ANIMAL » GRAFFITI RESEARCH LAB

Paralyzed Graffiti Artist Draws With His Eyes

Marina Galperina — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:19:53 +0000

Improving on pricey technology, the techies of the Graffiti Research Lab have developed a $50 DYI system: Mounted on a regular pair of eyeglasses, EyeWriter tracks eye movement, rendering digital images. Recently, GLR got its due with EyeWriter winning Design of the Year in Art Award.

Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2003, graffiti artist Tony Quan is able to make art again. Though not nearly as fast as drawing or using spray paint, this is a great alternative to similar commercial technology that costs up to $15K. Zach Lieberman explains:

He can plot points. And from plotting points, create letters. And from creating letters, create words. And then color the words, shade the words, extrude them in 3-D, add different features.

The lab aims to bring hope of reestablishing communication and allowing artistic expression for people with locked-in syndrome.

The design is so nifty in fact, that you can make your own EyeWriter. Check out this guy in Mumbai clobbering one together with scavenged parts. |NPR|

Photo: NPR

Graffiti Reserach Lab: ‘Fuck Flickr’

ANIMAL — Thu, 15 May 2008 02:57:09 +0000

Mad that Yahoo helped Chinese authorities rat out a political reformer who wrote critically of the government and was imprisoned, GRL is releasing this “open-source image gallery software that won’t narc you out. We created it as an alternative to hosting your photos on a certain Yahoo-owned photo sharing site.” |fffff.at|
Sex switch: it can turn you on or off. |NerdApproved|
Knife hooks add killer element to any apartment. |BallerHouse|
John Edwards redeems himself for that expensive haircut, endorses Barack Obama, helps bring this thing closer to an end. |Politico|

GRL’s “Complete First Season”: The 5-Minute Bootleg

ANIMAL — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:50:15 +0000

This past Sunday night, the hacktivists at the Graffiti Research Lab screened their new DVD, “The Complete First Season” at the MoMA. The hilarious, Hip Hop-laced film—a must when making cinema nowadays—detailed the history of GRL, their antics, and the how founders Evan Roth and James Powderly quit their day jobs to give the public tools to hack public spaces. In the true spirit of open source, ANIMAL shot this ugly ugly bootleg of the first five minutes complete with people’s heads, lots of background noise, and from the 2:18 to 2:44 mark, really bad angles.

GRL Screening At the MoMa

ANIMAL — Sat, 03 May 2008 03:40:55 +0000

The Graffiti Research Lab presents their new The Complete First Season DVD at the MoMa this Sunday, May 4th at 8PM. The film documents GRL founders James Powderly and Evan Roth in their ultimate quest for “free speech in public, open source in pop culture, the hacker spirit in graffiti, and not asking permission in general.” There will be a Q&A after the film and a reception on the 6th floor too. Get your tickets here.

Graffiti Research Lab Bombs the MoMA

ANIMAL — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:51:59 +0000

Now the shit is getting interesting. The Graffiti Research Lab facilitated an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art that involved their laser tagging technology and a slew of vandals both active and former, in an attempt to investigate the “malicious intent” stipulation in the New York State Penal Code. It determines whether the graffiti-accused are charged with misdemeanors or felonies. The GRL makes their point with a question that even “typical” New Yorkers should entertain:

“Does another of our colleagues, friends, family members get a fine + community service or a felony and 3 – 12 months in Rikers?”

Artists included: AVONE, KATSU, 2ESAE, SKI, EROTICA 67, TOO FLY, MUCK, JESONE, NOBODY, JACKEE, LEETO, KEPTS, RESKEW, FAUST, TIE, DONA, DIVA, STAR, CAYPER, NETA, DRO, LUCHA, MAMA, NAX, MADG, and LADYKFEVER. Check out the video below that attempts to “glorify graffiti” and agitate the hell of out of that jerky Vallone guy from Queens. |GRL|