Presenter Profile: Tom Grady

Presenter Tom Grady:
Over the summer Tom curated the "Drawn to Life" exhibit at ARTSWorcester about which he wrote:
"The common thread among all the work is an affirmation of existence, a new humanism, which includes both the beautiful and the ugly.  Visible and invisible reality holds equal importance and the artist is free to make work that speaks to both."

The idea of humanism is also reflected in Tom's personal body of work. Learn more about this and his other influences at PechaKucha Night Vol 6 at The Hanover Theatre.

Tom's Bio:

Tom studied at The Rhode Island School of Design (BFA, Illustration) and the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University (MFA, Visual Art).  He is currently visiting assistant professor of studio art at Assumption College in Worcester Massachusetts teaching drawing and painting.  He also teaches youth and adult classes at the Worcester Art Museum.

Tom’s oil paintings focus on the revisioning of the figure through a quiet restrained contemplation, which collides with a sensuous painterly approach.  The tension between the mundane and the provocative the unconscious and the conscious is the setting for the psychological narrative confronting the viewer. His work will be featured in a solo exhibition at the Copley Society of Art in Boston starting October 14 through November 12.

TOMGRADYSTUDIO.COM 

Vol 5 at Razzo Hall, April 25th 2010

The Worldwide Pecha Kucha phenomenon has been sweeping Worcester for the past year, attracting capacity crowds to watch and listen to some of Central Massachusetts' most creative and interesting presenters.


Drawing its name from the Japanese phrase for the sound of conversation ("chit chat"), the PechaKucha format is simple – 20 images x 20 seconds – and designed to keep presentations concise and moving at a rapid pace.

Sunday night is sure to be a fantastic time---look forward to seeing you there!

Come see what all the chit chat is about!

Sunday, April 25, 2010
7:20pm - 11:20pm
Razzo Hall/Clark University Worcester, MA
Seating limited to first 190 people. Razzo Hall is located at 92 Downing Street Worcester Ma

RSVP on Facebook: Pecha Kucha Worcester Vol 5

Presenter Profile: Matthew Trimble and Garett Hwang

Presenters Matt Trimble and Garett Hwang:

These designers extraordinaire that hail from MIT's School of Architecture and Planning, aim to take ideas and see them into "progressively more realized forms". Working together with their diverse backgrounds they come up with some fascinatingly intricate products like this lamp:

For Pecha Kucha Night, Garett and Matt will be presenting some of their recent work, focusing on projects that have elicited the development of products. Taking cues from their emergent language and process of making, the design of each product interweaves the framework of established precedents with exploratory methods evoked from the use of CNC prototyping. machines, traditional wood shop tools, and hand-made models.

Matt Trimble and Garett Hwang are the principals of Radlab, Inc, a multidisciplinary design and fabrication consulting firm located in Boston, MA.  The scope of Radlab's work includes architecture, design computing, digital fabrication, and product development. These areas are viewed as uniquely distinguishable, and yet distinctly complimentary. At Radlab, opportunities for exercising disciplinary combination's are always on the agenda.

Garett and Matt met in 2004 as graduate students at MIT's School of Architecture and Planning, where among other things, they pursued their mutual interest in computational design and rapid prototyping. Their unique backgrounds serve to promote a rich culture of experimentation, with work experience between them that spans from Ai Wei Wei's FAKE Design in Beijing to Neil M. Denari Architects in Los Angeles.

Presenter Profile: Michael Born

Special guest speaker from Pecha Kucha Boston #10: Architectural Illustrator Michael Born.

Remember when you used to have fun drawing as a kid? How did everything get so technical?  In his work as an architectural illustrator, Michael Born has worked in many different styles.  Along the way he has learned that the real goal of illustration is communication.  Even the simplest of drawings can spark emotion and engagement in a client or audience.

Michael sparks that emotional connection in a way that photorealism cannot, by melding classic rendering artistry with cutting edge tools including Sketchup, Photoshop and Wacom pen tablets.

He will be presenting on the compelling uses for these techniques, including such surprising applications as an intriguing virtual walking tour of Beacon Hill based on an 1849 murder mystery.


You can follow Michael Born on Twitter and see more of his work here:
http://www.bornillustration.com/Born_Illustration_|_Home.html

http://twitter.com/mikeborn

Michael Born speaking at Pecha Kucha Boston Vol. 10

Presenter Profiles: Karl Connolly and Nicole Connolly

Introducing Karl and Nicole Connolly, presenters for Pecha Kucha Worcester Vol. 3. Nicole loves to inspire people to travel to new places around the world and Karl wants to make you dance!

