Bebo

We've added the Jackson Pollock by Miltos Manetas app to the top right of our bebo page (above the photos). Or you can get to it here: http://apps.bebo.com/jacksonpollock/ To play with it just click and move your mouse.

Check out more of this artist's arty online stuff here: http://www.manetas.com

Recently we came across Miguel Leal and Luis Sarmento's Cloud of Clouds, so we thought we should share it, and two other online art projects which deal with clouds, with you – use the comments on this blog to let us know what you think! All of them in some way address how our busy modern lives leave little time to stop and look up at the sky, daydream or take a break ... and attempt to provide a technological solution.


Cloud of Clouds: http://www.virose.pt/ml/web/clouds_o...

“Clouds of clouds is a random generator of cloud images. Each new cloud is unique and indexed to a particular time (GMT) on a particular day. Its clouds were made on similar dates and at similar times, not necessarily the same year, and are linked to the original web pages.

“The basis of the archives are all images indexed with the tags <cloud> or <clouds> on Flickr.”


Cloud shape Classifier: http://cloudy.halo.gen.nz/

“Many people would like to see interesting clouds, but lack the spare time in which to look upwards. A Cloud Shape Classifier can help by watching the sky as people go about their routines, and showing them the best clouds at a later time. Since not everyone likes the same clouds, the Classifier learns each individual's taste, and tries to show them only the clouds that they will like.

“To have the Classifier to work for you personally, you need to register, after which you can train it to like your kinds of clouds.”

The Cloud Shape Classifier was made by Douglas Bagnall, with network and hosting support from CityLink Ltd, for an exhibition at Enjoy gallery and ZeroOne San Jose.


Blue Skies: http://www.stanza.co.uk/blue_skies/

by Stanza

“Dream your Dreams and imagine the dreams of others. Search continuously in real time to make sense of the world. Imagining all the thoughts of all the people looking at Blue Skies all at once. Trying to connect to all the people looking at the sky and imagine what a stream of consciousness might look like.

“'Blue Skies', uses CCTV cameras on the roof of the Watershed Media Centre in Bristol England. This is an online surveillance system using three cameras to monitor the sky above. Blue skies acts as a metaphor using new networked technologies that are generally used to observe people in society that might be engaged in criminal activity. This is version one.”

Time for another blog… This month we want to share an exciting new project with you:

Portable Pixel Playground is an amazing new play space for all ages created by artists working with digital technology. A bit like an adventure playground, a bit like a work of art, and a bit like a computer game, the playground has been designed to allow young people (and inquisitive adults!) to use everyday technologies in fun and creative ways, providing them with new, interactive and hands-on experiences of art and technology.

Check out photos and video from the first event in the gardens of Tullie House in Carlisle on 6th August: http://www.flickr.com/groups/portabl... and http://www.youtube.com/follydigitalarts

The Playground will feature a brand new piece of art commissioned from internationally-acclaimed artists Squidsoup, where you’ll be able to create and affect a physical landscape inhabited by a host of virtual creatures. The artists who are creating this have a blog at http://squidpress.wordpress.com where they talk about developing this and other projects. There’s video and photos of the bugs here: http://wordpress.com/tag/portable-pi...

The Playground will also include an artwork by Finland-based Andy Best and Merja Puustinen: an inflatable “bouncy castle” in which your jumping, rolling and crawling creates a sound sensation.

Thanks to a grant from The Big Lottery Playful Ideas fund, the Playground will be touring Cumbria and Lancashire for the next two years.

Upcoming events are 28th September at the Solaris Centre, Blackpool, 18th October at Carnforth Station, Lancashire and 15th November at Lanternhouse International in Ulverston, Cumbria.

For more information visit http://www.portablepixelplayground.org