tue 09:30AM-01:00PM E15-207, Closed-toe shoes & clothes for fabrication work

Marion Cunningham - Administrative Officer, Val Grimm - Academic Assistant, Madeleine Gallagher - Media Associate, Seth Avecilla - Fabrication Associate, Jeremy Grubman - Librarian/Archivist


Wed, 1/29 - Day 2 of 4

Jan/29 Wed 09:30AM-01:00PM E15-095, Closed-toe shoes & clothes for fabrication work

Marion Cunningham - Administrative Officer, Val Grimm - Academic Assistant, Madeleine Gallagher - Media Associate, Seth Avecilla - Fabrication Associate, Laura Chichisan - Administrative Assistant, Andrew Borosy - Financial Assistant


Thu, 1/30 - Day 3 of 4

Jan/30 Thu 09:30AM-01:00PM E15-207, Closed-toe shoes & clothes for fabrication work

Marion Cunningham - Administrative Officer, Val Grimm - Academic Assistant, Madeleine Gallagher - Media Associate, Laura Chichisan - Administrative Assistant, Seth Avecilla - Fabrication Associate


Fri, 1/31 - Day 4 of 4

Jan/31 Fri 09:30AM-01:00PM E15-207, Closed-toe shoes & clothes for fabrication work

Val Grimm - Academic Assistant, Marion Cunningham - Administrative Officer, Madeleine Gallagher - Media Associate, Seth Avecilla - Fabrication Associate, Andrew Borosy - Financial Assistant


Ahead of Their Time: From the Antikythera Mechanism to the Anti-Beatles

V. Michael Bove, Jr.

Jan/16 Thu 01:00PM-02:30PM E15-443

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: none

From the well-known to the obscure, from nonlinear fiction to fuel-cell vehicles and touchscreen maps, we celebrate a collection of technological, artistic, and other achievements that appeared tens, hundreds, or even a thousand years before the rest of the world caught up with them. Attendees are encouraged each to bring a favorite example of their own.

Sponsor(s): Media Arts and Sciences
Contact: V. Bove, E15-448, 617 253-0334, VMB@MEDIA.MIT.EDU


AMPS Media Makers Showcase

Amanda Justice

Jan/28 Tue 12:00PM-05:00PM Bush Room, 10-105

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The staff of MIT's Academic Media Production Services (recently aligned within the Office of Digital Learning), will be showcasing and demonstrating a wide range of video capture technologies ranging from multi-stream lecture capture and delivery solutions, to HDSLR shooting techniques in support of documentary production, to our recently developed portable "studio in a box". We will be populating the Bush Room with a variety of exhibits featuring capture technologies from Sony Anycast, Wirecast from Telestream, Echo 360 media rich capture, Cuttura Capturecast,  and Canon-professional and pro-sumer DSLR and video cameras. We will also be sharing information about the inventory of technology equipped classrooms that AMPS maintains and operates.    

The Media Makers Showcase will also feature two 50-minute presentations, at 1PM Chris Boebel, AMPS Senior Producer and Manger of Multimedia Developement will share tips on visual storytelling and production planning, and at 3PM Harlan Reiniger, AMPS Operations Manager, will lead a presentation on Educational Media Design and Capture.  

Schedule 

 12 PM  - 1PM    Exhibits and demonstrations

 1PM - 2PM        Presentation - Video on the Web:Plan It, Make It, Share It

 2PM -3PM         Exhibits and demonstrations

 3PM - 4PM        Presentation - Educational Media Design and Capture

 4PM - 5PM        Exhibits and demonstrations

 Refreshments will be available. 

Sponsor(s): Academic Media Production Services
Contact: Amanda Justice, ajustice@mit.edu


Architecture & Psychology

Rhett Nichols, Alumna Courses 4 & 9

Feb/01 Sat 04:00PM-05:30PM 7-429 (Long Lounge)

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

A fun and interesting introduction to the range of topics in Psychology and Architecture.

The class will consist of an hour of speakers presenting short introductions to psychological studies applied to architecture, with time for questions and discussion afterward.

Topics will range from psychology and post occupancy evaluation, to psychological studies of crowding and small spaces.

No advance sign-up necessary; no enrollment limit.
RSVP to krnichols@gmail.com for an email regarding speakers & topics when full details are available.

Contact: Kathryn Rhett Nichols, '04 (courses 4 & 9)
krnichols@gmail.com

Sponsor(s): Architecture
Contact: Rhett Nichols, 7-337, 617-253-7386, krnichols@gmail.com


Art and Architecture Tour of the Boston Public Library

Cynthia Stewart, Docent, Boston Public Library

Jan/11 Sat 02:00PM-03:30PM Boston Public Lib, Meet inside Dartmouth St. entrance

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/09
Limited to 20 participants

Come tour the Boston Public Library McKim Building in Copley Square, one of America’s architectural treasures.  Designed by Charles Follen McKim in the Renaissance Revival style, the building was proclaimed “a palace for the people” when it opened its doors in 1895.  In addition to mosaics, murals and wall paintings, you’ll see features made of 20 varieties of marble.  The tour will end with a visit to Made In Boston, a special exhibition that brings together maps made in Boston the century before the American Revolution.

