1977 Mopeds

Right now I am up to by eyeballs in writing my thesis, preparing work for my thesis exhibition in May, applying for jobs and residencies (I am attending the CAA conference this week), I just finished teaching a class at RISD, doing a bit of contract work on the side.

The class I was teaching called, "Table Fights", was in the Furniture department at RISD. I taught with two fine folks, Anne Evelyn and Shaun Bullens. In the class students built tables that fought each other in a public tournament style event. (Yep, they fought each other.) They were weaponized, mechanized, remote control tables. It sounds a bit silly, but it was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn new technologies, building techniques, and other skills in a very fun and playful environment. None of the usual "Here is a new technology, learn it and make important art with it." Instead students were introduced to technologies (electronics, motors, mechanics, physical computing, and programming) and got a chance to play with it and have fun and learn at the same time!

For those who don't know I have been involved in a sort of Moped (the small motorized things with pedals...like scooter, but different) subculture for a long time: the Moped Army. Additionally I design, program, fix, trick-out, and do some of the marketing for the the online store for 1977 Mopeds. It is probably the best place of Puch, Tomos, Sachs and Minarelli mopeds..at least it is my favorite place. When my friend Dan Kastner started it, he and I lived in the back of the store for several months. If you want to know more, check them out.