NerdPow '09

In a world where The Jonas Brothers, Lady Gaga, and The Black Eyed Peas rule the airwaves, groups like Dual Core, MC Router and The Protomen are barely a blip on the public soundscape. And if you think these groups like things you could hook up to your computer, then you’re probably right.

The genre is Nerdcore, The show is NerdPow. The venue was in a middle-of-the-road Holiday Inn in downtown Cincinnati, OH, sandwiched between the Weight Watchers banquet and a loading dock. Gamers, punk rockers and hip-hoppers joined together to celebrate their love of the internet, technology and overall nerdiness.

Take an unassuming music genre, like punk rock, add in a few Star Wars references, don a foam Pac Man head, talk of a robot invasion…add some hackerspeak to taste, sprinkle with a few twenty-sided dice and there you have it! Nerdcore….sort of. Nerdcore topics range from computer games to cartoons, but one thing holds true in all cases: if you know what they’re talking about, then you are a nerd.

I arrived in Cincinnati ready for the show. NerdPow ’09 was slated to be the biggest Nerdcore show in Ohio, including bands like MC Cool Whip, The Super 8-bit Brothers and a new group called Oxymoronatron. This twelve-hour geekfest was attended by the standard motley crew of gamers, hackers, and anime fans. Between rounds of Rock Band and Call of Duty, these Dukes of Dork took the stage and offered their best, backwards-compatible, under-modulated, over-synthesized musical mayhem.
It was great! Being a nerd myself I really appreciated Oxy’s re-engineered motorized fish plaques, who managed to flip their tails to the beat of each song. Their pneumatic drummer-bot was amazing, and only slightly off-beat when the compressor had to repressurize.

Dual Core, a two-man hip-hop crew was by far the best rap group present. One DJ and one rapper managed to cover Dungeons & Dragons, Gears of War and Daft Punk all in one show. The highlight of the set was when they asked the audience to hold up random objects, and Int 80, the rapper, made up a freestyle about each item on the spot.

MC Router, a young lady from Texas also made a strong showing. She said, “I’m a bit out of practice, I’ve been programming Beatles Rock Band for the last few months,” which garnered a roar of enthusiasm from the tech-obsessed crowd.

The Protomen stole the show with their rock opera styling. Their whole show was based off of Protoman and MegaMan, the main characters of the MegaMan video games series. They capped off the show with a mosh pit and a round of crowd surfing. It was something to behold.

NerdPow ’10 is already in the works and, If you are truly 133t, then I’ll see you there.

Image 1: (left to right) Int 80 of Dual Core, MC Cool Whip, and Jerry Branco of My Parents Favorite Music (Justina Roberts Photography)
Image 2: Oxymoronatron stuns the crowd with their robot punk power (courtesy of Rachel Isaacs)

-Cameron Wiliamson, Media Assistant at the OSU Urban Arts Space

One Shot

Here are two examples of single take videos by two of our staff at the OSU Urban Arts Space. A "single take" is where everything that happens in the camera happens in real time, with no cuts or do-overs. This constraint can be a great exercise or launch pad for working with video, to develop an idea for the camera. Sometimes it takes seeing single take videos to appreciate the ease of modern editing in movies and television.

This first video, directed by Zach Glueck, the Media Assistant here at the OSU Urban Arts Space, won Best Drama in the Ohio State Campus Movie Fest.



This second video is a short piece I created for my midterm project in my Issues in Videodance class in the OSU Dance Department.



Thanks for watching!

-Leigh Lotocki, Social Media Assistant at the OSU Urban Arts Space

OSU Urban Arts Space Pre-games with Gee

Last Saturday, President Gee hosted a luncheon at the Drake Performance and Event Center, in celebration of the impending football game against Iowa, but also of recent achievements at the Ohio State University. These include his recent title in Time Magazine as the No. 1 ranked University President. Time says Gee is "campaigning for a revolution in higher education," involving especially his support of an unparalleled excellence in the Arts and Sciences. Here are some photos that were taken to commemorate the successful day:

Part of the day's program spotlighted our unique contribution to the Arts and Sciences at the OSU Urban Arts Space. Exhibitions Assistant Joanna Reed, and Programs & Events Assistant Jasmine Hamilton talk about our current exhibitions, highlighting Tactile Color artist SallyB's homage to Edvard Munch's The Scream.

SallyB presented President Gee with a gift, an homage to the Ohio State University, B-code style.

Tactile Color artist, SallyB, with her creation.

Images courtesy of SallyB.

-Leigh Lotocki, Social Media Assistant at the OSU Urban Arts Space

Indie Market This Weekend

The Tiny Canary Indie Design Market is going on this weekend, at the wonderful Junctionview Studios in Grandview Heights. This modern arts and crafts market is born out of the DIY movement, and great way to support local and independent artists and craftspeople. There will be various vendors and artsy happenings galore!

Going on November 14-15, 10am to 6pm.

Image: Tiny Canary

-Leigh Lotocki, Social Media Assistant at the OSU Urban Arts Space

Welcome Our New Staff!

We recently more than doubled our staff here at the OSU Urban Arts Space, adding 14 new student assistants, 2 high school interns, and 2 volunteers. Its great to have new faces and personalities to work with. These new student assistants are also bringing with them increased opportunities for activities and outreach. Our new staff will help spearhead video projects, audio podcasts, a new t-shirt design, and include a designated photographer for programs and events here at the Space.

To get to know our staff better, check out our People page on our website. Join me in welcoming our wonderful new staff!

-Leigh Lotocki, Social Media Assistant at the OSU Urban Arts Space

November Book Club

Hello Book Club Members,

Just before Halloween we read Tobias Wolff’s account of his mischievous childhood in This Boy’s Life. As Thanksgiving approaches, we will be reading In Pursuit of the Common Good: Twenty-five years of Improving the World One Bottle of Salad Dressing at a Time by late actor Paul Newman.

In the spirit of thanks and giving, this book explores the many ways that businesses can give back to their communities. Newman and business partner tells how the all-natural food company Newman’s Own came about. Chances are you have passed by or purchased Newman’s products in your local grocery store. His iconic smiling face dons salad dressing bottles, salsa jars, popcorn boxes, and many more items. The for-profit company gives away 100% of is profits to thousands of charities.

Please, join me on this comedic adventure that pokes fun at capitalism, creates ethical business practices, and provides an inspiring story.

Thank you, and keep reading,

What: OSU Urban Arts Space Book Club
Where: OSU Urban Arts Space, 50 W Town Street, Downtown Columbus
When: November 18th, 2009 from noon to 1:00pm

-Nicole Eggert, Operations Student Assistant

Halloween is Coming!

I am seriously gearing up for Halloween! I don't have any costume ideas quite yet, but I do plan to carve some pumpkins to put on my porch and go to some haunted houses this weekend. I know I might head to the Terror Fest in the Brewery District, or even up to the haunted Historic Prison to get my scare on.

Columbus does a great job with Halloween events...there's the Highball Masquerade in the Short North, the family-friendly Boo at the Zoo, and even a Fright Night 5K run in Gahanna.

Be sure not to miss a free screening of F. W. Murnau's Nosferatu with a live sound track by Jay Harmon and the Francis Bacon Band, here at the OSU Urban Arts Space on Thursday, October 29th. In the meantime, here is a Halloween song from Tim Burton's classic favorite "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

-Leigh Lotocki, Social Media Assistant at the OSU Urban Arts Space