Note: Meet inside the Dartmouth Street entrance to the Boston Public Library

Sponsor(s): Architecture
Contact: Cynthia Stewart, 7-337, 617-253-4408, stewart@mit.edu


Capturing Spirit: A Workshop on Chinese Ink Painting

Yun Yang

Jan/23 Thu 02:00PM-03:30PM E40-496, Lucian Pye Conf Room

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 20 participants

Yun Yang, an expert of Chinese ink painting and member of the Chinese Artists Association, will lead us to explore Chinese painting from historical to modern times. This talk will begin with a brief introduction on the history of Chinese ink painting, followed by a live demonstration of ink painting techniques, including a rare opportunity for those in attendance to try out their own hand. By the end of this talk, the audience will learn how to complete their own bird-and-flower painting, a traditional subject of Chinese art.

 Yun Yang was born in Langzhong, Sichuan, China. He is a senior member of the Chinese Artists Association, and Director of the Sichuan Artists Association. His works have won many awards, both nationally and internationally.

Sponsor(s): MIT China Program, Center for International Studies, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Contact: Sean Gilbert, E40-496 (Lucian Pye Conference Room), seang@mit.edu


Designing around new concepts of the human

Tyler Stevermer, Editor, Thresholds 42; Master of Architecture candidate

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Limited to 10 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: None

Based on the forthcoming issue of MIT Architecture's peer-reviewed journal, Thresholds 42: Human.  This design workshop will reposition and develop new design strategies for what it means to be "human" within the contemporary and future built environment.

This workshop is primarily geared for those with architecture, art, or design backgrounds—however all are welcome.
Students should bring a laptop to all sessions (session schedule coming soon).

The workshop will be a condensed two week process.  The first week will be focused on introducing topics, formulating research interests, and discussion/development of design theories.  The second week will be used to investigate how the findings of the first week could influence design practice (thereby reshaping built form at a variety of scales) through a fast-paced, iterative design process.

Official class periods will primarily be dedicated to informal discussion and presentation.  Additional time outside of class will be necessary for reading, design research, and individual (or group) design work.

Design projects executed during this workshop may have the opportunity for exhibition.

Sponsor(s): Architecture
Contact: Tyler Stevermer, 608 886-7560, TSTEVER@MIT.EDU


Jan/20 Mon 01:30PM-04:30PM Location TBD

Introduction to course topics and readings followed by discussion


Jan/22 Wed 01:30PM-04:30PM Location TBD

Presentations and discussions based on readings from previous session.  Following this session, individual or course directions for projects will be initiated.


Jan/24 Fri 01:30PM-04:30PM Location TBD

Presentation and discussion of individual research trajectories and design precedents.


Jan/27 Mon 01:30PM-04:30PM Location TBD

Discussion of initial design proposals.


Jan/29 Wed 01:30PM-04:30PM Location TBD

Discussion and critique of initial design iteration.


Jan/31 Fri 01:30PM-04:30PM Location TBD

Presentation of final design proposal.


Educational Media Design and Capture

Amanda Justice

Jan/28 Tue 03:00PM-04:00PM Bush Room, 10-105

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Prereq: None

Don't miss the essential information you need to "up your game" in the ever-evolving world of educational media.  This presentation will provide an overview of the range of media capture services that AMPS provides in addition to exploring a number of "do it yourself"  approaches.  We'll demonstrate the wide range of new creative tools and cost-effective techniques that will realize your project with maximum impact. Get tips on performance, presentation and optimizing workflow. Get the maximum value from your media production budget. See you there! 

Sponsor(s): Academic Media Production Services
Contact: Amanda Justice, 617 253-0544, ajustice@mit.edu


Fabrication from Fabric: Design and Creation of Clothing, Accessories, and Other Textile Based Items

Laura Perovich, Philippa Mothersill

Jan/13 Mon 02:00PM-06:00PM E14-240
Jan/14 Tue 10:00AM-12:00PM E14-240, (optional fabric store trip)
Jan/14 Tue 02:00PM-06:00PM E14-240
Jan/15 Wed 02:00PM-06:00PM E14-240

Enrollment: preference to Media Lab students
Sign-up by 01/06
Limited to 15 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

This hands-on class explores the design and fabrication of textile based objects, from shirts to iPad cases.  We step through the entire process, from choosing a project to designing a pattern to selecting materials and finally executing your vision.  The course covers traditional approaches to sewing and fabrication as well as emerging methods including computational design and novel materials.  Each class includes an introduction to the topic followed by a hands-on application.  All levels of experience welcome, sample applications will be provided.  Guest instructors from the fashion design industry.

 

Sponsor(s): Media Arts and Sciences
Contact: Laura Perovich, perovich@media.mit.edu


Forces Frozen

Caitlin Mueller, PhD Candidate

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/13
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

This 3-day workshop explores the world of structural ice shells, inspired by Swiss engineer and designer Heinz Isler (1926-2009).  We will start by researching and designing ice/fabric forms and the methods for making them, and will then spend the second day building formwork and rigging systems.  On the final day, we will construct a landscape of frozen structures on and around Krege Oval and share the work with friends and colleagues in a public exhibition.

