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NPR program “The Bryant Park Project” aired a story on Dorkbot NYC. Hear the story here.

The Bryant Park Project, February 7, 2008 · Where do you go when, let’s face it, you’re smarter than everyone else? Easy. You go to Dorkbot. It’s a monthly gathering of scientists, artists and designers doing, in their words, “strange things with electricity.” Started by Douglas Repetto in New York City in 2000, Dorkbot meetings are now held all over the world.

Repetto, an artist and director of research at Columbia University, dreamed up Dorkbot when he moved to New York City and needed a way to make friends. Dorkbot filled another need, too: it created a real-world forum for people to discuss and encounter the things they were talking about online. “I do think that one thing that Dorbot has been really good at is heightening the idea that to be in a physical space with other people is a different thing than sharing something online.”

Clearly, gadget-love and the DIY aesthetic have moved out of the province of nerds and into the mainstream in recent years, often reflecting technologies and ideas already expressed at Dorkbot. As regular attendee Joel Schlosberg says, “I’m not sure who said this, but ‘the future is here already, it’s just not evenly distributed yet.’”

Dorkbot alumnus Edwin Wise contributed a lovely, deadly pneumatic piston to the Alamo Drafthouse’s opening of “No Country for Old Men.” Don’t miss this video.

More here. Thank, Alamo!

Edwin Wise, dorkbot-austin veteran, created a pneumatic piston last month which was used to smash watermelons. Check out the video on Austinist.

Our friends from Penn wrote a dorkbot12 recap w/ pictures

See Nasa Road Trip

Michael Bettersworth sent an amazing photo set from dorkbot10.

Check them out.

Fantastic Fest, the Alamo Drafthouse’s festival of fantasy, horror and sci-fi films, teams with dorkbot to celebrate Austin’s electric oddities.  We’re programming Fantastic Fest’s opening night party on Thursday, September 20, 10 pm.  Filmmakers, freaks, oddballs, gorehounds, sci-fi nerds, fantasy freaks and cineasts of all flavors convene on Austin from around the country for this badass festival.  dorkbot is proud to inaugurate this year’s fest with a parade of fire, sparks and digital daring. 

In the words of Tim League, the Alamo’s co-owner and Fantastic Fest instigator:

“We are also proud to announce that the opening night party will feature an electronic onslaught by Dorkbot Austin. This town is a hotbed for the crossover intersection of creativity and electronics/engineering professionals. What that means for us is a chance to sip cocktails while cheering on the loud, crazed and potentially dangerous robotic shenanigans of Austin’s nerdcore elite. Tesla coil in attendance, no pacemakers allowed.”

This special dorkbot event, which will include booze, food and all sorts of goodies, is only available to Fantastic Fest ticket holders.  Tickets are still available here.

Artificial Music Machine and ElectronicAustin present a free evening
of circuit bending and experimental audio performances by local
artists, at Gomi (233 W. 2nd Street) this Friday, August 3rd. Hands-on
workshop from 7pm-8:30pm, followed by performances from 8:30pm-10pm.

Lineup of performers:

* Eric Archer (Visitor Q, Numbers on the Mast)
* Matthew Thies (Visitor Q, Numbers on the Mast)
* Operation Playmate (Erich Ragsdale, Lori Varga, et al)
* Thomas Fang (Inversion Effect) + the Furby Youth Choir

Thank you [Jon Lebkowsky](http://www.weblogsky.com) for sending in these panorama photos of dorkbot9

* [Panorama 1](http://flickr.com/photos/weblogsky/943632110/)
* [Panorama 2](http://flickr.com/photos/weblogsky/943632024/)

Dorkbot is collaborating with the Austin Children’s Museum on a variety of things, including helping support the Play it By Ear program in 2008

Attached is a call for art. ACM is going to be splitting about $10K among 4-6 local projects.

The deadline for submitting a proposal is August 17.

PIBE Artists RFP 7 07.doc