Spacecowboys - a workshop about hybrid spaces ::  May 6-7, 2008 :: Z33,
Hasselt, Belgium :: 15-20 participants within a wide range of
disciplines Free.

Our feeling of space and place changes and refreshes constantly through
the interaction and communication possibilities of new media. Locations
and environments may be altered from public to a private and from
concrete to virtual through mobile technologies. These hybrid spaces
create emotional and aesthetic possibilities for artists to experiment
with. How do artists work with hybrid space and how do they make us
aware of the social and cultural implications?

This workshop will be moderated by John Hopkins. Speakers & guests:
Armin Medosh, Anne Nigten, Jeanne van Heeswijk, Eric Kluitenberg, Kurt
Vanhoutte, Peter Westenberg, Maja Kuzmanovic and Pieter van Bogaert.

During two workshop days we will think, talk and work around four
thematic
issues:

LOCAL-GLOBAL: The media has brought the  global world  closer to us.
They focus our attention on our local environment as it exists in a
globalised world. The concept of place can no longer be naively fenced
off from homogenous global networks. Globalisation processes have a
number of negative effects, but this is no reason to  suffer  them. In
that sense, artist s strategies to reveal the richness of diversity in a
global society are very valuable. Via their acts in spaces, they can
show us that there are still opportunities to claim our own space in a
world that we do not always seem to have a grip on.

PRIVATE-PUBLIC: Technology enables us to be constantly in contact with
places from a distance. This gives us enormous freedom. The shadow side
is that the same technology allows us to control more. Artists try to
draw attention to controlling networks that are not always visible to
us, such as databases, RFID (radiofrequency identification) of
surveillance cameras.
This enables us to interact with them more consciously and maybe even
break the connection now and again.

VISIBLE-INVISIBLE: The phenomenon of  ubiquitous computing  is about the
fact that technology is being integrated into our surroundings ever more
seamlessly . In many cases we no longer know where technology is
concealed, let alone how to manipulate it ourselves. Our air is full of
(polluting) radiation. Artists can reveal these invisible networks in
interesting ways using maps, visualisations or photos.

NARRATING-CREATING: Immersive environments, interactive story telling or
mapping tell us stories about our place in space. Artists often use
low-tech technologies in their work, as a reaction against the
glorification of technological intelligence. As a rule, these works
function more transparently or are easy to work with. They bring the
possibility of shaping your own space within reach, hereby stimulating a
Do-It-Yourself
(DIY) culture.

Sharing and mapping experiences, thoughts and visions around creative
expressions of hybrid space are the central goal. Every thematic issue
will be introduced by an international speaker who explains and
highlights the issue from his or her own experience, and a national
reporter who reflects upon the situation and possibilities for Flanders
(Dutch-speaking Belgium).The exhibition Place@Space at Z33 functions as
material for study during this workshop.

In general, traditional conferences, workshops, symposia, tend to a bit
of a
bore: keynote speakers are the central element and more often than not
little time is spent on an interesting discussion / conversation with
all participants on the topics dealt with. Most interesting talks are
held during the coffee break, the lunch or in the bar afterwards.
Besides this, these meetings are generally limited to only text and
minimal forms of visual expressions.

The Cowboy Methodology asks for an active engagement of each participant
in his/her own language/medium (text, still or moving image). In this
way the group of individuals are equally important as the keynote
speakers in front of the audience.

Keywords for this methodology are:

* openness

* the individual is empowered, but finds its value in connection to the
group

* passion

* transdisciplinary approach

* ad hoc connections generate long lasting relations

* meetings in real life are as equal as meetings in the virtual

*

The Cowboy Methodology heavily relies on the Open Space Technology which
proved its value in user generated conferences as BarCamps or
Unconferences.
And, of course, this methodology could not have existed without the
prototypical image of a cowboy: energetic, engaged, in solitude, but
aware & depending of the others in his community, Yihaa!

The findings, conclusions, new questions and other output of this
workshop will be brought together on the website and in a printed
publication.

http://transition.turbulence.org/blog/2008/03/20/spacecowboys-hybrid-spa
ce-hasselt/