James heads - Brett Klisch & James Powderly

James robot skin - Brett Klisch & James Powderly
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David Hanson robot

Hanson's Einstein with Hubo Walking robot
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Harvey Pekar by various artists

Paul McCarthy, Mechanical Pig, 2005 - animatronics by David Kindlon
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12-2pm Exhibition of work by Robot Clothes and panel participants
2- 3:30pm Public design review of Robot Clothes’ Inside Out Life Story
4-6pm Panel hosted by Robot Clothes

Panelists:
David Hanson, David Kindlon, Harvey Pekar & Joyce Brabner, Sal Restivo & Robot Clothes (Michelle Kempner and James Powderly)

Collaborators/Artists:
Dustyn Roberts, Seth Frader-Thompson, Tom Kennedy, Sameer Kapoor, Todd Polenberg, Jessica Findley, Jim Kempner, Brett Klisch, Mike DeFeo

The concepts and tools of AI, human-computer interaction and situationally-aware machines and mechanisms continue to move further from the realm of science-fiction and government labs and into the hands of artists, musicians, writers, scientists and DIY enthusiasts. As this happens robots and new media are being used to redefine artistic mediums and create highly-personal expressions. Automated Biography is a creative technology symposium exploring the role of technology in the conception of autobiographical and biographical artworks. Selected robotic artworks and works in progress will be exhibited and discussed. The panel and group discussion will introduce several examples of alternative uses of technology and media to explore illness, identity, politics and life in the margins of culture. The panel at 540 West 21st Street is open to the public with a suggested don!
ation of $5.

Robot Clothes is an art and commercial research and development partnership, Their commercial clients, include fortune 100 companies, NASA and internationally renowned artists, such as Diller + Scofidio and Miranda July. Their artworks and collaborations with artist have been exhibited at the Whitney, PS1, The Sculpture Center, Artbots and MOMA Queens. James Powderly helped develop the Rock Abrasion Tool currently on Mars.

Since graduating from RISD, David Hanson has worked as a designer, sculptor and robotics developer in the entertainment industry for clients including Walt Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios and MTV. His robotics have won numerous awards and his technical papers have been published internationally. To see high resolution images of Hanson’s robots, please turn to Human-Robot.org.
http://www.portfolios.com/DavidHanson

Cleveland, Ohio native Harvey Pekar is best known for his autobiographical slice-of-life comic book series "American Splendor", a first-person account of Pekar’s downtrodden life. The series has been published since 1976. In 1987, Pekar was honored with the American Book Award and in 2001 the series 25th anniversary was celebrated with a special issue. Pekar also collaborated with his wife, Joyce Brabner, on a book-length autobio comic "Our Cancer Year." http://www.harveypekar.com/

Starting his career as a mechanical designer of puppets, David Kindlon has since moved onto animatronics. Working in the film industry Kindlon has worked on such major features as Predator, A.I, I, Robot, Godzilla and Day of the Dead. For the last two years he has been working with artist Paul McCarthy, building robust robotic mechanisms to animate McCarthy’s work.

Dr. Sal Restivo is Professor of Sociology and Science Studies in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Trained and educated in sociology, anthropology, social psychology, and history, he is a "social theorist" and specializes in social studies of science, mathematics, and mind. He has won numerous awards and fellowships for his research.
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/sts/faculty/biosketches/restivo.html