LAB: Dirty Electronics Weekend Laboratory

Dirty electronics refers to an approach in electronic music that is directly opposed to those found in mass produced digital culture and includes some of the following characteristics: designer trash, ugly, cheap, heavy, hand-made, designed to be handled or to come in contact with the body, ready-mades, hacked, bent, fedback and kitsch.

DAY 1 - Skull Etching:
An introduction to a number of key ideas relating to dirty electronics through the making and playing DIY electronic instrument, the Skull Etching. Combining etched artwork and electronics into a unique touch instrument to take home with you!

The electronics for the instrument utilise just one integrated circuit (IC), yet the instrument features two oscillators, distortion, feedback network, filter and interference/hum/radio.

The workshop culminates in a large group performance of pieces specially written for the Skull Etching and other dirty electronic instruments.

**No electronics experience necessary!**

DAY 2 - DIY:
The second day will explore the group invention of a kinetically powered electronic musical instrument, and how the very essence of an electronic instrument, electricity, can be used to shape and control sound. Other areas that will be explored will include ergonomics, and how shaking motions can be married to performance gesture. The visual and sculptural properties of the instrument will also be considered.

The instrument may also take on the function of a distributed network that is played by many performers. For example, the group members may be assigned specific roles, such as generators and ‘users’ of electricity, each being dependent on the other in the creation of sound and music.

A DIY Faraday kinetic generator and sound devices will be built, along with ideas for a new performance piece.

Further info at:dirtyelectronics.org, jsrichards.com

John Richards' work explores performing with self-made instruments and the creation of interactive environments. He has worked with many leading improvisers and musicians in the field of live electronics, and is a founder member of electro-noise improvisers kREEPA, the post-punk group Sand (Soul Jazz Records), and the composers' collective nerve8: an experimental electroacoustic diffusion group. Recent concerts have included performances at IRCAM (Paris), Fylkingen (Sweden), the Bent Festival (Los Angeles), Sonar (Barcelona), and the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre (London).

LAB has been commissioned by Sideshow, Nottingham's fringe to the British Art Show. LAB is a community laboratory for art and ideas, the next few months we'll be activating our open R&D labs and we'd love you to come in and collaborate.

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