Geared mainly toward undergraduates in courses 1 and 4 but open to all.

 

** Please contact Caitlin Mueller, caitlinm@mit.edu, to enroll **

Sponsor(s): Architecture
Contact: Caitlin Mueller, MIT PhD Student, Structural Design Lab, caitlinm@mit.edu


Forces Frozen: Session 1

Jan/21 Tue 10:00AM-03:00PM TBA-9-250, Bring a laptop if you have one

Caitlin Mueller - PhD Candidate, William Plunkett - MIT S.M. Student, Course 4, John Ochsendorf - Professor


Forces Frozen: Session 2

Jan/22 Wed 10:00AM-03:00PM TBA 9-250, Bring a laptop if you have one

Caitlin Mueller - PhD Candidate, William Plunkett - MIT S.M. Student, Course 4, John Ochsendorf - Professor


Session 3 - *TBA exact date (~1/23-31)

Jan/23 Thu 10:00AM-03:00PM TBA-Kresge Lawn/Oval, laptop if have one/VERY WARM OUTDOOR GEAR

Caitlin Mueller - PhD Candidate, William Plunkett - MIT S.M. Student, Course 4, John Ochsendorf - Professor


Getting a grant from the Council for the Arts at MIT

Susan Cohen, Director, Council for the Arts at MIT

Jan/22 Wed 01:00PM-02:00PM E14-240

Enrollment: Limited: First come, first served (no advance sign-up)
Limited to 20 participants

Informal discussion of the CAMIT Grants Program, including the application process and the types of projects eligible for funding.

Sponsor(s): Office of the Arts
Contact: Susan Cohen, E15-205, 617 253-4005, COHEN@MEDIA.MIT.EDU


Historic Letterlocking: The Art and Security of Letterwriting

Jana Dambrogio, Thomas F. Peterson (1957) Conservator

Jan/28 Tue 10:00AM-03:00PM 14-0513, Bring your lunch
Jan/29 Wed 10:00AM-03:00PM 14-0513, Bring your lunch

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Repeating event, particpants welcome at any session
Prereq: NA

Queen Elizabeth the First did it. Marie Antoinette did it, too. And so did William Barton Rodgers.

Come spend a day in the MIT Libraries Wunsch Conservation lab with Jana Dambrogio, the new conservator and letterlocker-in-residence, learning about the 4,000-year-old tradition of writing a letter on papyrus, parchment, or paper and folding it to function as its own envelope.

Participants will make several types of locked letters with varying levels of built-in security based on historic examples. They will view historic manuscripts and learn how conservators preserve them.

If you identify yourself as an origami maker, paper engineer, letter-writer, secret keeper, or anti-tamper device master, this is the course for you.

Course size: 10

10:00 am-3:00 pm, with breaks. 

 Offered: Two separate day-long sessions.

 When: Tuesday, January 28 or Wednesday, January 29.

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Jana Dambrogio, 14-0513, 617 452-4064, JLD@MIT.EDU


I thought I wanted to be an architect

Zaurie Zimmerman

Jan/29 Wed 02:30PM-05:00PM Stella Room, 7-338

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Please email instructor if you plan to attend.

This course will reveal a fascinating alternative career path availableto those with architectural or building-related engineering degrees or experience in these fields. If a far more comprehensive role in the process of bringing buildings to life interests you, one that is exciting, rewarding, demanding and crucial to a building project's success, please join us.

Instructor holds B.S.A.D. and MArch degrees from MIT, is a registeredarchitect and a 25 year veteran of this profession.  

Part One

Analysis of the key aspects of the roles of architect, owner and contractor in the planning, design and construction processes.  Exploration of the interplay of forces in the quality/schedule/budget triangle and the crucial elements necessary to insure a successful project.  Introduction to development management, with a focus on sustainability, from the owner's perspective.

Part Two

Case studies of projects ranging from the mixed-use commercial development of Rowes Wharf, to projects developed on the campuses of non-profit institutions including an arts center, a technology building, a science lab, and the first building built on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, all demonstrating principles of successful project management.

Sponsor(s): Architecture
Contact: Zaurie Zimmerman, zaurie.zimmerman@gmail.com


Intro to Adobe Photoshop for Planners and Architects

Mike Foster

Jan/23 Thu 02:00PM-04:00PM 9-251

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/17
Limited to 10 participants

Learning to create your own graphics and manipulate images is an important skill in Planning, Architecture, and for many other professions. Adobe Photoshop is a power photo editing and raster graphic software that allows for the editing and manipulation of digital images. This is an introductory level workshop in Adobe Photoshop that introduces the software and several commonly used and useful features.

