WHERE: – online on http://water-wheel.net/taps/dock/110
- on site in Brisbane at the Judith Wright Centre – shopfront (residency)

WHEN: – Thursday 20 & Friday 21 October at 5pm (Brisbane, Australia) – find your time here
- Saturday 22 Oct at 4pm (Brisbane, Australia) - find your time here

we suggest you come at least 15 minutes before, you open your browser, and click or copy & paste this link: http://water-wheel.net/taps/dock/110 – In the right upper corner, there will be a white rectangle – click on ENTER

Brisbane crew: Suzon Fuks (project initiator), Anna Yen (performer), Rozina Suliman (set designer), Nathen Street (interactive system designer), James Cunningham (external eye & go between), Felicity Organ-Moore (light & production), Laura Steiner (AV assistant/documenter), Doug Leonard (dramaturg), and Will Davies (IT)
Online crew: Maartje Belmer (NL) (choreography, project assistant), Kaz L Gibbs (AUS), Hedva Eltanani (UK), Katarina DJ Uroševi? (Serbia), Amin Hammami (Tunisia) (soundscape)

There will be feedback session after each showing. Looking forward to meeting you on the TAP!

WATERWHEEL, a new online platform exploring ‘water’ as a topic and metaphor, will be launched on 22 August, in Brisbane (Australia) AND will take place live online on the TAP at 6pm – find your time here  – Media release here .

The TAP is an online, real-time venue and forum, workshop and stage for live networked performance and presentation. Here you can create and collaborate, rehearse and remix, present and exchange, participate and communicate—privately as a crew or publicly with an audience. The Tap provides tools for live networking and real-time media mixing.
Below some info on how to use WATERWHEEL. Do not hesitate in contacting us for more details or a guided tour of the TAP.

WHAT IS WATERWHEEL
new online platform exploring ‘water’ as a topic and metaphor. Here is a short video presentation about it – check our vimeo account for a new video coming soon showing the TAP in its latest development!  See also media release attached and info below.
All you need is a computer with internet access and a web browser with the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. To contribute and collaborate via the Tap, you might also need a webcam and headset depending on your performance/presentation.
* sign up, you will receive an email with a link
* Activate the link, you can create your TAP (please give it a title) and upload on the WHEEL (check also your junk/spam box, maybe email goes there)

HOW TO UPLOAD
Video tutorial – You can upload: Image (JPG, PNG)  | Video (MP4) | Animation/Slideshow (SWF) | Audio (MP3) | Document (RTF, PDF, DOC, XLS) : all media about ‘water’ as a topic or metaphor.

Download pdf file about upload requirements & instructions how to use the TAP

HOW TO USE THE TAP
* once you signed up and activated the link received by email
* you can create your TAP (please give it a title) and upload on the WHEEL (check also your junk/spam box, maybe email goes there)
* If you want to invite someone on your TAP, add that user in your crew
* user will receive an invitation by email with a link
* link has to be activated
* user will log in
* then click on ‘My Taps’ & on the table, there will be ‘superD’ TAP or another titled TAP you’ve been invited to
* On the right side of the table, you have a link ‘ENTER’. Click on it.
* the TAP will load on your webpage (patience, it might take a few minutes – you might be asked to update your flash player to new version, that doesn’t take much time. Just follow the prompt. But you might need to re-log-in)
* You can go with or without webcam. You will need to go on the top menu and select a tab (webcam, visuals, audio) and within each tab, an icon that you will drag onto the stage below. If you want to type chat, go on the write side at the bottom, there is an entry for public and crew. And in the middle on the right, there is another entry for a crew private chat (not seen by audience).
* if you click on a media (once it is dragged on the white page), you will see a palette of tools – first row from top: keep your mouse down when you select one of the tools, second row: resetting tools, third row: just a click on the tool you need, volume icon: keep your mouse down and go down to diminish the volume.

This project is initiated by Suzon Fuks as part of a Fellowship assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body; in collaboration with IGNEOUS and INKAHOOTS, supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Brisbane City Council, the Judith Wright Centre for Contemporary Arts, Ausdance Queensland, Youth Arts Queensland & iMAL. Creative Sparks is a joint initiative of Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. People collaborating so far on the project are from NZ, Australia, Indonesia, India, Serbia, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, UK, Canada & USA.