Karl Connolly "I was born and raised in Ireland and in 1991 after attending one of the first Rave parties in Dublin I became hooked on electronic music.

The then emerging Rave scene was new, fresh, exciting, and the DJs were suddenly being cast in a new light – they were rapidly becoming the new stars.

I was amazed at the way the DJ was controlling the entire room, and the music had a grip on every clubber in the place."

Karl Connolly will be presenting on the history of club DJ'ing as well as the process of mixing music live. ALSO he will be performing for the event! So if you love to dance you don't want to miss 3 Live Dj sets by DJ Karleboy at 7:20, 9 and 10 pm. Lights and sound provided by Funzalo Light and Sound

Nicole Connolly:

Featuring images from 2009 trips to Iceland, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden and Heidelberg. Nicole will share her excitement for travel photography, how to she prepares for the trips and some funny stories that happen along the way.

Nicole was born and raised in a small town close to Stuttgart, Germany. As a child she spent her summers in Hungary visiting her grandmother where life on a small farm and the natural beauty of her surroundings left a big impression on her.
 

"I believe in taking images which use basic colors, natural light, clean lines and simple forms. To achieve a focused and pure picture I like to get very close to my subject and capture the moment when the elements come together in perfect harmony."

"I try to remind myself how important it is not to lose that little bit of a child in me, and look at the world in that curious, innocent and playful manner. I try to incorporate those characteristics into my work."

PKN 3 Presenter Profile: Antonio Fonseca

Photo by Donna Dufault from the 20 Artists of Worcester Gallery Show

Although I had been to open studios at 12 Crane in Southbridge and saw Antonio's impressive work in progress there; I never got to meet this wonderful sweet natured artist until last years 20 Artists of Worcester project. At that time I learned more about the global reach his artwork has attained. Not only is Antonio Fonseca one of the most valuable modern Puerto Rican artists; he also makes an impact in the Worcester area, serving as a juror for Artsworcester exhibits as well as speaking out at Worcester State College about the challenges artists face in our local economy. We are so lucky that he was not abroad this January and I am so happy to announce that he is presenting at Pecha Kucha Worcester Vol. 3!

Antonio Fonseca

Identity and Arts: Being an Individual through the globalization of arts.

Antonio Fonseca will use a selection of artwork from his early days until now to
lluminate how he maintains his identity as a Puerto Rican Rican, and
defines himself as he approaches cultural issues around the world..
See more of his work here:
http://www.viotagallery.com/

Antonio Fonseca Bio
Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico in 1972. During his youth he received an associate degree from the Republic of Costa Rica Vocational School in Illustrative and Commercial Arts in Caguas Puerto Rico (1989). Fonseca received his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the School of Fine Arts of Puerto Rico Specializing in Printmaking and Art Education in (1997). Studied under the guidance of such renown artists such as Domingo Garcia, Haydee Landing, Consuelo Gotay, Jose Alicea, Ismael Diepa, Antonio Martorell, Myrna Baez, Susana Herrero, and Jamie Suarez. Also worked and specialized in non-toxic printmaking under the guidance of Keith Howard. Also attended courses collaborative printmaking through Tamarind Institute (1998). Received a master’s degree in Fine Arts (printmaking) from Cornell University (1999). At Cornell University he studied under recognized artist such as David Diao, Stephen Poleskie, Greg Page. Victor Kord, Kay WalkingStick, and Todd McGrain.

Antonio Fonseca has been awarded several distinctions. In 1994 he won the Second Biennial of Fine Arts of Casa Roig Museum in Humacao, Puerto Rico. In 1997, he received a “Fellowship Award” from the University of Cornell in Ithaca, New York. Later in 1998, Fonseca received the distinction of the best individual showing awarded by the Puerto Rico chapter of the International Art Critics’ Association. In 1999 he received an honorable mention in “Arte Joven” in the Ponce Art Museum and an honorable mention in the 3oth International Painting Fair in the Cagnes-Sur-Mer Museum on the French Riviera. He also received recognition from the AICA, recognition from the city of Caguas and its mayor for his labor. Again at his second invitation to the International Painting Fair in France he received the third place award, year in which Puerto Rico swiped the three main awards. Fonseca has exhibited world wide in countries such as China, Europe and South America and is now known to be one of the most valuable contemporary artist of Puerto Rico.