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xatTiYuy8XaYBfDSCRhoxLuEDH07Uy2luE8jU-wpbks/viewform

Sponsor(s): Urban Studies and Planning
Contact: Mike Foster, 9-528, mjfoster@mit.edu


Introduction to Drawing, as taught in the Class "Introduction to Design for Engineers"

Carolyn Jundzilo-Comer

Jan/09 Thu 02:00PM-05:00PM 1-371

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 25 participants

Did you ever want to draw something and did not know where to begin. Learn the basic skills of drawing and you will be able to draw anything. This class takes the mystery out of drawing and simplifies the approach needed to gain skill in drawing.  These concepts will help you to develop as far as you would like with practice.   Students will be provided with simple materials, or may bring their own. This is the same class  that was  taught in Professor Einstein's Introduction to Design for Engineers.

Class will be limited to 25. 

Sponsor(s): Civil and Environmental Engineering
Contact: Carolyn Jundzilo-Comer, 1-342, x3-3280, jundzilo@mit.edu


Lecture: Bending wood without the steam. Compressed Hardwood bending

Kristen LeVier, Artist in Residence

Jan/30 Thu 06:00PM-08:00PM W31-031

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Prereq: non
Fee: $5.00 for Wood

Compressed Cold-bend hardwood (http://www.puretimber.com/cold-bend-hardwood/) allows woodworkers to bend wood without using steam or glued-up laminations. This pre-compressed wood can be used to impressive effect in wood sculpture, furniture making, architecture, etc. Students will be introduced to the work of artists, furniture makers, instrument makers and architects working with compressed wood and will have the opportunity to experiment with manipulating the wood themselves.

Contact: Hayami Arakawa, W31-3131, 617 253-4343, HAYAMI@MIT.EDU


LineStorm Animation Digital FlipBook

Pell Osborn

Jan/08 Wed 04:30PM-06:30PM 56-167
Jan/15 Wed 04:30PM-06:30PM 56-167
Jan/22 Wed 04:30PM-06:30PM 56-167
Jan/29 Wed 04:30PM-06:30PM 56-169

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 10 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

LineStorm Animation Digital FlipBook classes rekindle the thrill of discovery in the basics of animation. We examine the moment in time and space when animation happens – when one image changes into the next. As we build a group hand-drawn animation project, we will cover three fundamental phases of animation: (1) the intellectual phase, when animators consider the range of possibilities in developing frame-by-frame visual sequences; (2) the practical production phase, when animators create their imagery; (3) the wrap-up phase, when animators wrestle with timelines, pipelines and deadlines, to complete the project. We’ll work through hands-on exercises to explore a wide array of animation tools and skills. Led by award-winning animator Pell Osborn and developed with the MIT Student Art Association, The LineStorm Animation Digital FlipBook Seminar is called by Harvard University’s Project Zero, “The best example of project-based learning we’ve ever seen!”

Sponsor(s): Comparative Media Studies/Writing
Contact: Pell Osborn, posborn@motionart.org


Monday Mighty Mugs, SAA Ceramics

Jason Pastorello

Jan/06 Mon 04:30PM-07:00PM W20-431
Jan/13 Mon 04:30PM-07:00PM W20-431
Jan/20 Mon 04:30PM-07:00PM W20-431
Jan/27 Mon 04:30PM-07:00PM W20-431

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/06
Limited to 12 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction / materials

Explore the world of clay through a variety of techniques used to create the "Mug". Wheel throwing and Handbuilding methods are combined to construct a mug fit for you, a family member, or even a friend! If you drink coffee and are interested in clay, this is the class for you!

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

 

Sponsor(s): Student Art Association
Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Monday Mighty Mugs, SAA Ceramics

Jason Pastorello

Jan/06 Mon 07:30PM-10:00PM W20-431
Jan/13 Mon 07:30PM-10:00PM W20-431
Jan/20 Mon 07:30PM-10:00PM W20-431
Jan/27 Mon 07:30PM-10:00PM W20-431

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/06
Limited to 12 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction / materials

Explore the world of clay through a variety of techniques used to create the "Mug". Wheel throwing and Handbuilding methods are combined to construct a mug fit for you, a family member, or even a friend! If you drink coffee and are interested in clay, this is the class for you!

 

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

Sponsor(s): Student Art Association
Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Multimedia Origami or The Origami of Light

Seth Riskin, Manager, Holography and Spatial Imaging Initiative

Jan/08 Wed 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150
Jan/10 Fri 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150
Jan/13 Mon 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150
Jan/15 Wed 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150
Jan/17 Fri 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150
Jan/22 Wed 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150
Jan/24 Fri 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150
Jan/27 Mon 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150
Jan/29 Wed 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150
Jan/31 Fri 01:00PM-04:00PM 10-150

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: None

The MIT Museum has just opened a new space for creation and display: the MIT Museum Studio. It's right off the Infinite Corridor and opposite the Memorial Lobby. For IAP 2014, the Museum Studio is hosting “Multimedia Origami or the Origami of Light”, a collaborative project open to the entire MIT community that will result in an inaugural art installation in the Museum Studio’s large display window.

“Multimedia Origami or the Origami of Light" will explore the potential of origami in combination with other media and materials. Examples are the use of actuators to animate origami objects, or the use of light to add color, dimensionality and light's own inherent geometry to the installation. The medium of light will play a special role in the project, interconnecting and relating origami objects into a cohesive artwork.

