October Newsletter

October 27, 2010 by · Comments Off on October Newsletter 

October 2010 Newsletter

A roundup of activities, projects, events, publications and other assorted good things/mischief which we’ve been up to recently.

NOW & UPCOMING

CITY AS MATERIAL EVENTS
Proboscis is hosting 5 fortnightly participatory publishing events at our studio from October 15th to December 10th 2010. Each event has a special guest and a topic serving as the focus for producing a collaborative publication/zine (using bookleteer.com) which will be printed in small editions using bookleteer’s PPOD service.
The first event on Streetscapes with guest Tim Wright took place on Oct 15;
The next event on River with guest Ben Eastop is on Friday 29th Oct;
The third event on Skylines with guest Simon Pope will be in November 12th.
http://cityasmaterial.eventbrite.com/

AUTUMN OFFER – 60% OFF SPECIAL SET
To help raise funds for a new security system at the studio (after our 2nd break in this year) we are offering a massive 60% discount on a special set of our previous bookworks : the Social Tapestries Case of Perspectives, Alice Angus’ Endless Landscape Magnets and the Being In Common: Catalogue of Ideas deck of cards.
http://proboscis.org.uk/store.html#offers

NEW STORYCUBE SIZES
We have recently introduced a new medium size StoryCube (82x82x82mm) that is available both as an option to design your own personalised StoryCubes with bookleteer.com and also in packs of blanks to buy for workshops, projects and activities.
http://storycubes.net

DODOLAB WINDSOR/DETROIT
Giles will be collaborating with DodoLab in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan as part of their ongoing project with Broken City Lab in November.
http://proboscis.org.uk/projects/dodolab-collaboration/

AS IT COMES
Alice has been commissioned by Mid-Pennine Arts to create a new site-specific work in Lancaster in response to the history and future of local trade and independent shops which launches on 10 November and on 4th December there will be a talk and walk-round in the city.
http://lancasterasitcomes.wordpress.com/

TANGLED THREADS
Proboscis is developing a new film about our work with sensors, mapping, mobile technologies and community for an upcoming online exhibition curated by Jeremy Height of the MIT Locative Media Institute. Mandy Tang has created a storyboard for the film which has been published as a Diffusion eBook with pop-ups.
http://proboscis.org.uk/1927/tangled-threads/

NEW BOOKLETEER FEATURES
Over the summer we’ve made a number of changes and added some new features to make bookleteer easier and better to use. Its free to join and create your own Diffusion eBooks and StoryCubes. You can also order professionally printed and bound versions via our exclusive PPOD service. We also have a supporters’ club which ‘crowdsources’ donations towards the costs of developing and maintaining the platform – members get benefits such as discounts on PPOD orders and other freebies.
http://bookleteer.com
http://bookleteer.com/blog/pod/
http://bookleteer.com/blog/alpha-club/

RECENT ACTIVITY

GRAFFITO AT VINTAGE & TENT DIGITAL
Graffito, a free collaborative drawing app for iPhones/iPads, was shown during the summer at the Vintage@Goodwood Festival and then at Tent Digital as part of the London Design Festival. Graffito is a collaboration between BigDog interactive, Queen Mary University of London, University of Nottingham, University of Glasgow and Proboscis, funded by the Horizon Digital Economy Research Institute. Download it from the App Store and play on its global canvas today.
http://proboscis.org.uk/tag/graffito

100 VIEWS OF WORTHING PIER
Alice was commissioned by Artistsandmakers to create new work for Worthing Pier as part of Pier Day/Made in Worthing Festival in September.
http://proboscis.org.uk/1951/100-views-of-worthing-pier-tall-tales-ghosts-and-imaginings/

SEVEN DAYS IN SEVEN DIALS
Proboscis was one of several partners helping young placements in the Culture Quarter programme explore and create new works about the Seven Dials area of Covent Garden. Alice, and our own placements Karine & Shalene, worked with the other young people to create a series of Diffusion eBooks using bookleteer.com
http://proboscis.org.uk/1738/seven-days-in-seven-dials/

DODOLAB RIJEKA
Proboscis took part in DodoLab’s creative intervention in the city of Rijeka, Croatia in June, Alice is making a new animation about the role of the market in city life and Proboscis were helping create and print StoryCubes and Diffusion eBooks.
http://proboscis.org.uk/tag/dodolab/

CREATIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAMME
Proboscis has developed a new creative placement programme in partnership with New Deal of the Mind and the London Borough of Islington. During 2010-11 we will be hosting 7 placements (funded through the Future Jobs Fund). The roles include: communication assistant, creative assistant, marketing assistant, education assistant and web development assistant. Two people have now completed their placements with us, Karine Dorset and Shalene Barnett – you can read their reports on their experiences here:
http://proboscis.org.uk/tag/placement-report/

NEW DIFFUSION TITLES

Below is a list of new titles of downloadable Diffusion eBooks and StoryCubes published on http://diffusion.org.uk since our last newsletter

The Stories So far… by Cartoon de Salvo http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2193
The UnBooklet of Diasappropriation: Situated Moments from the City http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2188
Passivhaus Field Trip eNotebook by Rob Annable http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2182
Streetscapes eNotebook by Proboscis http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2175
Tangled Threads by Mandy Tang http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2171
Graffito by BigDog Interactive & Proboscis http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2146
Topographies and Tales StoryCubes by Alice Angus & Joyce Majiski http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2140A StoryCube about bookleteer.com by Proboscis http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2135
My Work at Proboscis by Karine Dorset http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2130
Bird Song by Melissa Bliss http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2122
Graffito Vintage Festival ScrapBook by Jennifer Sheridan http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2115
Ode to Dawson by Joyce Majiski & John Steins http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2111
Excavations in the Temple Precinct of Dangeil, Sudan by Julie Anderson & Salah Mohamed Ahmed http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2108
Seven Days in Seven Dials by Proboscis http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2096
What Type Are You? A StoryCube Game by Mandy Tang http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2090
Scribbles by Hazem Tagiuri http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2087
Cosmo China 20th Anniversary Exhibition http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2081
Cocktail Recipes by Karine Dorset http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2076
Greenhill eBooks by Gillian Cowell http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2069
Rijeka Pier (RIBA RIBI GRIZE REP) by DodoLab http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2066
Kitchener African Canadian Workshop by DodoLab http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2054
Meet Us At Kont by DodoLab http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2060
Rijeka, City of Diversities by DodoLab http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2051
Rijeka Work Book by DodoLab http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2047
In-site Toronto by YZO http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2039
Schedulers by Alice Angus http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2023
My Thought Book & StoryCube by Shalene Barnett http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2019
Cook ‘N’ Colour by Karine Dorset http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2016
DodoLab: Island Stories Book 1 by Andrew Hunter & Paula Jean Cowan http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2011
The Coalition: our programme for government by HMG http://diffusion.org.uk/?p=2008

Graffito @ Tent Digital

October 6, 2010 by · Comments Off on Graffito @ Tent Digital 

The other week I had another chance to help the Graffito crew, this time exhibiting at Tent Digital in the Old Truman Brewery, as part of the London Design festival. I popped down on Thursday and Friday to lend a hand showcasing it, in much the same way as the Vintage at Goodwood festival; getting visitors to collaboratively doodle on an iPhone or iPad, their handiwork being displayed via a projector onto a large screen. This time however, the focus was very much on Graffito in its own right, rather then part of a festival arena. Many visitors were in the design industry and were considering larger implications for Graffito, which meant diverting many of the more technical questions to Nick and Jenn, the developers. I was content to continue doodling, and now I can boast impressive renditions of a rabbit, a rural landscape, and a raincloud, very topical considering the weather outside.

There seemed to be a lot more collaborative drawing this time around, with people adding to drawings by others, perhaps due to the more focused interaction in a smaller space. The eBook created for the event by Giles proved to be very popular – we even had to restrict the amount available at any time to avoid being empty handed on the remaining days.

Keep doodling!

FJF Placement Opportunity: Marketing/Business Development Assistant

October 5, 2010 by · Comments Off on FJF Placement Opportunity: Marketing/Business Development Assistant 

*** Update 22/10/2010 : this vacancy has been filled ***

Are you aged between 18-24 and receiving Job Seekers Allowance?
Want to gain experience working in a creative company?

Proboscis is recruiting for a new Future Jobs Fund Placement (6 months at 25 hours per week) to join our team. We’re looking for someone who has a keen eye for detail and strong communication skills, someone who’ll want to help us reach new audiences, engage new participants and help our projects have a bigger impact.