DESCRIPTION
Networked/telematic/telepresence performance/presentation & real time media mixing laboratory exploring & testing the online venue TAP,
- as well as the tools: webcams (which can move, rotate, resize, flip in real time), but also mix & use media palettes, realtime drawing tool & type chat, we will use our own bodies
- explorations: scores/parameters/mini-scripts on the theme of water, interaction between webcams & body movements/voice & media, mixing & layering media (also with webcams), interaction text/voice/sound/chat, interaction online/onsite spaces with or without projections Documentation of previous laboratories on the blog

AIMS
- exploring & testing TAP – as a new platform in development: what works, what doesn’t, what can be improved, wish list
- make your own performances/presentations on the TAP
- meeting future possible collaborators
- possible participation in various events (launch on 22 August, installation performance Oct & Dec, water science symposium, etc…to be discussed at the lab)

PARTICIPANTS PROFILE: Open-minded, interested in collaboration across disciplines (in arts, sciences, activism, environmentalism, education), curious to experiment and share skills

PRE-REQUISITE: There is no particular computer skill necessary for the workshop, however it could be useful to have some knowledge of these applications: photoshop, flash, video & sound editing.

PRACTICALLY : Bring your computer, in-built or/and external webcam, headset, media related to water (stills, videos, flash animations, sound & music files, text, spreadsheets). Be ready to move in comfortable clothes. NO FEE AS IT IS BASED ON EXPLORATIVE PERSONAL INTEREST OF EACH PARTICIPANT.

SCHEDULE & REGISTRATION – please select your sessions on doodle
- 12-15July online 1 session a day, onsite in residence at iMAL from 13-21h
- 18-22July only online 2 sessions a day to chose from – you need to take part in 3 sessions min (2hours per session). Please send an email to suzon

ABOUT SUZON: Suzon Fuks is a media artist, choreographer and director exploring the integration and interaction of dance & moving image through performance, screen, installation & online work. She is currently an Australia Council for the Arts Fellowship recipient.

This 2nd lab will happen on the TAP with acces only to webcams (no mixing media yet), so we can be only 6 participants per session (for this lab). Very exciting: there are functions that I never saw before: webcams images can be dragged, resized, flipped vertically and horizontally, as well as rotated!

THIS IS FIRST WEEK DOCUMENTATION on the waterwheel blog

Since the announcement of the project, responses show a real interest for the topic, the metaphor & the platform.  Exciting!  Propositions from curators, research, involvement of university students, info forwarded to scientists,etc.   We had a bit of delay in the platform development, as I came back end of the year with swine flu, and Inkahoots studio was out of service for 2 weeks because of the floods. So we will work with a very basic version of the platform, which is maybe more open at this stage for your feedback & advice on its functionalities.

We started a conversation between lab & online participants (below full list of participants), as well as interested people, on a:  Facebook group and a Blog.

The FOUNTAIN first public events (with audience online & on site in Brisbane, at the Bell Tower, level 3, Judith Wright Centre) will happen on:
- March 3 & 4 @6-8pm (Qld time – find your time)
- March 5 @11.30am-1.30pm (Qld time – find your time) & 5-7pm (Qld time -  find your time) ! we will post links & more info closer to the dates !

CORE TEAM: Suzon Fuks artistic director, project coordinator | Sofia Woods performer/choreographer | James Cunningham external eye & IGNEOUS representative | Felicity Organ-Moore stage/production manager | Will Davy IT & sound technician | INKAHOOTS: Mat Johnson developer, Jason Grant designer, INKAHOOTS artistic director, Bretton – designer | Brisbane LAB PARTICIPANTS: Rozina Suliman | Emma Che Martin | Nathen Street | Kimberley Bianca Warren | Kaz Gibbs | Richelle Spence | Silke Tanzt | Emmy Steiner | ONLINE PARTICIPANTS: Shannon Parsons (Toowoomba, QLD, Australia) | Elizabeth Bryce (NZ) | Vicki Smith (NZ) | Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann (NZ) | Vincent Probo (Yogyakarta, Indonesia) | Nagasamy Ramachandra (Chennai, India) | Sajani Ganapathy Murugan (Chennai, India) | Beatrice de Fays (Paris, France) | Marloeke van der Vlugt (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) | Katarina Djordevic Urosevic (Belgrade, Serbia) | Cherry Truluk (London, UK) | Hedva Eltanani (London, UK) | Ben Unterman (Vancouver, Canada) | ONLINE DOCUMENTER & CONTRIBUTOR: Francesco Buonaiuto (Naples, Italy)