No experience necessary. Open Studio most IAP Modays, Wednesdays and Fridays 1-4PM. Bring your ideas and imagination and help create a luminous window of origami innovation for all MIT to see.

Contact: Seth Riskin, N52-MUSEUM, 617 253-4405, RISKIN@MIT.EDU


Night Photography Workshop - Session A

Nora Vrublevska

Jan/07 Tue 06:00PM-09:00PM 8-119, Bring your camera

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/05
Limited to 10 participants
Prereq: Basic photography knowledge
Fee: $10.00 for SIgnup fee and handouts

 Have you been intrigued by photos taken at night? The colors, tones and atmosphere look amazing! This one-day three-hour workshop will get you started on night photography and will guide you through proper exposure, settings, equipment (digital or film), tools, and post-processing as it relates to night photography, as well as practical aspects of shooting in dark and cold weather. You will learn about different lighting situations from bright urban to full moon, light painting, and star trails. The workshop consists of an hour long classroom session, followed by hands-on shooting on MIT campus. 

The event is for adults only.

Prerequisite: Basic photography knowledge. 

Tools needed: Camera with bulb mode, tripod, cable release. 

Advance sign-up required by January 5, 2014. Click here to sign up: 

Register for Tuesday, January 7th Workshop

Nora Vrublevska is a Cambridge-based freelance photographer and teacher. Nora was born in Riga, Latvia and currently lives and works in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She photographs mainly urban landscapes and architecture at night using long exposures. Nora exhibits work regionally and currently is a faculty member at The New England School of Photography where she teaches night photography workshop. Her work can be seen on her website at www.noravrublevska.com and blog at blog.noravrublevska.com.

Sponsor(s): SpousesandPartners@mit
Contact: Nora Vrublevska, nora.vrublevska@gmail.com


Night Photography Workshop - Session B

Nora Vrublevska

Jan/08 Wed 06:00PM-09:00PM 8-119, Bring your camera

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/05
Limited to 10 participants
Prereq: Basic photography knowledge
Fee: $10.00 for Signup fee and handouts

 Have you been intrigued by photos taken at night? The colors, tones and atmosphere look amazing! This one-day three-hour workshop will get you started on night photography and will guide you through proper exposure, settings, equipment (digital or film), tools, and post-processing as it relates to night photography, as well as practical aspects of shooting in dark and cold weather. You will learn about different lighting situations from bright urban to full moon, light painting, and star trails. The workshop consists of an hour long classroom session, followed by hands-on shooting on MIT campus. 

The event is for adults only.

Prerequisite: Basic photography knowledge. 

Tools needed: Camera with bulb mode, tripod, cable release. 

Advance sign-up required by January 5, 2014. Click here to sign up: 

Register for Wednesday, January 8th Workshop

 Nora Vrublevska is a Cambridge-based freelance photographer and teacher. Nora was born in Riga, Latvia and currently lives and works in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She photographs mainly urban landscapes and architecture at night using long exposures. Nora exhibits work regionally and currently is a faculty member at The New England School of Photography where she teaches night photography workshop. Her work can be seen on her website at www.noravrublevska.com and blog at blog.noravrublevska.com.

Sponsor(s): SpousesandPartners@mit
Contact: Nora Vrublevska, nora.vrublevska@gmail.com


Project Cyborg: Software for Programmable Matter

Skylar Tibbits, MIT Faculty

Enrollment: Unlimited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 12/23
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions

New advances across design, science and engineering fields have opened an opportunity to program physical materials, organic and inorganic. This capability offers information storage, computation and transformations in material property and/or physical shape. 4D Printing, “DNA origami”, smart materials and self-assembly robotics are some of the recent technologies to emerge from this paradigm shift. However, for the first time in recent history, our physical capabilities in fabrication and material programmability have outgrown our software capabilities. In other words, we need new design tools to take advantage of the complex dynamics, multi-material programmability, self-assembly behavior and domain-specific knowledge.

The Self-Assembly Lab at MIT has collaborated with Autodesk Research in its development of applications built on top of a new software package called Project Cyborg. The application operates in the browser and includes cloud-native simulation for self-assembly and programmable materials as well as optimization for multi-variable design constraints.

The workshop is taught by Skylar Tibbits (MIT) and Carlos Olguin from Autodesk. Students will be introduced to this new software tool and explore case study projects. This workshop is a unique opportunity for students to be one of the first users of this new tool that is not-yet on the market, as well as steer its development for powerful design possibilities.

To register, contact Skylar Tibbits, sjet@mit.edu.

Sponsor(s): Architecture
Contact: Skylar Tibbits, 5-421, 617-253-9407, sjet@mit.edu


Day 1 of 2

Jan/30 Thu 09:00AM-05:00PM N52-3rd Floor, Bring laptop

Carlos Olguin - Bio/Nano/Programmable Matter Grp at Autodesk, Skylar Tibbits - MIT Faculty


Day 2 of 2

Jan/31 Fri 09:00AM-05:00PM N52-3rd floor, Bring laptop

Skylar Tibbits - MIT Faculty, Carlos Olguin - Bio/Nano/Programmable Matter Grp at Autodesk


Sharing Space in a Regulated Place

Corey Zehngebot, AIA, AICP

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/08
Limited to 20 participants
Attendance: participants may attend just AM lectures, or lectures + PM workshops.