Pecha Kucha Worcester in Artscope Magazine #23

A review of PKN Worcester Vol 2 by Brian Goslow is in Artscope Magazine's Nov/Dec issue. Pick up the magazine to read the full article. Copies are available at ARTSWorcester and Worcester Art Museum Library.
Thanks Brian!

Al Dancy on Pecha Kucha Worcester

{Al Dancy working it at the front table}

By way of Twitter today, I discovered Al Dancy's blog Al Dancy Speaks, I am reposting his reaction to our last event because, in his words about PKN, "it rocks"...

from his blog, in his words:
Peka-Chu’s, Chupacabra’s and Pecha Kucha Night Worcester
October 5, 2009 — aldancyspeaks

The question may be rolling around your head with that title, “Has Al finally lost whatever was left of his mind?” And my reply is “YES!” But it shouldn’t be the title that gave that away.
Sunday night, September 14th I attended and volunteered at Pecha Kucha Worcester Night 2. First of all Michelle, Cindy and Scott did another amazing job. Their hard work certainly showed!
“Pecha Ku-Waaa??”

I know it’s a strange looking, and even stranger sounding name, but trust me it is all too cool!
It’s pronounced Peh Chah Kuh Chah, or at least that’s what I heard people calling it. Whatever you call it, Pecha Kucha Night has become something my wife and I are amped about. We are so excited to see how this event impacts our community. We attended the Pecha Kucha Worcetser 1st night and we were so pumped by what we saw, heard and experienced that we were determinined that we would be at the next one and the one after that, and…Well, you get the idea. Basically, it rocks!

Pecha Kucha is the community driven offspring of Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham. It started in 2003 and created “as a place for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public.” Check link for a descriptionand history of Pecha Kucha.

Last night’s showing was amazing. There were photographers, painters, and type setters (I had no idea what that was until last night).The highlight of the night to me was the Stu “Dr. Gonzo” Etsy’s presentation on community. It was perfectly fitting for that night. I had a blast, I laughed, I was challenged, and walked away thinking about some things. I have been asking myself since, “how am I investing, impacting, and changing my community for better?”

Make sure you get off your duff and get down to the next Pecha Kucha night, January 24, 2010.
Livin’ Out Loud,
Al

Back to my words:
{Thank you Al and everyone attending for your continued support, and creative spirit. Now get out there and fire other people up about Pecha Kucha #3, January 24th at a top secret, undisclosed location near you.}

Presenter Profiles: Jeff Baker, Keith Cross, Michael Gennert

Tech Head, Letterpress, Robots

Pecha Kucha Night is excited to introduce you to three more presenters!

Jeff Baker- Photographer
Keith Cross- Designer
Michael Gennert- Robotics

Join us to hear what all 8 of our presenters have to share!
Sept 13th 2009 doors open at 7:20 for mingling - hors d'oeuvres compliments of 55 Pearl - Cash Bar - presentations start at 8:20.
55 Pearl Street Worcester Ma



Jeff Baker has been running Visions by Baker since 1993. He describes himself as a photographer of people and the life events we share and has traveled across the globe, from Las Vegas to Ohio and to Japan to capture these life events. He's a multi-award winning and nationally certified photographer.

He tells me that he has had a creative heart since he was a child and goes on to say...

"My Grandfather gave me my first camera when I was about 10 years old. Professional training may teach how to use a camera, but his guiding eye helped me learn to see. Photography gives me balance between the logical and the creative, the left brain and the right brain. My Grandfather's guiding eye, together with today's photographic tools, provide the combination that allows me to focus on my art, my vision, of people around me."

Jeffery A. Baker Sr., CPP.
Visions by Baker Photography, LLC.
www.VisionsbyBaker.com
508-769-6113


Keith Cross is keeping Letterpress Alive


Check out this video on Letterpress Video Credit goes to Boaz Sender

"Letterpress has seen a tremendous surge in popularity and interest over the past ten to fifteen years. The subtle yet seductive bite of letterpress thrills and delights designers and typophiles who crave tactile experiences in their RGB lives. Once considered by some a "hobby" or an "obsolete" printing technology, letterpress printing is now a "niche market" for those catering to well-trained eyes and, often, well-heeled clients. I most value letterpress as a teaching tool, albeit a very cumbersome one. In my letterpress classes at the Massachusetts College of Art I teach a new generation of design students the origins of their craft, help them visualize their designs in new (well, old) ways and afford them the patience to consider the possibilities." Keith Cross



Keith Cross is a designer, letterpress printer, educator and head honcho at Milk Row Studio,a creative branding and design operation in Worcester. Keith studied graphic design and printmaking and at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Milk Row Press, now Milk Row Studio, was named after the Milk Row Cemetery in Somerville, MA. These days, Keith is keeping the tradition of letterpress ALIVE by teaching letterpress classes at his alma mater's MassArt Press. He is a member and former President of The Letterpress Guild of New England and a member of the Society of Printers.