This project is initiated by Suzon Fuks, an Australia Council for the Arts Fellow, in collaboration with IGNEOUS & INKAHOOTS, and assisted by Arts Queensland, Ausdance Queensland, Youth Arts Queensland, & the Judith Wright Centre for Contemporary Arts (Brisbane).

A unique workshop opportunity to participate in the first phase of the WATERWHEEL project.
The workshop will develop a networked/telematic installation performance on the theme of WATER, initiated by Suzon Fuks, Australia Council Fellow.  She will facilitate emerging and interested intermedia artists, composers, video makers, visual artists, dancers, performers, or choreographers (maximum 5 participants in Brisbane) to engage, collaborate and forge creative partnerships, developing and testing a brand new internet platform specifically made for performance and mixed media, and creating a new installation performance with participatory audience. At least 2 showings onsite & online will conclude the workshop.

WHEN: Feb 21 to March 6 (for Brisbane participants Mo-Fri 4-7pm &/or Sat 10.30am-5pm)
WHERE: Ausdance Bell Tower, YAQ & on internet
WHAT: creative process will include brainstorming, improvs, gathering of media, inter-skill sharing sessions, at least 2 onsite & online events & feedback with leaders in the fields.
HOW: #1- write an email by 1st February with full contact details & expressing your interest in the WATERWHEEL project -#2- in a phone or skype conversation, you will be asked: what is your clear commitment to the creative process, your availability, which other relevant experience you have -#3- you will be advised by email by February 4.

MORE INFO: email or call Suzon Fuks on 0404 292 119

ABOUT THE WATERWHEEL PROJECT

Following a year of preparation, 2011: The Waterwheel starts turning! Welcome!  Be a part of this new online collaborative space without borders: from teachers to students, performers to scientists, producers, programmers, curators, visual artists, composers, activists and everyone in between. All ages welcome!

The upcoming Waterwheel project revolves around WATER as a topic and a metaphor – what people want to share, say, or debate about this fundamental element.  It includes:
The Waterwheel – an interactive website
The Tap – an online performance & collaborative venue
Fountains – outcomes that well up from the project

The Waterwheel interactive website will give you the power to collaborate, explore ideas, research and gather feedback by uploading and sharing media about water: images, video, music, text or sound.

The Tap online performance & collaborative venue will be accessible by audience and performers with just a click, no download needed, and will be free. ‘Live’ performers from various locations will interact with audiences in real time using webcams, media from The Waterwheel and drawing tools. Audience can participate online through a chat facility or directly with the ‘live’ performers on site. From February, basic versions of The Waterwheel and The Tap will be available, you can be involved and follow the developments by uploading your media, exploring the online venue, and giving your feedback.

Fountains will be outcomes that anyone is free to initiate and will be triggered by interactions on The Waterwheel.  A Fountain could be a book, a performance, an exhibition, a community project, a multi-generational exchange, a concert or an installation festival – let your imagination steer the way. These Fountains will be mapped out on the website, so you can see what The Waterwheel is powering. Throughout 2011, workshop residencies will develop one Fountain which is an installation performance, testing the website and the online venue. The first residency, which runs 14 Feb – 6 March, is based in Brisbane and open for your participation online or on site.  Please let us know if you are interested.

Turn the wheel your way and pass on this message to your pool of people! Welcome to translate it into your language.  For more information about any part of the project and how to contribute/participate, please email.

"Smush-grid" installation by Sarah Dahnke

some photos of the latest trips on flickr.
EMPAC medialab blog: you can watch timelapse videos (made by James Cunningham) of the entire workshop, as well as lots of photos of the experiments

This video is the first ‘camera/tripod’ duet improv that
James Cunningham did.