Be inspired by the David Bowie exhibition, and design your own wearable electronic noise instrument.

Learn to build a simple synthesiser by soldering components onto a specially designed Printed Circuit Board, that can be embedded into a garment using conductive thread and soft circuit techniques. The tone of the instrument is manipulated using home-made stretch and pressure sensors.

This project was designed by MzTEK as part of the Hacked Human Orchestra, a production in collaboration with Guerilla Science.

Where

The V&A Digital Studio, Sackler Centre
Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

When

Saturday 23 March, 10.30 – 17.00

Sign up here

Especially for all you crafty techies in Norwich!

To celebrate the final day of our exhibition at Norwich Arts Centre, we are giving an introduction to soft-circuits on Saturday 9 March.  Come and make a fabric patch, or sample, that lights up when you move or press a button. You can attached your patch to garments or a bag for the ultimate in fashion accessories.

By using conductive thread, LEDs, and conductive materials, come and learn how to embed a ‘soft-circuit’ into fabric.

You will make a patch that can then be sewn or stuck using Velcro to your favourite t-shirt, bag or even your hat!  Alternatively, bring your own fabric or garment to sew the circuit onto directly.

Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich

Saturday 9 March : 10.30 – 4pm
£40.00
Women only

To mark the 95th Anniversary of The Representation of the People Act, which first allowed women to vote, Norwich Arts Centre has commissioned MzTEK to exhibit a selection of artefacts and photographs illustrating our work over the last 4 years.

Artefacts will include projects devised and developed through MzTEK workshops, the Hacked Human Orchestra wearable instruments, e-textiles, hardware, and the a selection of the amazing teapots from our Chi-TEK showcase of technologically modified teapots.

We will also be running a soft-circuit a workshop at 9th March at Norwich Arts Centre. More details coming soon.

Some very cool news…

We’re really excited to have been engaged by the Open Data Institute’s to manage their art commissions for their launch in December.

The UK’s groundbreaking Open Data Institute (ODI), an independent organisation led by Gavin Starks, and founded by Professors Sir Tim Berners-Lee (Inventor of the World Wide Web!!!)  and Nigel Shadbolt, is formally launching later this year.

We are inviting proposals for new or existing artworks to enhance the ODI’s premises in London.

We aim to engage at least 5 artists:

*    Existing or adapted works will be awarded £1,000

*    New commissions will receive up to £3,000

Submission deadline: 6pm Sunday 28th October 2012
You can find more details here

MzTEK hopes that by using our networks and reputation we can encourage a higher number than average of women applicants to this type of artists call. All to often the excuse for male only exhibitions is that there are no women out there working in this field, but we know that is so not true! This is why we are excited to have been asked to manage the ODI’s call.

MzTEK will be running two workshops at this years Digital Design Weekend at the V&A: Soft Circuit Robots & Introduction to Arduino…

Come and find us in the in the Seminar Room 1, Sackler Centre.

Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 September 2012

Soft Circuit Robots

Saturday 22 September
10.30 – 13.30 or 14.30 – 17.30
Celebrate the Alan Turing Year by creating your own cute soft-circuit chatbot with light-up eyes! Learn how to make crochet chains and buttons with conductive materials.

Sign up here for the Soft Circuit workshop.

Introduction to Arduino

Sunday 23 September
11.00 – 13.00 or 14.30 – 16.30

Learn the basics of interaction design with Arduino, how to use it, applications for creating interactive objects or environments and how to use a simple sensor for basic interaction.

Sign up here for the Intro to Arduino workshop.