For this project, we [Ed Bear & Lea Bertucci] will distribute hacked low power FM transmitters (called the iTrip) to artists of different creative disciplines and work with them to create artworks using, though not necessarily focusing on, this device. An express goal of this project is to empower artists with diverse technical backgrounds to create works using radio. This constitutes a social experiment involving creative responses to a common tool. Once an artist has completed their project, we will document the work for a book that will go to print early next year. This is a great opportunity to work with an extremely flexible piece of electronics and have your work published in a very sexy looking book. Selected artists will also be featured in free103point9’s Transmission Art Archive, broadcast to 78,000 potential listeners via WGXC 90.7 FM in upstate New York and invited to present their projects live in the summer of 2011.

Some background about the transmitter: We recently found these devices on ebay for about .80 cents a pop…. So we bought 500. The device’s original use was a way to listen to an Ipod through the car radio while driving.  As is, the iTrip can only take signal from a specific generation of Ipod, but with a little reprogramming, we have found a way to allow the device to be able to take any audio input. This opens up the iTrip to an array of artistic possibilities including audio effects, oscillators, wireless microphones, sensors, transmitters, micro-controller etc.   Because they are so cheap we can give you quite a few, if you want many.  While radio is the intended application, these things cost dimes on the dollar in just hardware so this could be a really cheap way to build a synth or performance gear, add some layers to visual or installation pieces, or just learn things.

Here is a link to the project website that has examples of projects in progress and more detailed technical info on the device: https://sites.google.com/site/exitrip2012/ and also: http://www.free103point9.org/works/496

An essential aspect of this project is to involve a diverse group of artists, some of whom have worked with creative electronics and transmission, and some who have not. We are looking to work closely with artists who need hands on assistance to work with the device, in order to further modify it to suit the needs of their projects.

To Apply:

-       Current CV

-       Link to a website or 5-10 images, sounds or video that best represents your previous work

-       A short (less than 2 pages) proposal of how you might like to work with the ExiTrip.

Deadline is Feb 15^th 2011. For questions, please email Edbearleab@gmail.com