21st CENTURY RETRO-FUTURISTS
8-Bit Micro-Chip Music & Video
@ The Taubman Museum/ ArtVenture

NOW RUNNING - FROM MARCH 29TH 2009
@ The Taubman Museum ArtVenture.

CONCEPT: An interactive audio and visual electronic music installation, with special focus on the fast growing 8-bit and circuit-bending online & international community of video game hardware hackers/ homebrewers whose music is arranged and performed primarily on lo-bit handheld gaming devices such as gameboys, vintage video game consoles such as the Atari 2600, and obsolete 8-bit home computers, like the Commodore 64, revered for the rich and distinctive sound of their lo-bit microchips. This video game-influenced branch of electronic music, sometimes referred to as chiptune, bitpop or just 8-bit, has developed a flourishing international live scene, and is one of the first new genres of music to use the internet to its fullest advantage, with the advent of homebrewed synth cartridges and hacker influenced musical tools.

MISSION: To involve and educate visitors of all ages in the creation of electronic music and video through the interactive technology of re-tooled 8-bit video game hardware and handheld devices through workshops and the stand-alone installation(s) such as GameBoys utilizing Nanoloop firmware.

CURATION: Jeremy Kolosine, born in London, currently runs the Receptors Music lo-bit record label from Roanoke, Virginia. He is an active chip musician, utilizing mostly lo-bit handheld and game-console sound chips. He has performed at the Blip, and Bent Festivals in NYC as well as at showcases such as SXSW and Iceland Airwaves Festivals. In 2007 he performed the 1st ever circuit-bent performance with a full orchestra ( w The Roanoke Symphony) and executive-produced the "8-Bit Operators" CD/vinyl release for EMI/Astralwerks worldwide. In the late 1970's Kolosine founded the pioneering electronic group Futurisk, and has also released a string of vinyl and CD releases under the name Ksine ,and with the group Shakespace. For more info http://receptorsmusic.com

Here's the press release.


The Taubman museum of Art, Roanoke, Virginia.