In this activity, we will look at the physical space implications and regulatory issues surrounding businesses that actively or passively associate with the “sharing economy” (e.g. Airbnb). Shifting urban demographics require a closer investigation into how different space “types” might address the needs of cities going forward. Designed to bring together academics, private businesses, think tanks, and public sector employees, this course is the beginning of a conversation about how residential models might be designed or retrofit concurrent with new zoning and emerging technologies to create broader housing opportunities in a city like Boston.

Sponsor(s): Urban Studies and Planning
Contact: Corey Zehngebot, coreyzehngebot@gmail.com


Jan/13 Mon 09:30AM-04:30PM 9-451

Schedules tentative, times may change based on participants; each day to include some AM lecture/discussion, followed by afternoon "workshop" component.  Additional info to follow -- contact Corey for details.

Corey Zehngebot, AIA, AICP


Jan/14 Tue 09:30AM-04:30PM 9-451

Schedules tentative, times may change based on participants; each day to include some AM lecture/discussion, followed by afternoon "workshop" component.  Additional info to follow -- contact Corey for details.

Corey Zehngebot, AIA, AICP


Jan/15 Wed 09:30AM-04:30PM 9-451

Schedules tentative, times may change based on participants; each day to include some AM lecture/discussion, followed by afternoon "workshop" component.  Additional info to follow -- contact Corey for details.

Corey Zehngebot, AIA, AICP


Jan/16 Thu 09:30AM-04:30PM 9-451

Schedules tentative, times may change based on participants; each day to include some AM lecture/discussion, followed by afternoon "workshop" component.  Additional info to follow -- contact Corey for details.

Corey Zehngebot, AIA, AICP


Jan/17 Fri 09:30AM-04:30PM TBA (Media Lab)

Schedules tentative, times may change based on participants; each day to include some AM lecture/discussion, followed by afternoon "workshop" component.  Additional info to follow -- contact Corey for details.

Corey Zehngebot, AIA, AICP


The Universe is Beautiful: The Art of Astrophysics

Dr. Bryce Croll, Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute, Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson, Torres Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: submit entries up until January 29 @ 5pm!
Prereq: none

The Universe is Beautiful: The Art of Astrophysics

Astrophysicists try to share the mysteries of the Universe around us in a clear & understandable fashion, but we don't always succeed. It's a hard challenge - the wonders of the Solar System, the Galaxy, and the ever expanding Cosmos demand more of our imaginations than can be captured by numbers in a table or terms in an equation. However, a work of art can uniquely inspire us to look closely, to dream freely, to understand openly - anything from the smallest curiosity to the biggest discovery.

We're asking members of the MIT community to create works of art that help us visualize our Universe and how we observe it. Whether you're a photographer or a poet, a crafter or a coder, a musician or a moviemaker, we want you to use your talents and creativity to illuminate the beauty of astrophysical results. Please consider participating in this year's Art of Astrophysics competition during MIT's 2014 Independent Activities Period.

Entries must be received by January 29, 2014 at 5pm EST.  Full details: The Universe is Beautiful: The Art of Astrophysics

The competition will culminate in an exhibition on Friday, January 31 in Lobby 10 from 4:00-5:30pm.

Contact:  Dr. Bryce Croll & Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson
37-667 and 37-673
croll@space.mit.edu and zkbt@mit.edu

Sponsor(s): Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
Contact: Bryce Croll and Zach Berta Thompson, 37-667 and 37-673, croll@space.mit.edu


Art of Astrophysics--submit entries

Jan/06 Mon 09:00AM-05:00PM 37-673, submit entry by January 29

Digital works may be submitted to artofastrophysics@gmail.com. Tangible artwork may be brought to MIT office 37-673 (either during our office hours 9am-5pm on Jan. 27,28,29 or most other times as long as you e-mail ahead).

Art of Astrophysics

Dr. Bryce Croll - Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute, Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson - Torres Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute


Art of Astrophysics

Jan/13 Mon 09:00AM-05:00PM 37-673, submit your entries by January 29 at 5pm
Jan/22 Wed 09:00AM-05:00PM 37-673, Submit your entries by January 29 at 5pm
Jan/27 Mon 09:00AM-05:00PM 37-673, Submit your entries by January 29 at 5pm
Jan/29 Wed 09:00AM-05:00PM 37-673, TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY -- 5pm
Jan/31 Fri 04:00PM-05:30PM Lobby 10, Gallery--come see entries!

