Kids Connect Notes

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Notes

10 May 06 skype meetings present: Saar, Josephine, Dan, Carl Skelton

• Looks like we're going to go for a two week overlap between KC@Poly and a workshop at Imagine IC, and a two week workshop in October (using Keyworx).

• Added a couple items to to the [To Do list]: Josephine and I will revise (down) the budget and change the schedule to make

detailed meeting notes: skype mtng 10 may 06

earlier (8-9am EST): Dan, Carl, Saar, Josephine present on skype
Carl introduced to Saar (Carl Skelton: director of Integrated Digital Media Program at Polytechnic University). Carl explained in detail the roles of Polytechnic, the Integrated Digital Media program, and the Promise Fund in the project, as well as how well Kids Connect fits in with each of their objectives.
Discussion of aligning workshop objectives between NY and Amsterdam. Saar expressed that it was moving very fast and was concerned about not getting funding in time to start in july and that it would be more feasible to start in october. Carl emphasized that the summer would be the optimal time to start as it would be more difficult to allocate administrative and space resources if the program started in the fall, since the university programs are fully active in the fall but not as active in the summer.
We discussed the schedule: option of having NY full-day schedule vs Amsterdam half-day schedule. Both are possible; the workshops do not have to be completely symmetrical schedule-wise, as long as the objectives are aligned.
Saar mentioned that she would have to discuss this further with her boss, Henk and then with Marleen (director, Waag). Carl stated that the budget should be revised first, to incorporate a scaled-down version of the program, and that he would be available to talk with Henk if need be.

9:30am EST Carl left the call. Dan, Saar, Josephine still on the call.
We continued to discuss action plans, creating scaled-down options, revising budget & schedule. We should do these things and then Saar can present revisions to Henk then Marleen.

10:00am EST Dan left the call; he will touch base with us in 2 hrs. Saar and Josephine still on the call.

Saar needs to align with the schools -- to attract students from the school system / in order to procure funding. This may be an issue, as the summer schedule will make it more difficult to attract students from within the school system. It is possible to attract kids via Imagine IC's programs (Imagine IC - gallery in Amsterdam that is a potential venue for the Kids Connect project). Imagine IC has networks within the youth community so could attract kids, but this would not really be through the school system.

discussed structure of days:
9am-5pm because of summer camp structure. This fits in with Polytechnic's already existing summer camp programs, which are 9am-5pm. Also - initially (around the first skype mtng), we had discussed a shorter schedule, but after looking at what we wanted to accomplish (i.e., concentration on enhancing performance skills in combination with learning about technical tools plus integrating online partners), we expanded the schedule to a month.

Went through the schedule to discuss day-to-day activities, how each module builds on the knowledge of the previous. Discussed how the first 2 weeks are focused on building performative and technical skills within the local site, and the next 2 weeks are focused on integrating online components. For example, beginning of week 3 - modules are: "Intro to streaming and online partners" followed by "Collaborative story creation with online partners " etc.

Saar said that the 9-5 schedule may be a problem. 1/2 days would be more optimal for them.
I said that the overlap of working together would still work because we would structure it like this: In NY, use the morning hours to be online with the kids in Amsterdam (i.e., 9:00-11:00). The time after that would be used for workshop/lab time.
Conversely, in Amsterdam, use the afternoon hours to be online with the kids in NY (i.e., 15:00-17:00). The time before that would be used for workshop/lab time.

Discussed options of scaling down the month-long schedule to other variations: month-long with half days instead of full days, or 2-week long with full days.

Ideally, we would have no more than 15 kids. Saar mentioned that there is a school that is interested in being involved in the pilot project but they want to involve 19 kids, which may also be an issue.

Discussed island in Second Life. Saar asked if this would be available to all the kids - yes, would be available to all kids involved.

Discussed background of the kids. The kids in NY would be more scientifically-inclined due to the students that the Promise Fund/YES program attracts. (Promise Fund's Center for Youth in Engineering and Science), whereas the kids in holland would be more artistically-inclined...which would actually be a nice mix.

outlined needs from Waag:
space
equipment
instructors (discussion of potential instructors: Ralph, Nancy, Vivian, a couple of guest artists)

KeyWorx: Waag is interested in having KeyWorx be more of a core component.
KeyWorx's current status is that its multi-user component is not working, so they would need to get that working again. They would make these things work: live controllers, midi, streaming. In order to do that, 2 people need to work on it, 30 hrs each.

Possible solution:

• We discussed possibility of a hybrid option, in which the kids in NY connect with the kids in Amsterdam but the kids in Amsterdam have a scaled-down version of the workshops.
  • For example, the kids in A-dam would have a 2-week workshop schedule and only connect once a week. So the connection is made but it is more of a content-sharing environment than an environment in which a performance is built.
    
