One of the questions I get at Geek Dinners is to explain what AS220 is all about. Here’s a little background on AS220, how it crisscrosses with Providence Geeks, and how you can help AS220 grow (disclaimer: I’m the secretary of AS220’s board). AS220 is a non-profit arts center, founded in 1985, that provides an uncensored and unjuried venue for Rhode Island artists: gallery space, performance space, live/work space, and more. AS220 owns two buildings in downtown Providence: AS220 (the Empire Street building where we meet) and the AS220 Dreyfus Hotel. AS220 also runs the Broad Street Studio, a transitional arts program for youth who have been in foster homes, group homes, or the state’s juvenile detention facility.

AS220 has always been a little bit geeky. Its web site, as220.org, has grown into a server hosting not only AS220, but local area artists and arts organizations. For years,there was a public access Linux terminal in AS220 (unfortunately gone due to space constraints). Currently, an electronics lab is being developed on the second floor, and the plan is to use that as a workshop not only for the Broad Street Studio youth, but for the public and for groups like Providence Geeks and DC401. Additionally, AS220, Providence Geeks, and the Steel Yard had a summit on fabrication technology (3d printing, laser cutters, etc.) some time back, and one goal is to provide access to this technology using a model similar to AS220’s darkroom. (For more on the fabrication topic, be sure to check out the upcoming RI-Nexus event on next-generation working environments and fab labs).

Now, here’s how you can help. AS220 recently revamped its membership program. Instead of the original tiered membership, there’s a flat yearly membership contribution of $50 (note that you don’t have to be a member to visit, exhibit at, or enjoy AS220—it is open to all). To get into NPR mode here for a moment, you get some cool stuff (pictured above) with that: a limited edition print, a bumper sticker, a subscription to the monthly calendar/newsletter, and a member card offering discounts or special offers at local merchants, including the AS220 galleries, the RISD Store, Jerry’s Artarama, Abar, Eastern Art and Frame, Adler’s Hardware, Picture This, Perishable Theatre, Books on the Square, and Myopic Books. And like any good geek, AS220 lets you join online.

Paul Badger teaches physical computing and electronic media at RISD, and is the Founder of Providence-Based Modern Device Company. Paul is the inventor of the first Arduino board not created by the “official” Arduino team, the Bare Bones Board. If you’re coming to the Geek Dinner, drop by a little early and make something!

We’ll be setting up some soldering stations in the AS220 performance space at 4:30 and Paul will be making some Bare Bones Board Kits available for purchase, so come early and build a Bare Bones Kit. Bare Bones Boards will be available for $15 each, and a limited number of USB-serial cables are available for $20 each. We’ll be shutting the soldering irons off at around 5:30, so come early.

And by building a kit, you’ll have a chance to win a copy of Making Things Talk, which will show you how to make amazing things with Arduino boards. We’ll pick the winner at random from those of you who come and wield a soldering iron.

Please RSVP in the comments section of the announcement post so that we can give the good folks at AS220 an estimated headcount. And while you’re at it, subscribe to Providence Geeks’ RSS feed (see sidebar) and/or join our very-low-volume email announcement list (for the announcement list, send an email to Jack Templin, jtemplin over at Gmail with your name and affiliation).

Photo Credit: Jason Fourquet

Wednesday, November 21, 2007, 5:30 – 9pm
AS220
115 Empire Street, Providence, RI

Back in July, being the scheduling geniuses we are, Brian and I unknowingly managed to place this month’s Geek Dinner on the evening before Thanksgiving – brilliant… Our apologies to those of you who won’t be able to make it because of family commitments (although in our defense, you really need to get your priorities straight ;-). For those of you who will be able to join us, the evening is going to be an excellent one.

Paul Badger teaches physical computing and electronic media at RISD, and is the Founder of Providence-Based Modern Device Company. He had long been using microcontrollers in his classes when he became aware of the Arduino open-source hardware and software initiative. Open-source hardware is something of a new concept without a clear definition at this point. Paul is the inventor of the first Arduino board not created by the "official" Arduino team, the Bare Bones Board. His tech helped to kick off something of boomlet in alternative Arduino development and inspire new energy for the Arduino movement, currently undergoing a growth spurt.

Paul recently participated in Maker Faire Austin, and his work was seen in the Pixilerations show in downtown Providence. He lives and works in Providence.

Paul will be presenting some of his tech, artwork and images of electronic and public art projects. There will be Q&A after the presentation.

Please RSVP in the comments section of this post so that we can give the good folks at AS220 an estimated headcount. And while you’re at it, subscribe to Providence Geeks’ RSS feed (see sidebar) and/or join our very-low-volume email announcement list (for the announcement list, send an email to Jack Templin, jtemplin over at Gmail with your name and affiliation).

As always, for first-timers here are the details on the Geek Dinners:

• It’s totally casual. Wear whatever, bring whoever, arrive and vamoose whenever… And don’t worry about eating or not – come famished or full – eating is optional, and frankly, the least of the festivities (that’s not say the food isn’t good—it’s actually great)
• Topics of conversation will vary as they will at any gathering of geeks, but many of us will be talking about AJAX, mash-ups, start-ups, new devices, innovative business models, interaction design, social computing, digital art, web services, etc. etc. etc.
• Food and beverages are for sale at the adjoining Taqueria Pacifica and bar
• There is Wi-Fi so bring your connected device of choice