For complete details, please see the Art of Astrophysics website

Dr. Bryce Croll - Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute, Dr. Zach Berta-Thompson - Torres Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Kavli Institute


Tuesday Ceramica Botanica SAA Ceramics

Darrell Finnegan

Jan/07 Tue 04:00PM-06:30PM W20-431
Jan/14 Tue 04:00PM-06:30PM W20-431
Jan/21 Tue 04:00PM-06:00PM W20-431
Jan/28 Tue 04:00PM-06:30PM W20-431

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/06
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction / materials

Nature is a wonderful source of inspiration. Both wheel thrown and hand-built vessels will be stretched, altered and manipulated in various ways with a nature theme. Exploring numerous surface techniques, we will transform your vessel into a functional form or sculptural object. Think large leaf platters, perhaps plump peach pitchers or over-sized sculptural pears.

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

 

Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Tuesday Intro to Drawing SAA Class

Nicole Tariverdian

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/06
Limited to 15 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction

Intro to drawing will provide students with the sharpening fundamental drawing skills. During the four weeks students will experment with different types of subject matter, materials, and mark making tools. 

*A supplies list will be sent prior to the first day of class.

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

 

Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Jan/07 Tue 05:30PM-07:00PM Location TBD
Jan/14 Tue 05:30PM-07:00PM Location TBD
Jan/21 Tue 05:30PM-07:00PM Location TBD
Jan/28 Tue 05:30PM-07:00PM Location TBD

Nicole Tariverdian


Tuesday Intro to Oil Painting SAA Class

Nicole Tariverdian

Enrollment: TBD
Attendance:
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction

This is a introduction to oil painting. Students will learn a variety of oil painting techniques as well as about composition and form. In addition to learning how to use the medium, different methods for transferred images onto a canvas will be covered.

 

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Jan/07 Tue 08:00PM-10:30PM W20-426
Jan/14 Tue 08:00PM-10:30PM W20-426
Jan/21 Tue 08:00PM-10:30PM W20-426
Jan/28 Tue 08:00PM-10:30PM W20-426

Nicole Tariverdian


Tuesday Intro to the Potter's Wheel SAA Ceramics

Darrell Finnegan

Jan/07 Tue 07:00PM-10:00PM Location TBD
Jan/14 Tue 07:00PM-10:00PM Location TBD
Jan/21 Tue 07:00PM-10:00PM Location TBD
Jan/28 Tue 07:00PM-10:00PM Location TBD

Enrollment: TBD
Attendance:
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction / materials

This beginning and intermediate level IAP session is designed as an introduction to the 'potter's wheel'.  Learn the basics of centering the clay and quickly learn some of the many techniques used to create basic ceramic vessels.  A fast four weeks of creativity that will leave you wanting more!

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

 

Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Urban Furniture: Sustainable and Smart Design

Dr. Ornella Iuorio, Architect, PhD in Structural Engineering

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/08
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Fee: $10.00 for Handouts

How many objects, spaces or surfaces in our everyday life could do more? How many times have you re-used an object for something different from its original purpose?

Join us to discuss the trend of design that builds on existing objects.  We’ll observe examples of the phenomenon from influential design centers, and join in the fun by discussing potential transformative uses of everyday urban furniture. In week two, students will work on an interactive mini-project to create a new use for a selected object.

To get a feel for the subject, you may have a look at:

http://www.feeldesain.com/ibm-urban-furniture.html

This workshop is primarily geared for those with architecture, art, or design backgrounds—however, all are welcome.

Students should bring a laptop to all sessions. There will be an optional poster session for students to share their project at the end of the series.

Please contact the instructor to register.

Ornella Iuorio is an Italian Architect and Ph.D in Structural Engineering. She trained at University of Naples Federico II and she has been recently Visiting Postdoc at MIT. She conducts research on prefab housing and sustainability and she is currently involved in the development of a network for low-energy constructions. Her work has been published in numerous journal papers and books.

 

Sponsor(s): SpousesandPartners@mit
Contact: Ornella Iuorio, (781) 363-2644, ornella.iuorio@unina.it


Jan/14 Tue 03:00PM-05:00PM 1-132, Bring your laptop
Jan/16 Thu 03:00PM-05:00PM 1-132, Bring your laptop
Jan/21 Tue 03:00PM-05:00PM 1-132, Bring your laptop
Jan/23 Thu 03:00PM-05:00PM 1-132, Bring your laptop

Optional Poster Session on January 23, 3-5 pm


Visualization in Education: Creating Animations

Violeta Ivanova, PhD, ARTEMiS

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 10 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: None

Learn how to create graphics and animations using software tools such as Maya and After Effects. This workshop introduces principles and techniques for visual communication and provides opportunities to acquire practical skills in the digital visual arts, including, but not limited to: creating 3D models, materials, and keyframe motion animation in Maya; creating 2D graphics and animation in After Effects; and editing a short animated movie. The focus will be on experiential learning, therefore participants will learn primarily by producing their own models and animations. In addition, the instructors will demo in detail the production workflows of educational animations and will provide resources for further learning following the workshop.