  • In this case, the summer project would still be possible, and would still be considered a pilot project/research period.
• Sher and Saar would be interested in coming to NY during July to observe/take part in this research period.
• Then after the summer, the Waag would still be interested in continuing this research by having after-school programs starting in october.
• So it would start with the summer project: full-on in NY and scaled down in A-dam, and a continuation of it via after-school programs in the fall.
  
• Letter of intention will be needed from ZoomLab and from Polytechnic, outlining this.
  

Saar called Imagine IC to see if this would be a possible option.

• 18 July - 2 August is the period of time that Imagine IC's summer programme happens, so it would fit within that time period. Schedule would be 1-5pm.

Imagine IC is more focused on still and moving images and less interested in the performative aspect. They like the idea of media workshops, digital storytelling, Second Life.
Saar's contact there is Evelyn Raat (director of education). We may need to talk to her about integrating some of the performative aspects, explain that it's a vehicle for collab/storytelling.
They have a big party on 10 august and would probably want to have a showcase on that day.

11:00am EST Call with Saar ended. Dan came back online.
Updated Dan on what Saar and I had talked about.
Dan agreed that the summer Imagine IC programme was a good option. He mentioned opening up the project in Second Life: involving more kids in Second Life to view/share/check out what's going on. I think it's a good idea - the space naturally lends itself to that.

Dan and I will get together tomorrow morning to revise the budget and schedule to incorporate the scaled-down version for Imagine IC.

notes from a later chat between Dan and Saar (some of this will be repeating stuff from the earlier meeting that I (dan) missed)

• we can't work with public school kids in July so let's try Imagine IC, which will have no Waag involvement except for some in kind equipment loans
• Saar will talk with the program director for Imagine on Friday
• Saar would like to set up another KC program in October that will use Keyworx Live
• Imagine IC is in an African section of Amsterdam so the kids will be African-Dutch, which is fantastic -- we'd really like to hook them up with African-American kids
• I'll write a letter of intent for the KC in October
• Saar and Sher will come to NYC to visit with us (soon?)
• we need to find a Dutch-speaking instructor for the Imagine IC workshops. Imagine can give 2000 euros for the 2 week program.
• I'll send an email of support for Keyworx development for Saar to share at her KW meeting next week

4 apr 06 gizmo meeting
present: Saar van Kouswijk, Ralph de Rijke, Josephine Dorado, Dan Winckler, Vivian Wenli Lin

welcome and introductions

Josephine brought up theme = New York <> Nieuw Amsterdam

• the link between New York and Nieuw Amsterdam:
  
• rich starting point - a bit of culture and history for the kids to chew on...
  
• such as: Kids Connect: New York<>Nieuw Amsterdam is a networked performance between youth in New York and Amsterdam that explores the cultural roots between New York’s dutch heritage, known as “Nieuw Amsterdam” in the 17th century, and the connection between historical and contemporary culture in New York and Amsterdam. Through digital storytelling and streaming video and audio, a tale of two cities will be interwoven.
  

Ralph mentioned

• parallels to WIC (West Indies Company) and its role in the settlement of manhattan
• voracious commercial focus and the parallels of that past and present

Dan talked about his experience with video improv

• Neutrino - group based in NY that combines video with comedy improv to create improvised movies as part of a show's structure

Ralph brought up the issue of time lag inherent in a stream - especially in the context of improv - how that can be dealt with

Dan said he's been able to get lag down to a sec but has also dealt with up to 12 sec lags

Josephine asked if certain structures lent themselves in a more salient way towards the streamed environment

Dan said that the harold worked pretty well but all could be ok - adjusted to time lag, if any

Josephine suggested using some of those exercises/games -- i.e., the exercise where you're given 5 minutes to shoot a 2-minute improvised scene. Kids could take cameras, go into the street, shoot, come back and show to each other via stream.

Ralph suggested that it would be interesting to get the kids' perceptions of questions like

• "Why do you think Wall Street is called Wall Street?"
• "Where is Harlem?" / "Where is Haarlem?"
• could be done via video improv shooting structure

Josephine mentioned other games could be played online, like the acting machine, in which one person starts with a sound and movement, then another person adds to it, etc etc, until there is a group that is creating an industrial "machine-like" series of sounds and motions. This could be played in an online environment too.

Ralph said that it would be interesting to have an exchange of pictures -- to stream kids' pictures of their towns/neighborhoods.

Josephine said that she thought the 2-week structure, previously discussed with Saar, was too short. There needs to be time not only to work and be familiar with the tools, but also a dialectic needs to be developed with their online partners. This takes time. 3 weeks would be better, and even that is still quite short.

Ralph mentioned that he's looking forward to seeing what new possibilities there are -- new improv possibilities -- that might come up instead of trying to make a theater structure fit the medium - of finding new ones

Josephine mentioned that while there are new possibilities, some of the foundations/basic rules may be the same, such as the "yes, and" rule (accepting/agreeing with a scene that's been initiated)

Dan mentioned one of the biggest challenges in a streamed environment is how to give focus and share focus.

