about
videodining for valentines
Technology can seem cold and unromantic and frankly so can Valentine's Day. Still, there is a lot of fun to be had with both. This year the two will be merged, if only for a brief experiment; — we invite you to explore these new modes of communication and what it means for love.
With thanks to the Berkeley Center for New Media and Berkeley Art Museum, we host an afternoon of food, drink, and video conferencing. Arrange a date with someone remotely, bring a laptop, and share a fun romantic meal with them. Modern long-distance relationships are full of video chat, but it's rare we do it in public, or socially.
Or, come alone and empty handed for all the fun of digital and analog flirting.
Thursday
February 14
2008
Cafe Muse
Berkeley Art Museum
2621 Durant Avenue
3:30-4:15 &
4:30-5:15 PST
menu
Fixed price of $16
Appetizer
Roasted Tomato Bisque
Main
Chinese Chicken Salad with Soy-Ginger Dressing and Chopped Peanuts
or
Grilled Portobello Mushroom Panino with Arugula & Smoked Mozzarella
Drinks
One cold drink (soda, juice, etc).
Other items such as beer or wine can be purchased directly from Cafe Muse at the event.
technology involved
video date ☍
Requirements:
- a laptop (capable of video conferencing)
- a webcam
- video conferencing software
- a date
Skype’s videocall feature is free and great. It works on both Mac & PC, so it's what we're recommending and troubleshooting, but the software choice is yours. Whatever you pick, please download and practice using the camera and software with your date before the event.
Your date can be on another continent or on a couch in Kroeber. Also up to you.
singles bar ☌
Nothing is required to sit at the singles bar. It is free and computers stations are set up in advance. But get creative— there are ways to make any type of technology more social. We're surrounded by underutilized mobile phones, music players, GPS devices, social networks like Facebook and Google...
sharing the experience ☉
There will be a lot of data flying around at this event, so come prepared to document and be documented. No one will be wire tapping you, but we hope to come out of the event with some interesting records.
We encourage you to record yourself as well. Most computers allow screen grabs (command-shift-4). There is plenty of free and cheap software that will can record both sides of a chat. Jing is free. iShowU is cheap (or watermarked). For audio alone, try Audacity.
A Flickr pool will serve to hold all the images of the event. Everyone is invited to give and take images freely.
a map of participation
View Larger Map
get involved
the event
The following volunteer positions are available at the event. (Note that assuming a position may prevent you from participating in videodining, at least during that seating.)
↯
Tech support — troubleshoot issues with Skype, video capture, and audio capture
↯
Photographer — photograph the event
↯
Writers/journalists — write about the event
derivative artworks
There’s an intention for ‘So Close Yet So Far Away’ to spawn derivative artworks. In other words, media generated by the event (e.g. footage from video capture) will ideally be made available to artists for creative reuse (e.g. to produce a video). This is a call to videodiners at tables and the bar willing to make media from their experience available to artists, and to artists interested in working with media generated by this event. Considering the rich possibilities for derivative artworks, participants are strongly encouraged to make media available in some form, and will have discretion over how their media are creatively reused.
contact
General inquiries:
Stephanie Gerson
sgerson[at]nature.berkeley.edu
Technical questions:
Laura Greig
laura.greig[at]gmail.com
taste test