Sponsor(s): Office of Educational Innovation and Technology
Contact: Violeta Ivanova, artemis-www@mit.edu


Jan/27 Mon 01:00PM-04:00PM 56-191
Jan/28 Tue 01:00PM-04:00PM 56-191
Jan/29 Wed 01:00PM-04:00PM 26-139
Jan/30 Thu 01:00PM-04:00PM 26-139

Betsy Skrip, MFA, Violeta Ivanova, PhD - ARTEMiS


Visualization in Education: Creating Interactive Media

Violeta Ivanova, PhD, ARTEMiS

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 12 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: None

Learn how to create graphics and interactive media using software tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Unity3D. This workshop introduces principles and techniques for visual communication and provides opportunities to acquire practical skills in the digital visual arts, including, but not limited to: designing raster and vector graphics; storyboarding a game; creating 3D game objects; and scripting a graphical user interface and interactions. The focus will be on experiential learning, therefore participants will learn primarily by producing their own creative work. In addition, the instructors will demo in detail the production workflows of advanced educational games and will provide resources for further learning following the workshop.

Sponsor(s): Office of Educational Innovation and Technology
Contact: Violeta Ivanova, artemis-www@mit.edu


Jan/21 Tue 01:00PM-04:00PM 26-139
Jan/22 Wed 01:00PM-04:00PM 26-139
Jan/23 Thu 01:00PM-04:00PM 26-139
Jan/24 Fri 01:00PM-04:00PM 26-139

Betsy Skrip, Violeta Ivanova, PhD - ARTEMiS


Wednesday Intro to Black and White Photography SAA class

Nicole Tariverdian

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/06
Limited to 8 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction

Black and white film photography is a beautiful, fun, and engaging process to learn. This class will cover the basics of black and white 35 mm film photography. Students will learn to process film and print in the darkroom. Students will also gain experience with composition and form. 

* Students must provide: Black and white photo paper (box of 8 x 10 N/ pearl finish), and black and white film (35 mm).

 

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Jan/08 Wed 05:30PM-08:00PM W20-426
Jan/15 Wed 05:30PM-08:00PM W20-426
Jan/22 Wed 05:30PM-08:00PM W20-426
Jan/29 Wed 05:30PM-08:00PM W20-426

Nicole Tariverdian


Wednesday Intro to Oil Painting SAA Class

Nicole Tariverdian

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/06
Limited to 15 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction

This class is designed for both beginners and intermediate students. Students will learn and practice a variety of oil painting techniques as well as about composition and form. During the class students will build on both their technical and conceptual skills. 

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

 

Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Jan/08 Wed 08:00PM-10:30PM Location TBD
Jan/15 Wed 08:00PM-10:30PM Location TBD
Jan/22 Wed 08:00PM-10:30PM Location TBD
Jan/29 Wed 08:00PM-10:30PM Location TBD

Nicole Tariverdian


Wednesday Super Bowls SAA Ceramics

Jason Pastorello

Jan/08 Wed 04:30PM-07:00PM W20-431
Jan/15 Wed 04:30PM-07:00PM W20-431
Jan/22 Wed 04:30PM-07:00PM W20-431
Jan/29 Wed 04:30PM-07:00PM W20-431

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/06
Limited to 12 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction / materials

Explore the world of clay through a variety of techniques used to create the "Bowl". Wheel throwing and Handbuilding methods are combined to construct a bowl fit for you, a family member, or even a friend! If you like cereal, soups, salads and are interested in clay, this is the class for you!

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Wednesday Super Bowls SAA Ceramics

Jason Pastorello

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/06
Limited to 12 participants
Attendance: Participants must attend all sessions
Prereq: none
Fee: $100.00 for professional instruction / materials

Explore the world of clay through a variety of techniques used to create the "Bowl". Wheel throwing and Handbuilding methods are combined to construct a bowl fit for you, a family member, or even a friend! If you like cereal, soups, salads and are interested in clay, this is the class for you!

 

SIGN UP AT arts.mit.edu/saa

Contact: Sam Magee, E15-205, 617 253-4004, SAMMAGEE@MIT.EDU


Jan/08 Wed 07:00PM-10:00PM Location TBD
Jan/15 Wed 07:00PM-10:00PM Location TBD
Jan/22 Wed 07:00PM-10:00PM Location TBD
Jan/29 Wed 07:00PM-10:00PM Location TBD

Jason Pastorello


Wood Carving with a Micromotor Powercarver

Kristen LeVier, Visiting Artist

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 5 participants
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: Non
Fee: $10.00 for Can be applied to a Hobby Shop

Learn how easy it is to carve and engrave wood with a Micromotor Powercarving tools. These rotary carvers (example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjmqB_W5I-Y) allow efficient and precise removal of wood and have handpieces the size of fat marker pen for a more comfortable carving experience. Students will be introduced to the work of wood artists and furniture makers who use powercarving in their work. Safety and technique will be demonstrated and students will have the opportunity to use powercarvers and try an assortment of different cutter bits.

Sponsor(s): Hobby Shop
Contact: Hayami Arakawa, W31-3131, 617 253-4343, HAYAMI@MIT.EDU


Wood Carving with a Micromotor 1

Jan/21 Tue 06:00PM-08:00PM W31-031

Wood Carving with a Micromotor 2

Jan/23 Thu 06:00PM-08:00PM W31-031