Becky Stern

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Rick Karr stopped by to talk about art and technology in NYC on his local TV show. It’s the fifth episode of his series NYC 2.0 on NYCMedia (The official network of the city of New York), which airs at 8:30pm on Sundays on channel 25 (and also online shortly thereafter). On it I talk about my work while they make my workspace look nice. Also appearing in this episode are Andrew Salomone and some folks from Eyebeam and NYU.

On Saturday, October 15 2011, the Proper Business Attire Working Group distributed free business suits to Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in Liberty Park in NYC’s financial district. I performed alterations on ill-fitting hems while hairs were trimmed and ties selected. We suited about 120 men and women.

We all look great in suits. To reporters, to workers, to skeptical tourists, we’ll look like people to listen to, or, at the very least, to hear out. Lazy journalists won’t be able to take the easy, dismissive out, and will have to actually listen to what we are saying. The conversation will grow out of the protester echo chamber and into the wider world, where it belongs.

Suits are tactical camouflage in the warrens of Wall Street. And there are other advantages. Need a bathroom? Try wearing a suit. It’s easy. Want to walk past a police barricade? Put on a suit.

Photos by Max Cohn (with many more available).

Matt Richardson and me in Polaroid Matrix Flipbook (& animated gif) form at World Maker Faire NY 2011 – thanks Sam Blanchard!

I’ll be in Illinois Oct 2-6 for a residency at Unit One, a nontraditional academic program for Allen Hall residents at Urbana-Champaign. I’ll be giving a talk and run workshops on soft circuits, sewing, project documentation, and being awesome online. Check out the details and join me if you can!

It was exciting to appear on The Engadget Show to discuss Maker Faire, DIY, and to show off my TV-B-Gone Jacket. The show archive is available online, and the segment starts at 24:50.

Soft champagne-colored silk men’s neckties bear the stripes of electronics resistors. Current stock available in my Etsy shop, but also available made-to-order in the Sternlab Store.