This is what our June Artist-in-Residence Jimmie Rodgers showed me how to do last week:

It's an Atari Punk Console Noise Dolly! The Potentiometers are in her arms! When Jimmie told me he could turn toys into electronic instruments, my first thought was "Creepy Doll Orchestra." Now I'm one doll closer to realizing my vision. This weekend, I'm going to LASERCUT a little stage for them to play on.
It's Magic! And you can learn it too! This week and next, Jimmie will be hosting a series of workshops for you to learn how to turn your own toys into wonderful oddities.
Did you notice that we also have kits back in stock! You betcha! TV-b-Gone! MintyBoost! Open Heart! Buy a kit then drop by and learn from the master himself. Jimmie is only here for another week and a half! Don't miss out on the magic. Sign up NOW!!

That's right, it is officially GO TIME in the AS220 Labs. So many classes, so many weird and wonderful things for you to learn and see and make....like this:



It's the Open Heart by our Hacker-in-Residence Jimmie P. Rodgers.

For the entire month, Jimmie will be here to show us what he knows, and, to be corrupted by our all powerful and irresistible laser cutter. Look what he made on his first try:



In a few short weeks, Jimmie will be hosting some awesome workshops, like this:

Circuit Bend the Easy Button Tuesday, June 22 7-10pm.

Buy a Kit, Build a Kit Wednesday, June 23 7-10pm.

Atari Punk Console Kit Build Thursday, June 24 7-10pm.

Circuit Bending II Tuesday, June 29 7-10pm.

Buy a Kit Build a Kit Vol.2 Wednesday, June 30 7-10pm.

Or, just stop by any weeknight between 7 and 10 to say hello, hack some stuff and hang out. We'll be here, making stuff like this:

Atari Punk Console:

And talking about Jimmie's hacker space Artisan's Asylum opening June 18 in Union Square in Sommerville!

Resistance is Futile....resistors are plentiful. Get it while the gettin is good!

Listen up geeks: you do not want to miss what's goin' down in the labs this Spring. We have new classes and old classics seeking open minds and able hands to help us hack and hot wire our way out of winter. Behold-It's Springtime in the FabLab!

MARCH
13: Intro to the Laser Cutter 10am-1pm $65
18&25: Electronics for Artists 7-10pm $100(includes parts)
20&27: Lasercut a Pinhole Camera 1-4pm $55

APRIL
3: Intro to the Laser Cutter 10am-1pm $65
22: Programming Workshop 7-10pm FREE

MAY
1: Intro to the Laser Cutter 10am-1pm $65
5,9&12: Laser Cut Japanese Woodblock Printing $125
6,13,20&27: Introductory Arduino 7-9pm $200 (includes parts)

Sounds like fun, don't it! Visit our online store for detailed class descriptions and to reserve your spot!
Questions? Comments? Suggestions for super slick hacker savy classes?
e-mail krystal@as220.org

That's right folks, lasercutting is back with a vengance in the AS220 Labs. We're slicing and dicing our way through the dark days of winter, and this is your chance to get in on the fun! Didn't get a spot in this Saturday's sold-out class? Not to fear friends of the lasercutter, there's another class this Monday with 3 spots open!! Can't make it then? Then sign up for Broken Hearts Lasercutting on Saturday Feb.13th or almost-but-not-quite Leap Year Lasercutter on Feb. 27th and get your piece of laser glory. Come on, you know you wanna! Visit the online store to sign up!

Wednesday, June 24
7:00 - 8:30 PM
AS220 Labs
115 Empire St., 2nd floor

Come down to AS220 Labs and join the Pd club for it's first meeting!

Pd (Pure Data) is a graphical programming language and open source project with a large and growing user base. Pd is widely used by artists to create interactive computer music and multimedia works, and to some extent is interoperable with its commercial cousin Max/MSP.

The Pd club will be a periodic, informal gathering (a "patching circle") where Providence-area "patchers" can work together, exchange ideas, trouble-shoot, and learn from one-another. The club is open to all, from beginners to experts. Artists, students, teachers, programmers, hobbyists, and the "just-curious" are welcome. The only requirements are that you like a challenge and have a laptop.

On the agenda for the first meeting will be an introduction to Pd by Shawn Greenlee. Shawn will cover the basics of patching, working with sound, and handling communication with Arduino boards and MIDI devices.

Before the meeting adjourns, we'll get beginners up and running and determine the summer schedule for meetings.

What to bring: your laptop with Pd-extended installed. Pd-extended is available (for free) at http://puredata.info/downloads

More about Pd from the Pure Data portal.

By popular demand, an introductory-level class based on the Arduino microcontroller system will return to the Labs on Tueasdays beginning June 23rd. This is a thorough introduction to this open source development platform for creating your own interactive object(s). No previous programming or electronics experience necessary.

4 weeks, Tuesdays in June
June 23rd, 30th, July 7th, July 14th
Instructor: John Duksta Workshop cost: $100 + $100 materials fee = $200
Materials fee includes an Arduino and all components needed for the class. In the AS220 Labs space, 2nd floor, 115 Empire Street, Providence

Sign up here!

Bruce Wattendorf is organizing AS220's first 3D Printing Summit featuring Makerbot and RepRap demos and howtos. It will be held at AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence RI on June 12, 13, and 14.

The team will be building a MakerBot, a DIY open source 3D printer. The build will be organized as a series of sessions, so you can help AS220 build a MakerBot and learn about electronics, 3D printing, and the design of the bot. The meeting will kick off Friday night, June 12 at AS220 Labs (2nd floor) from 7-8:30pm to come up with a schedule for the weekend.

Sessions will from 10am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday and will be held in the Performance Space.

There is no charge for these sessions, but you can help AS220 by entering in a raffle
to win a MakerBot of your own. Details in the AS220 Shop.

For more information about the specific 3D printing platforms, visit:

http://makerbot.com
http://reprap.org

For more info contact Bruce at bwattendorf@gmail.com or 401-339-5625.

This workshop will introduce you to the basics of the Arduino microcontroller system. The goal is to introduce you to its open source development platform and get you started with the creation of your own interactive object(s). No previous programming or electronics experience necessary.

4 weeks, Tuesdays in May, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
May 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
Instructor: Lutz Hamel
Workshop cost: $100 + $100 materials fee = $200
Materials fee includes an Arduino and all components needed for the class. In the AS220 Labs space, 2nd floor, 115 Empire Street, Providence

Sign up here!

When: Wednesday March 25th, 5:30pm to 7pm
Where: AS220 Performance Space

The real fun in electronics is when you can use a circuit to make things go. Come learn some basics of electric motors, including DC motors, AC motors, servos, and steppers with Tom Sgouros (www.sgouros.com). Guest appearance by Judy the robot.

This session is free if you want to come and listen. You'll have to pay for materials if you want to complete the kit and take things home with you. Some sample motors will be available, which can also be purchased cheaply.

April is International Laser Month at AS220 Labs!

Announcing Laser cutter workshops: Learn how to use this tool to cut or etch wood, plastics, papers or textiles! Every Tuesday 5:30pm to 9pm, beginning April 7th.

Each workshop is limited to 5 people. Register now at the online shop.

Please note that an earlier version of this article (and...ahem...some of the posters) said every Thursday beginning April 7th. Well, April 7th (2009) is a Tuesday! So...the dates in the shop signup are correct; they're on Tuesdays! Sorry for the confusion; I'm an idiot.