Mike Gennert is Department Head of the Computer Science Department and co-founder and Director of the Robotics Engineering Program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His research includes Robotics, Computer Vision, Image Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Scientific Databases, and Programming Languages. He owns 8 M.C. Escher ties, a cat, and a robot.

PKN #2 Presenter Profile: Trisha Barry

I met Trisha Barry about a year ago, as she was finishing up a photography project in Gardener, she told me that she tells stories through her photographs. The project in Gardener had intrigued her because one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in the country was closing up shop, laying off all the workers,and going out of business. She got into the factory and documented everything, talking to the workers, watching them at their craft seeing them leave on their final days, and as I heard her tell this story I too became intrigued. What other stories did she tell? A year with a farmer, six months at sea with a fisherman.

Trisha Barry tells stories through photographs, and as I type this blog I realize I can not tell her stories better than her. So here is a clip from the story she will share for Pecha Kucha Night

TWELVE MONTHS WITH A NEW ENGLAND FARMER

"It was the first snow fall of the winter that took me to the country roads of Warwick, MA to photograph. It was the old farm equipment all strewn about covered with snow, the unusual old barn, and what looked like discarded possessions everywhere that made me stop. Out of nowhere, a man appeared. He had piercing blue eyes, a white beard, and a worn hat with old nails, one on each side turning the brim up. He was dressed in farmer jeans and a flannel shirt. An instantaneous connection was made. I knew at the very moment I met him, there were a story to be told, and a friend to be made. His name was Ken Hubbard.
My curiosity led me to go back repeatedly and learn more. Discovering more with each visit, realizing as much character I saw in his face he had in his soul. Everything had a purpose, a history, and nothing was thrown away..."


photo courtesy of Trisha Barry. © All Rights Reserved

Artist Bio
Fine art photographer Trisha Barry focuses on people. Her photographic essays are less about portraits of people but more about portraits of life. She states...“Everything and everybody has a history and a story, and my passion has led me to telling these stories, these “life portraits”, artistic documentations of people and life, images that preserve that moment in time, that “disappearing presence.” Motivating intuition that inspires meaning is the driving force behind her work.
Graduating from Mass College of Art with a degree in Fibers her early years were spent exploring the possibilities beyond the loom with different fibers creating sculptural pieces and vessels.
After graduating from college she began working with mixed media pieces incorporating her photographs creating visual stories with her viewers. It was then she realized she was leaning toward the photographic medium as a fine art.
Initially working with film in black and white she began showing her work and earning recognition. Her work involves exploring the life's of people. Always wanting to know more about her subject she spends time with them developing a more personal approach to her storytelling.
“Trisha ability to look beneath the surface creates powerful visual dialogues that find true meaning in the simple things. Her photography is like beautiful poetry capturing pieces of vanishing America “,,, Fred Martins creative director of Tiziani Whitmyre.

PKN Worcester Vol. 2

Pecha Kucha Night Worcester Vol. 2 at 55 Pearl Sunday Sept 13th 2009 in the GAR Hall.

Join us for an evening of creative chit-chat set in the historic Bull Mansion.

Recognized by the National Registry of Historic Places the Bull Mansion is know for its high Victorian Architecture. Innovation meets history at this restaurant where Chef Ian Hickey redefines New England cuisine. Pecha Kucha Night is taking over the mansions GAR Hall to present 8 speakers sharing their own passion, ideas and innovation.

The Pecha Kucha format has spread globally, and is hosted in over 226 cities worldwide. Come see what all the chit- chat is about.

http://www.pecha-kucha.org/cities/worcester

Inspired By Dickenson and Hauschka

Worcester Volumne 1 speaker John Herman spoke about inspiration through collaboration, and mentioned a one minute film that was inspired by hearing German composer Hauschka.
Here is the result of their collaboration.