All posts by nanotopian

Tosca Hidalgo y Terán is a part of Nanotopia. She is a Toronto based multidisciplinary artist. Born in San Francisco, California, Tosca relocated to Canada in 2001. Working with metals, computer coding, and animation since the mid-eighties, Tosca was introduced to glass as an artistic medium in 2004. Through developing bodies of work incorporating metal, glass, and electronics, Tosca has been awarded scholarships at The Corning Museum of Glass, Pilchuck Glass School and The Penland School of Crafts. Her work has been featured at SOFA New York, Culture Canada, Metalsmith Magazine, The Toronto Design Exchange, and the Memphis Metal Museum. Most recently, Tosca has been awarded residencies at Gullkistan Centre for Creativity, Nes artist residency Iceland, The Association of Icelandic Visual Artists and the Ayatana SciArt Research Program in Ottawa. Tosca founded nanopod: Hybrid Studio maker space in 2005. Continually exploring new materials and tools, Tosca started collaborating artistically with Algae, Physarum polycephalum, and Mycelium in 2016, translating biodata from non-human organisms into music. Mycelium Network Podcast, iTunes: https://goo.gl/95PdBe Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nanotopia/sets/midnight-mushroom-music http://www.toscateran.com

Bio-data Module building workshop

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Holiday gift-giving!

Collaborate sonically with the non-human organisms around you.
Workshop participants receive step by step guidance putting together their Modules and help in understanding how the device works. Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of soldering is very important. Here is a link to the Mighty Ohm’s, fullsoldercomic_en

“Bio-sonification,” basically means using technology to turn the bio-rhythms of living organisms into sound.
Biodata Sonification is a process to translate complex real-time sensor data into musical notes and controls, exploring auditory sensory modality to provide insights into invisible phenomenon. The Bio-Sonification module is a purpose-built circuit able to detect micro fluctuations in conductivity that have a duration between 1000th and 100,000th of a second.
While in Australia researching bio-sonification of Gum trees and Aussie fungi, Tosca was interviewed by ABCWhat do mushrooms sound like?
Curious to listen/hear what bio-sonification has taken place so far?
Check out the Midnight Mushroom Music podcast here!

Build a biodata to MIDI module

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Build your own portable Nanotopian MIDI Bio-Sonification Module to record and play-back Bio-Data from nature. 

Tuesday evening, December 3rd, 6:30pm start.  Module kits are  $45/pp for registered workshop participants.  The workshop is  $50/pp

Registered participants can purchase their kit on the day of the workshop or pay for their module in advance.

Reserve your seat soon, seats/kits sell out fast!

 

Collaborate sonically with the non-human organisms around you.
Workshop participants receive step by step guidance putting together their Modules and help in understanding how the device works.
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of soldering is very important. Here is a link to the Mighty Ohm’s, fullsoldercomic_en

The MIDI Bio-Sonification modules require MIDI connectors (Midi Into the Module).
Musical (instrument) shops sell them or check out Amazon, Moog Audio, Long and McQuade, etc
iConnectivity is great! They offer a package with both USB and Lightning connectors. Non-iPhone/Pad users can use a USB adaptor.
Here are some links for you to check and the Ableton LIVE 30-day trial link. We work with Ableton (have since its beginning) this is why we recommend it but there are other music production/editing apps out there!
Animoog is awesome and amazing and costs $29.99 through the app store: https://www.moogmusic.com/products/animoog
Propellerheads Reason Compact Free: https://www.propellerheads.com/reason-compact
AudioKit-Synth One: https://audiokitpro.com/synth/
Android synth apps

“Bio-sonification,” basically means using technology to turn the bio-rhythms of living organisms into sound.

Biodata Sonification is a process to translate complex real-time sensor data into musical notes and controls, exploring the auditory sensory modality to provide insights into invisible phenomenon.

Multi-species entanglements: Forming with Mycelium

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Multi-species entanglements: Forming with Mycelium • working with environmentally friendly, renewable materials
December 5th at InterAccess
SOLD OUT Special workshop for the Fantastic Fungi Futures events taking place around the movie screening at HotDocs 

Next Mycelium Bio-Materials workshop
is being planned for January 12, 2020

During this workshop, Tosca Terán introduces participants to the amazing potential of mycelium for collaboration at the intersection of art and science. Participants learn how to transform their kitchens and closets into safe, mini-Mycelium Biolabs, learn how to cultivate mycelium, and leave the workshop with a live Mycelium planter/bowl form, as well as a wide array of possibilities of how they might work with this sustainable bio-material.  All materials are provided.