Saar gave an example of building a virtual house together -- having kids take pictures of doors, windows, etc -- share images to collaboratively build a house

Ralph said that the link between common place names and street names could be a good starting point. There are probably figures that could be of inestimable importance to american society -- it would be fun to pull a couple of these names and have the kids act them out. For example, "be the ghost of Henry Hudson" or "be the ghost of Peter Stuyvesant"

Dan liked what Saar had mentioned about building a virtual house together - less performative but more open-ended...

Josephine had a logistical question about kids and equipment - do they (Waag) loan equipment to kids to take home? Ralph said yes. This is a question for Jos to ask Eyebeam.

Saar mentioned using KeyWorx - making a simple patcher for kids. She liked the idea that Eric Redlinger used: take everything in your pocket and mix it together in Keyworx -- this was done at a Parsons class he taught

Josephine mentioned the UpStage tool - easy to use, avatar-oriented, but no audio input is a big limitation

Ralph said to create a good perception of shared space, not having realtime audio is difficult

Dan mentioned second life:
This is an online virtual world. Like a game space but not a game. Very creative space -- everything you create you have creative license to. They recently launched a version to teens that is inaccessible to adults. They encourage creative process. It's simple to learn if you have a good instructor.

Ralph - it would be interesting to build another New York or another Amsterdam in virtual space. what would we call it?

Dan - New Yorksterdam?

Saar - it would be good to have the kids also use their whole body as part of the process (this is via Sher's suggestion too), so that movement would be generating some of the output

Josephine - yes it would be good to bring the body back into the process

Dan said that movement in the characters in second life was rather limited and cliched and it might not reflect interactions of kids in space

Saar said that it could be done in KeyWorx - kept simple. example: one girl used motion tracking

Ralph asked about possibilities of incorporating motion tracking.

Josephine said that as long whomever was teaching was familiar with it and as long as the resources were there, why not.

Ralph asked if it would be possible to re-create NY in 1610 in second life

Dan said it was only a question of time and space -- working within the parameters of second life. Perhaps we could get them to donate the use of an island?
There is an organization called "the port" -- that bridges real life and second life events

Ralph - is this a reference to "software" port or "harbor" port?

Dan - exactly the point
real life | second life events:
in second life, there is the ability to bring in streaming video - any place you want, you can set up a screen and by using a movie script - you can set up a performance, and people will come (in second life) to watch it. Right now, only way to stream out is using windows media player but hopefully will change -- this is in the works.

discussion of share.dj

mention of anatomix
(similar to NY's share - but based in Amsterdam)

anatomix isn't active now but most of anatomix people are part of code31 now:
(even though code31 is based in Brussels, lots of Amsterdam peeps are part of it)

Agreement to continue discussion of ideas, feedback, etc via email and wiki
Josephine to create email list for group

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and ideas!

---

21 march 06 skype meeting: Saar, Josephine
Saar and I discussed formation of content, theme, logistics, etc.

points discussed:

• proposal
• venue
• content
• theme
• logistics
• timeline
• getting the kids
• artists with whom to collaborate

Saar will be writing a proposal for the Mondriaan Foundation. More on this as it progresses.

discussion of theme - notions of "home" (what is it, where is it) and cultural identity

Content will largely depend on format of workshops and venue.
Possible venue in Amsterdam: Imagine IC
Imagine IC is a gallery in a diverse neighborhood in Amsterdam, and as such could attract an interesting group of kids.
Possible venue in New York: Eyebeam
Eyebeam is a gallery located in downtown Manhattan (Chelsea). I am talking with the director of education there, Liz, to see if we can work out a partnership of some sort. Eyebeam would be an optimal space because of its dedication to the intersection of arts+sciences.

Timeline - looks like it may happen mid-july through august rather than beginning of july. This also depends on the venues and the Mondriaan Foundation grant.

We discussed the number of kids - keeping it small for this first project seems logical. Saar suggested a group of 5; I suggested 8-10. We also discussed length of workshop series. Saar thought it would be best to keep it to a short length, i.e., two weeks. I preferred a longer length - like a month. Saar suggested that we might want to keep it shorter because of the logistics of keeping the same kids for that length of time (it will be harder to get the same kids there for that length of period). Perhaps workshops could be during the day - let's say 4 hrs long, for 5 days/week. (like a summer day school). We need to create content/daily curriculum around this proposed two-week structure.

We discussed inviting other artists to collaborate. 2 more in A-dam and 2 more in NY. I invited Nancy Mauro-Flude (Amsterdam) and Dan Winckler (NY) to participate in our next skype session. I'll see if Annette Danto (NY) can make it to the next one too. Next one will be a brainstorming session to toss around more ideas for workshop content.

Next skype meeting scheduled for 4 april, tuesday, 9am EST/ 3pm GMT+1