Last week, global emerging music and technology conference, Mondo NYC was hosted in the Williamsburg Hotel with a full day agenda of panel discussions, speed meeting sessions, NY music industry meet-ups and more. Local musician and technologist Nathan Windsor attended and shared his key takeaways from the event.
I attended the Mondo NYC music and tech conference in the Williamsburg Hotel and one thing is abundantly clear: our culture does not understand how to value creativity.
Disclaimer: I’m a musician and I run a blockchain software company called Macroscape. I moved to NYC in 2006 to play music, wrote a rock opera, and worked as a music therapist. When I started to run out of money, I switched to software development and cryptocurrencies.
Now if you’re not constantly huffing the fumes of crypto-crack like I am every day, you’re probably not familiar with all the totally arcane and useless facts that I know. Luckily, someone compiled all the failed crypto projects in one place for you right here. Like, you probably don’t know that Ripple is a highly centralized database and most of its founders hold huge amounts of it. That hasn’t stopped it from raising an obscene amount of money (the current market cap is $28.38B), and people from bringing class action lawsuits against the company. As McCartney sang “will you walk away from a fool and his money?” You also probably don’t know that EOS took out ads for its ICO in Times Square, which violated US securities laws.
EOS and Ripple fit into the bucket of projects that have reached what I call “terminal financial escape velocity”: they’ve raised so much money that they can just pay off whatever bills the authorities throw at them. “Ah, who cares,” they probably think. “They’ll sue us in whatever jurisdiction, then we’ll confuse them with nuanced jargon, and pay whatever fee they want us to pay.” (think the FAANG paradigm…)
Getting back to the event of this article, Mondo NYC was created by Joanne Abbot Green and Bobby Haber, who were the also the founders of CMJ. Along with Northside Festival and SXSW, Mondo is another festival working to give musicians the exposure, network, and tools to make a living. Having attended many of these industry festivals over the years, I often come away with a feeling of “ok, so now what?”
I spent three hours listening to panel discussions on blockchain and the future of the music industry and while we are getting better at crafting tech solutions that “cut out the middleman”, we still have a long way to go. Many times in the age of the internet, we solve one problem and then create a whole slew of new ones.
Here are the dark secrets of the music and blockchain industries which no one wants to tell you, and which are symptomatic of the much larger issue of global wealth disparity and the coming AI technological revolution.
1.) Our culture does not understand how to use units of accounting to value the work of people who create “art” (music, performance, visual art). While we all believe the story that art is “valuable” or “unique” we simply don’t know how to assign these things value. That does not mean that we can’t assign it value, it means we don’t. Yet. The same applies to our other valuable assets like data and attention, which is why we give them away for free cat videos.
From frozen treats made with upcycled plant based materials, custom handcrafted guitars, ethereal essential oil blends, to tiny terrarium jewelry, and more, we can’t wait to showcase the high quality unique creations by our top 20 curated pick of local makers.
We’re kicking off the festivities with boozy brunch drinks, food by Awkward Scone, and will have activities for all throughout the day including henna tattoos by Miss V, tarot card readings by Starhawk, guitar making demos by FSC Guitars, and magic lessons by the Brooklyn Paranormal Society.
BIBA Williamsburg was once a rubber factory (photo via nowy dziennik by Wojtek Maślanka/Nowy Dziennik)
Formerly a rubber factory, BIBA has the vintage charm we adore and is now home to the only beer garden in Williamsburg with unobstructed waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline. Right next door in the East River State Park, TASTE Williamsburg Greenpoint will return with over 40 restaurants and bars for a foodie extravaganza. With a star-studded lineup including food by Michelin-starred chefs, a ticket will get you unlimited tastings of some of the best local flavors! Continue reading →
On Sunday October 28, 2018 we’re celebrating the end of harvest and welcoming the winter solstice with an otherwordly Samhain themed market! At this time, we’re looking for all creative crafters, makers of food, art, crafts, jewelry, pottery, etc. to apply to be a vendor.
As with every market, we are expecting 3,000+ visitors, a full day of free fun activities, live music, and festive food & drinks, in the beautiful Greenpoint Loft.
This year, accepted Fall Market vendors will have the option to reserve a space in this year’s Holiday Market too!
NOTE: Vendor spaces are reserved for local independent makers and small businesses. If you don’t meet this criteria, email [email protected] to learn about sponsorship opportunities and help support local!
Happy Friday, Greenpoint! This week, Greenpoint’s own Polish-language weekly newspaper, Kurier Plus got a profile in the Columbia Journalism Review.Read about how the Polish paper is thriving!
Tucked away in the northern tip of Brooklyn, there is a hub for creatives where creativity and innovation flows freely. Where artists and entrepreneurs alike gather to manifest their vision and collaborate with their counterparts. Where locals find peace to fuel their focus and manifest their vision. From an outdoor event space to a fine-art gallery and 150+ studio and office spaces, Java Studios (252 Java St) has emerged as platform for creation, owned and operated by artists.