Workshop includes:
1 round planter growth form
1 bag of substrate inoculated with Mycelium
Sculpting mix
Nitrile gloves
Particulate mask
Instructions

This workshop includes everything you need to grow a round planter, as well as hand-sculpt a small form plus, a full bag of substrate inoculated with mycelium! Suggestions on how to grow other forms or grow onto various armatures (3D printed, hand-knit/crocheted, wood structures, etc) will be discussed.

Various mycelium can be used in industrial design, art, architecture – the possibilities are seemingly endless!

Mycelium= the mass of interwoven filamentous hyphae that forms especially the vegetative portion of the thallus of a fungus and is often submerged in another body (as of soil or organic matter or the tissues of a host) aka mushroom roots

Artist-instructor Tosca Teran works with Mycelium collaboratively –
creating the Midnight Mushroom Music Podcast.
This year (2019) Tosca and Andrei (together forming Nanotopia) are offering workshops making Bio-Sonification Modules out of their shared studio space, Interaccess.org, UofT and abroad.
Personal: www.toscateran.com
Tosca was recently interviewed by, Ecovative Designs. Check out the
interview here, https://ecovativedesign.com/blog/178

Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of fine white filaments called hyphae aka Mushroom roots.

Nanotopian Bio Module workshop!

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Build your own portable Nanotopian MIDI Bio-Sonification Module to record and play-back Bio-Data from nature. 

Tuesday evening, December 3rd, 6:30pm start.  Module  kits  are  $45/pp for  registered  workshop  participants.  Workshop is  $50/pp

Registered participants can purchase their kit the day of the workshop or pay for their module in advance.

Reserve your seat soon, seats/kits sell out fast!

 

Collaborate sonically with the non-human organisms around you.
Workshop participants receive step by step guidance putting together their Modules and help in understanding how the device works.
This workshop will also cover Creating your own Custom Touch-Pads! Participants will create 1 or 2 touch pad/plates they can use to collect bio-data,  trigger sequencers,  and more! Details included upon registration.

Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of soldering is very important. Here is a link to the Mighty Ohm’s, fullsoldercomic_en

The MIDI Bio-Sonification modules require MIDI connectors (Midi In to the Module).
Musical (instrument) shops sell them or check out Amazon, Moog Audio, Long and McQuade, etc
iConnectivity is great! They offer a package with both USB and Lightening connectors. Non-iPhone/Pad users can use a USB adaptor.
Here are some links for you to check and the Ableton LIVE 30-day trial link. We work with Ableton (have since its beginning) this is why we recommend it but there are other music production/editing apps out there!
Animoog is awesome and amazing and costs $29.99 through the app store: https://www.moogmusic.com/products/animoog
Propellorheads Reason Compact Free: https://www.propellerheads.com/reason-compact
AudioKit-Synth One: https://audiokitpro.com/synth/
Android synth apps

“Bio-sonification,” basically means using technology to turn the bio-rhythms of living organisms into sound.

Biodata Sonification is a process to translate complex real-time sensor data into musical notes and controls, exploring the auditory sensory modality to provide insights into invisible phenomenon.

Fall Metal + Glass Workshop

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Learn how to form, fabricate, solder, set-stones in our 4 wk Metal + Glass course, etch, cast and more!

Almar’s cuttlebone cast from an 4/wk course in Iceland

Metal + Glass 4-week course Starts up Tuesday evening, October 29th and runs – 8 evenings. Tuesday & Thursday 6:30-9:30pm  $285/pp – limited seats!  

Only Fall course for 2019

evening #1: First evening: working with copper: safety, drilling, sawing. Adding textures.

evening #2: Making a ring band out of silver (stamp, hammer finish, roller print, etc.)

evening #3: Working with wax create a small piece w/the lost wax technique- to be cast in Sterling silver or brass (off-site).

evening #4: Finishing wax projects, Lo-tech casting with Cuttlefish bone.

evening #5: Fold-forming

evening #6: Enameling copper projects, forming, how to make your own basic findings.

evening #7: Bezel settings cabochon stones or fossils or crystals, or an enameled glass piece.

evening #8: Finish up projects  No experience necessary!

