"This Is Not Art" Festival
2002
Unfortunately I was unable to go to This Is Not Art festival this year (2nd-7th October 2002), .I will have to wait till October next year.
Thousands of artists, writers, musicians, and computer programmers are attracted to Newcastle from all over the world for this fabulous festival of creativity. People enthusiastically share ideas and techniques in hundreds of talks and workshops the way scientists, artists, and craftspeople used to, once upon a time.
The awesome organisers are a small crew of cool, informal people who call themselves Octapod.
2001
Wow! I went to the This Is Not Art festival again.It was a wonderful experience yet again.
Thousands of artists, writers, musicians, and computer programmers are attracted to Newcastle from all over the world for this fabulous festival of creativity.
I am in awe of the organisers: a small crew of cool, informal people who call themselves Octapod.
This Is Not Art is almost entirely free. People enthusiastically share ideas and techniques in hundreds of talks and workshops the way scientists, artists, and craftspeople used to, once upon a time. I hope it continues in that fashion. That will ensure that it retains its alternative flavor and continues to attract agile young minds with fresh ideas.
I fully expect This Is Not Art to become one of the biggest and most important festivals in the world. It is growing in size each year. This year there were more than 300 people giving 200 talks and workshops, and god knows how many music and VJ performances, with thousands attending over the 6 days.
2000
Over the 5 days 5th-9th October 2000, a most amazing festival was held in Newcastle, NSW, Australia.It was actually 5 festivals in one:
|
Independant Radio Conference National Independant Labels Conference National Student Media Conference National Young Writers Festival |
It was my good fortune to be invited to give some talks about Virtual Reality (see below for the text of my talks). That was an experience like nothing before in my life. I have been to conferences, meetings, and festivals before. Many of them have been outstanding, and invigorating, but none inspired, uplifted and exhausted me the way this did. Including the music and other performances there were more than 250 events crammed into those 5 days, presented, panelled, or performed by a small army of more than 300 people. Goodwill, optimism, and intelligence abounded.
Incredibly, the core of organisers was no giant institution, but a tiny
group of about a dozen extraordinary individuals operating out of a non-profit
group called Octapod.
I hope the people of Newcastle know what a brilliant gem is growing
in their midst.
Symbiotic Systems and Luke Ilett also gave some presentations and talks. I urge you to go check them out. They are based in Brisbane and are Luke Ilett, Anita J, Patrick King, and Shannon Caltrow. This talented young crew will go far.