Java Project Art Gallery Opening during Greenpoint Open Studios 2017
As artists themselves, the owners at Java have worked hard to provide space and opportunities to like-minded people. From architects to writers, designers to painters, and non-profits to small businesses, the inhabitants have a diverse range of focus. And it’s this diversity that sets Java apart from similar workspaces-it’s not the studios, amenities, or affordability-it’s the surrounding inhabitants who become neighbors, collaborators, sources of support and inspiration. Art cannot be created in a vacuum-it both reflects and regards the world around it. To be inspired is to be connected, and that’s what Java provides.
In keeping with the larger Java ethos, the physical space has been designed to fit the needs of the its occupants. Unlike other communal workspaces, the studios at Java are private and individualized-your work environment is entirely customizable, and the shared amenities are there to support your needs. The Java Project-a fine-art gallery on the first floor-presents new exhibitions each month, and also features inhabitants’ work. Other amenities include an outdoor spaces, a conference room, slop sinks, WiFi and utilities, package reception, and an on-site handyman, all of which are free and readily available.
The outdoor venue, Java Outback, has been revamped in anticipation of the many upcoming events. For the third year in a row, Java will again host the 2018 Greenpoint Open Studios launch party. The creative spirit and community, along with Java’s support of small businesses, make it the perfect place to kick off a weekend of GOS.
We are gearing up to immerse ourselves in local art and can’t wait to kick it off in Java Studios (252 Java St) Friday (6/1) night! From 7:30-11:30PM, we will be weaving around the three floors of art studio spaces and checking out the gallery show inside The Java Project. Outside, there will be live music, video projections, performance art, and a bar stocked with beer by Greenpoint Beer & Ale and wine supplied by Palinkerie.
Forecast is looking drizzly but that’s not gonna stop us from splashing around outside underneath Architensions’ iridescent Dikhroos tent, built in collaboration with the owners of Java, who are artists themselves.
When beloved neighborhood joint River Styx closed two years ago, their nachos and Mexicali party option died with it. But the dish once touted as a runner up for “Best-Fancy Pants Nachos” by Serious Eats will be resurrected for one night only tonight (5/8) on River Styx’s 5 year anniversary of opening in what is now 21 Greenpoint (located on – you guessed it – 21 Greenpoint Ave)
According to chef and owner Homer Murray “Every day or so someone asks about the nachos which I loved and was very proud of but 21 Greenpoint just became another restaurant. A restaurant without nachos. I wanna celebrate how great Styx was and give the people what they want! So we are gonna bring the nachos back, all night. To celebrate Styx, to celebrate Greenpoint and to celebrate Fucking nachos.” Continue reading →
♫ Fonema Consort // Charmaine Lee, solo @Arete Venue and Gallery (67 West St. #103), 7:30pm, $10,Chicago-based ensemble Fonema Consort will perform four new works for electronics, two voices, clarinet and trombone, Buy Tix ♫ Bit Brigade performs “The Legend of Zelda”, Double Ferrari, Cheap Dinosaurs @St. Vitus (1120 Manhattan Ave.), 7:30pm, $12-15, Buy Tix * Trivia Night @Archestratus (160 Huron St.), 8pm, FREE, Join our News Editor for Trivia at Archestratus! There will be food! There will be beer! Get your game on RSVP ♫ Los Perros/The Stance/Les Frappes (Sweden) + MORE! @ Brooklyn Bazaar (150 Greenpoint Avenue), 8pm, $8, More Info
THURSDAY 4/26
♦ Talking Trash screening @City Reliquary (370 Metropolitan Ave), 6pm, $5, Throwing out the Big Apple, More Info ♫ Open Mic Night @New Women Space (188 Woodpoint Road) 7pm, $10, New Women Space’s first community open mic Buy Tix ☺ The Mess @The Brick (579 Metropolitan Avenue), 8pm, $10, part solo show, part variety show part of Brooklyn Comedy Collective, More Info ♫ Hard Pass, Mean Girls (TX), Granddad (MN), Fear Not Ourselves Alone @Brooklyn Bazaar (150 Greenpoint Ave.), 8pm, $10, RSVP ♫ Minus the Bear @ Warsaw (261 Driggs Ave), 8pm, $30, Buy TixContinue reading →
When you stop by our Gardens of the Galaxy Spring Market this Sunday (4/22), you’re going to be surrounded by some celestial music. Meet our master DJ, The Josh Craig, who will be guiding your Sunday afternoon with some galactic beats and blissed out vibes.
Josh Craig is an artist of many talents. The audio and visual artist, explores narratives in art with music, photography, video game design, and more. His latest project is an interactive album, Closed Doors, pairs with a video game, Doors To The City.
Adding this into the mix, you can expect a futurist DJ performance that’s out of this world. Browse our amazing local vendors, relax at a yoga class, drink some rose, but most importantly, get down with some galactic sounds and positive vibrations from Josh Craig’s turntable mastery.
If you’re digging the star-studded beats our market, head over to Magick City afterwards to continue the dance party where The Josh Craig will take over the venue.
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THURSDAY 4/26