Copper, wax, glass, and some sterling silver are supplied*.  A list of local suppliers is included.   Questions concerning this course? Please see our FAQ’s

What’s included:
Approx 4×5” piece of copper sheet, 2’ copper wire, sterling silver for 1 ring band, fine silver bezel wire to set 1 cabochon-cut stone. Glass is included for casting/flame-working (whatever method is covered), silver solder to complete class projects, wax, 10 grams of sterling silver for casting (either cuttlefish or lost wax), powdered vitreous enamel, 1 doz saw blades, 1 1mm drill bit, 1 half-face particulate respirator, nitrile gloves, refractory materials for casting moulds.  Students are encouraged to supply their own cabochon cut stones, crystals, rocks, etc.

Additional materials not included: cabochon cut stone(s), extra sterling silver grain for lost wax castings, sterling silver sheet/plate for setting stones on/constructing other pieces.  Sterling silver casting grain may be purchased at $2.50gram.

The lab fees offer tools and materials for students to continue projects at home and start setting up their own studio.
Lab fee $150.00 (optional) what it includes:
adjustable jeweller’s bench pin, jeweller’s saw frame, 1 gross (144) jeweller’s saw blade assortment, 20 grams of sterling silver casting grain, 2″x2″ sterling silver plate.

Create your own custom Touch-Pads!

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Build your own Nanotopian MIDI Bio-Sonification Module w/customized touch-pads (!) and start listening to the biology around you!  

Seacliff life along Húnaflói Bay, Iceland.

Saturday, August 10th • 1pm to 5pm – $95/pp includes full module kit, step x step instruction. Basic soldering of electronics a plus! SOLD OUT

Collaborate sonically with the non-human organisms around you. Next time you go on a picnic bring along your Bio-sonification Module & listen to the sounds of the forest, how it responds to your presence then, place the electrodes onto your friends or hook up your houseplant and see how it really feels!
Students receive step by step guidance putting together their own Bio-Sonification Module kit and help in understanding how the device works.
Last half of the workshop participants place electrodes onto plants, fungi, themselves or each other and listen to their Bio-data through Ableton Live, Animoog, Model 15 (or similar digital music apps and analog synths) creating a Bio-Sonification Symphon

Each participant receives their very own Bio-Sonification Module kit, a Module container file that they can 3D print offsite, a set of electrodes and electrode pads.

This workshop will also cover Creating your own Custom Touch-Pads! Participants will create 1 or 2 touch pad/plates they can use to collect bio-data,  trigger sequencers,  and more! Details included upon registration.

Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of soldering is very important. Here is a link to the Mighty Ohm’s, fullsoldercomic_en Some Ableton Live knowledge is helpful, but not necessary!

Not included: 3 AA batteries, USB/Lightning to MIDI or MIDI to MIDI cables. These can be found at Moog Audio.
iConnectivity
Roland
Search under MIDI interfaces 

Bio-Sonification non-Human Collaboration August workshop!

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Saturday, August 10th • 1pm to 5pm – $95/pp includes full module kit, step x step instruction. Basic soldering of electronics a plus! SOLD OUT

Collaborate sonically with the non-human organisms around you. Next time you go on a picnic bring along your Bio-sonification Module & listen to the sounds of the forest, how it responds to your presence then, place the electrodes onto your friends or hook up your houseplant and see how it really feels!
Students receive step by step guidance putting together their own Bio-Sonification Module kit and help in understanding how the device works.
Last half of the workshop participants place electrodes onto plants, fungi, themselves or each other and listen to their Bio-data through Ableton Live, Animoog, Model 15 (or similar digital music apps and analog synths) creating a Bio-Sonification Symphony!

Each participant receives their very own Bio-Sonification Module kit, a Module container file that they can 3D print offsite, a set of electrodes and electrode pads.

Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of soldering is very important. Here is a link to the Mighty Ohm’s, fullsoldercomic_en Some Ableton Live knowledge is helpful, but not necessary!

Not included: 3 AA batteries, USB/Lightning to MIDI or MIDI to MIDI cables. These can be found at Moog Audio.
iConnectivity
Roland
Search under MIDI interfaces 

“Bio-sonification,” basically means using technology to turn the bio-rhythms of natural objects into sound.


Biodata Sonification is a process to translate complex real-time sensor data into musical notes and controls, exploring the auditory sensory modality to provide insights into invisible phenomenon.