Getting Bent: Circuitbending, Hacked Instruments and The Bent Festival
It’s always amazed me that circuitbending isn’t a more common topic of conversation here in New York City. Considering its role as a convergence of science, art and music, its a wonder that this unique form of electronic tinkering manages to shy away from a majority of the museums, venues and mainstream tech blogs throughout most of the year. That will all change this weekend however, as the practice — which involves subversively tweaking the circuitry inside old electronics to create new audio and visual experiences — will be exhibited in full splendor at the 7th Annual Bent Festival in Brooklyn. Organized by The Tank, the same group that brings us the Blip Festival every year, Bent Festival celebrates DIY audio and hacking culture with three days of workshops, art installations and performances. Granted, I’m no expert on the subject (and I’m certainly no wiz with electronics either), but through my experiences with the chipmusic community, I’ve learned a thing or two about circuitbending that might help festival-goers enhance their own enjoyment and appreciation for the art of electronic spelunkery during the weekend’s events. Head over to Motherboard.TV for my quick little guide on getting the most out of Bent Festival this year.
