As noted in the previous post about LPM (contrary to uncommon belief) is not just about performances. Included in its name is the word ‘meeting.’
In part 1 of this report some familiar faces were present. While there were many new faces that would be impossible to recall fully there are some of note that I cannot help but mention.
The first would be Todd Thille. I had faint memory of his name here and there from the various articles floating around about his involvement in VJ’ing. We did actually initially meet in Berlin for the micro-avit but it was very brief. At LPM I got a chance to chat with him more about his adventures in VJ’ing and working in the VJ field. Until recently he was involved in the much talked about Artificial Eyes. His web site reveals that he is not only interested in the image but also in creating images with plants and rocks.
Todd was also very active at LPM. Taking lots of photographs and assisting with installing projectors and running cables as well as helping Toby in directing the chaotic energy of LPM into constructive talks that were followed by taped interviews.
On the 2nd day of the festival Todd mentioned that a directional video system was arriving. I had seen articles about this DMX controlled hardware and my thoughts about a mirror attached to a projector in order to control its beam were always ‘we can finally use an image as light.’
This leads me to the presentation of the company Video Moving System or more commonly known in the VJ tech circles as VMS. CEO Thomas Kuhne and Kjell Bruno Tait delivered a very clear message that images could not only be moved within the screen but could also just plain move. VMS not only makes this simple yet dynamic piece of hardware but also publishes DVDs that showcase some of the best VJ talent working with these systems. Thomas was equally excited to meet up with Justine and I having a) known about the influence of the Mapping Festival for some time and and the fact that the majority of the artists that he has produced DVDs for use modul8.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Blanca Perez-Bustamante aka whiteemotion or for short whitee. Blanca is as she would phrase it the back ground bright energy of the VJ world in Spain and beyond. She is currently working on finishing her doctoral degree with her work focused squarely on the audio visual movement. She conducted interviews with all of the performers and when she interviewed me it was clear she knew what she was looking for and how to ask about it. She also teaches the upcoming generation about what we are doing and what tools we are using. We often focus our attention on the performers and festivals. As spectators we are not really expected to look beyond that. Its a blog such as this though that gives the possibility for highlighting the efforts of those unseen. My cup is raised high.
There were really a lot of other people but I just can’t recall much more after that cup and I have a lot of other things to write about here so I will leave it at that. Ok… another big cup for the entire LPM team! You have me itching for next year.