Laser Graffiti
With Graffitti Research Labs Houston
Thursday, September 16, 8PM
Location: Aurora Picture Show Video Library, 1524 Sul Ross
FREE Admission

The best treasures are often found in your very own backyard. Aurora Picture Show and the University of Houston Mitchell Center for the Arts present a media archeological dig right from the heartland of Texas featuring artists including Luke Savisky of Austin, Potter Belmar Labs of San Antonio and Graffiti Research Labs of Houston.  As part of our annual Media Archeology multimedia festival, these artists will host site-specific media events that explore the past and the present through tools that have been manipulated and repurposed such as film, light, sound, and live performance.

For the opening night of Media Archeology: Texas Focus, Graffiti Research Lab Houston will present a night of laser graffiti, or interactive light. Laser Graffiti is a participatory installation where attendees will use a laser to draw with light on the side of the Menil Collection, just across the street from the Aurora Office and Library.  Simultaneous projections of traditional spray-painted graffiti images will be projected next to the laser graffiti (laser tagging).  Bring your cell phones and ipods to participate in the live Twitter graffiti and mp3 synchronized concert.

Special thanks to Saint Arnold Brewery, 29-95.com, Aerosol Warfare and The Menil Collection for their support of this program. Oh My! Pocket Pies will visit in their graffiti truck with snacks for sale. Gift bag sponsors include: Katz Coffee, GGCVB, Treebeards Restaurant, among others.

Graffiti Research Lab Houston is comprised of Kirk Moreno and David Sutherland.  This new “cell” is a localized continuation of the values and ideas of the original Graffiti Research Lab in New York, which are now located all over the world.  GRL was founded by Evan Roth and James Powderly during their fellowships at the Eyebeam OpenLab. They are dedicated to outfitting graffiti writers, artists and protesters with open source technologies for urban communication. GRL Houston continues the use of GRL projects while also developing & documenting new tools to take back the public space.

Texas Big Face , A 3D Face Projection How To – was featured on the front page of Instructables (10.27.09 – 10.29.09). Big ups to Randy Sarafan at Instructables for the feature.

I was recently contacted by Carolyn at CKCStart a street & urban arts organization whose mission is to promote street, urban and alternative forms of art as a positive and creative force in communities in Houston. They want to do a workshop on L.A.S.E.R. TAG and also put together our first Graffiti Research Lab Houston LED Throwie event.

Update: Yesterday while dropping off my entry for “Blow Up Houston” had a chance to talk to Carolyn from CKCStart more about a collaboration with Graffiti Research Lab.

After our initial meet-up, Dave and I tried to get together later that night to setup the laser tag and go through the challenges of calibration. We tried to get together but had been unable to until last week when Dave came to my house and we setup the laser tag so we could work together on calibration techniques. We hung out and ended up taking the laser tag setup to the streets of Houston.  I had been doing some scouting for weeks and had some places to post up at. Dave brought the web cam, laptop and projector. I brought the power inverter and marine battery. We invited some people from HTC and laser tagged the wall till about midnight.

[View with PicLens]

ABCDave, IWasFramed and myself met up and talked GRL for a couple of hours yesterday. We all have our different backrounds but have the same spirit of sharing, open source, collaboration and non-commerical use in GRL. ABCDave has already been using his own Laser Tag setup in some positive ways.  He plans to help me with my setup and share tips he has learned along the way.  IWasFramed showed up and we all talked about how we each want to interact with the projects and even brainstormed several new ideas.  We plan to meet again soon and even plan our first grl session.

Who: Graffiti Research Lab – Houston

What: GRL Houston Meet-up

When: Saturday, March 21, 2009 @ 5:30 pm

Where:  The Hooters @ 59 & Kirby

Why:  To talk and brainstorm with other people interested in GRL.

Graffiti Research Lab Houston 2009 – Originally founded by Evan Roth and James Powderly during their fellowships at the Eyebeam OpenLab, Graffiti Research Lab is an art group dedicated to outfitting graffiti writers, artists and protesters with open source technologies for urban communication. Local cells include G.R.L. Amsterdam, G.R.L. Australia, G.R.L. Brazil, G.R.L. Canada, G.R.L. Colorado, G.R.L. Luxembourg, G.R.L. Mexico, G.R.L. Tokyo, G.R.L. Utah, G.R.L. Vienna and as of March 2009 G.R.L. Houston.