To Apply : contact/visit a JobCentrePlus quoting reference CTE/154611
This placement is offered through our partnership with New Deal of the Mind

Marketing/Business Development Assistant Placement (NDotM FJF)
Role: Marketing/Business Development Assistant
Location: Central London (Clerkenwell)
Salary: £6.14 per hour
Job Type: Part-time 25 hours per week, 6 month placement

Person Specification
Are you interested in social media, art, creative technology and social engagement?
Can you communicate complex ideas in a simple and understandable way to different audiences?
Would you like to be part of a small dynamic creative artist studio which creates innovative projects?

The role of marketing assistant is for a highly motivated individual to help us communicate our work to diverse new audiences and to help us develop new business opportunities to promote growth, resilience and sustainability.

Duties
– support the creative team to communicate a range of projects to different audiences
– produce and disseminate marketing materials for different projects and activities using social and traditional media
– research & identify new business opportunities and markets for our projects, platforms and products

Requirements
– ability to work in a small team
– interest in arts, film, social media, design, culture and people
– experience of marketing, PR or business development
– familiarity with computers, the internet and social networking tools
– self-motivation
– willingness to learn new skills and take on personal challenges

Applications
All candidates should submit an up-to-date CV, with two references (where possible) and a covering letter explaining your interest and suitability for the job.

Eligibility
You must be aged 18-24, be unemployed and claiming Jobseekers Allowance for 6-12 months. Other JSA claimants aged 18-24 may also be eligible regardless of how long they’ve been claiming the benefit (please check with your Adviser).

FJF Placement Opportunity : Education Assistant

October 5, 2010 by · Comments Off on FJF Placement Opportunity : Education Assistant 

*** Update 14/10/2010 : this vacancy now closed ***

Are you aged between 18-24 and receiving Job Seekers Allowance?
Want to gain experience working in a creative company?

Proboscis is recruiting for a new Future Jobs Fund Placement (6 months at 25 hours per week) to join our team. We’re looking for someone who is passionate about working with learners of different ages and engaging them in new creative experiences.

To Apply : contact/visit a JobCentrePlus quoting reference CTE/154610
This placement is offered through our partnership with New Deal of the Mind

Education Assistant Placement (NDotM FJF)
Role: Education Assistant
Location: Central London (Clerkenwell)
Salary: £6.14 per hour
Job Type: Part-time 25 hours per week, 6 month placement

Person Specification
Are you interested in working with children and young people on creative projects combining the internet, publishing, arts and design?
Would you like to be part of a small dynamic creative artist studio working with children and young people using our innovative bookleteer.com publishing platform?

The role of education assistant is for a highly motivated individual interested in creativity, art, film, social networking tools, internet, design, culture and people to work as an assistant on education projects in a school and with other young people using bookleteer.com to help young people create their own publications.

Duties
– be part of a creative team
– act as the key contact for education projects
– work with children and young people on creative projects in schools and other venues
– work with our partners (teachers, artists, writers etc) to design and deliver projects and workshops with children and young people
– research & identify opportunities for new partnerships and collaboration in education and learning

Requirements
– ability to work in a small team
– interest in arts, film, social media, design, culture and people
– experience of working with children or young people in an education or learning environment (school, youth group, etc)
– familiarity with computers, the internet and social networking tools
– self-motivation
– willingness to learn new skills and take on personal challenges
– CRB check required (can be obtained on appointment).

Applications
All candidates should submit an up-to-date CV, with two references (where possible) and a covering letter explaining your interest and suitability for the job.

Eligibility
You must be aged 18-24, be unemployed and claiming Jobseekers Allowance for 6-12 months. Other JSA claimants aged 18-24 may also be eligible regardless of how long they’ve been claiming the benefit (please check with your Adviser).

Autumn 2010 Special Offer/Fundraiser

October 1, 2010 by · 1 Comment 

Last weekend the Proboscis studio was burgled for the 2nd time this year. As a result we need to install a new alarm and security system (costing over £2k) so we’re hoping to raise funds for it with a special offer on some of our publications.

We’ve bundled together 100 copies of the Social Tapestries Case of Perspectives, Alice’s Endless Landscape Magnet Set & the Catalogue of Ideas from our Being In Common project – all for less than 50% of their combined usual price.

The magnets and cards make ideal gifts, while the Case of Perspectives is a limited edition artists bookwork created by Alice and me as part of the Urban Tapestries and Social Tapestries projects.

*** Buy your set here ***