INTRODUCING LOCUST LATE @ THE DiLL - A new hub of digital innovation!
Since its launch in 2023, Locust Late @ the Digital Innovation Lounge + Lab (DiLL) has become a go-to space for artists looking to test ideas, explore digital tools, and engage in meaningful dialogue, all in a casual, after-hours setting. Designed as an open forum for creative exchange, Locust Late is where works-in-progress meet fresh perspectives, where emerging technologies get hands-on exploration, and where collaboration thrives.
Each month, artists, technologists, and curious minds gather at Locust Projects to share skill sets, troubleshoot projects, and push the boundaries of digital art. Past events have included everything from live coding demos to experimental sound explorations, VR installations, and deep dives into creative software. Whether an artist is looking to refine a concept, learn from peers, or simply connect with a like-minded community, Locust Late @ the DiLL provides the space to make it happen.
Free and open to the public, Locust Late @ the DiLL is part of the Knight Digital Innovation Lab at Locust Projects and strengthens our mission to support artists working at the intersection of art and technology. Whether you’re a seasoned digital artist, a creative technologist, or just starting to explore new tools, you’re invited to join us and be part of the conversation.
January 18, 2024 - The first Locust Late of 2024 - A Workshop with sound and intermedia artist Alba Triana
For our first DiLL of the New Year, guests were invited to bring their own laptops and join Triana in her exploration of the essence of the natural world, delving into vibration, energy, interconnectedness, and nature’s self-organization to probe how the vitality of everything—alive or inert—greatly determines who we are and what we manifest.
March 14 - Video art and Projections Workshop with Theo Rodino and Valeria Fernandez
Presented by artists and musicians Theo Rodino and Valeria Fernandez, this hands-on workshop introduced participants to the process of analog videotape splicing for video art and live projections. Using VHS tapes and reels, Rodino and Fernandez shared DIY-friendly techniques for creating and manipulating analog video, offering an accessible entry points into the medium. Participants explored the process of physically editing tape, constructing projected video works, and enhancing their visuals using video synthesizers and other instruments.
April 25 - Workshop with Dimitry Chamy - Databases, tables, and lists as tools, cultural artifacts, and materials for art creation
This workshop opened with an introduction to the fundamentals of databases, exploring their connections to both the practical and conceptual concerns of artists. Framing databases as powerful tools for artistic expression, Dimitry Saïd Chamy guided participants through the process of creating a catalog raisonné using a customizable online template—designed to be adaptable to individual artistic practices.
Expanding on the idea of collective data structures, Chamy introduced alphabets as one of the earliest and most influential examples of shared databases. Participants were invited to contribute to Chamy’s ArtistFont project, collaboratively crafting a hand-made digital alphabet. As a takeaway, each received a copy of the final font.
The evening concluded with a performance by Juraj Kojš, an inventive composer, performer, and technologist whose work bridges art, nature, and science. His Orchid Music project—in which Chamy has also performed—translates DNA sequences of endangered orchids into music, celebrating biodiversity and cross-cultural exchange through sound.
May 16 - Digital Illustration Workshop with Ruth Burotte Tamfee
Ruth Burotte Tamfee led a hands-on introduction to digital art and character design using the Japanese illustration software Clip Studio Paint. Participants explored the fundamentals of multi-software artwork, covering the creative process from sketch to digital rendering while learning essential techniques such as gesture drawing, silhouettes, and refining line art.
The workshop also delved into digital tools that mimic traditional textures, offering insights on digital brushes, online resources for art brushes, and incorporating textures into compositions. Additionally, Tamfee introduced methods for integrating 3D elements into illustrations, demonstrating landscape design with Cinema 4D and portrait sculpting with Nomad Sculpt. Beyond technical skills, participants gained a deeper understanding of character development, focusing on how to craft compelling figures with depth and personality—laying the foundation for engaging, narrative-driven artwork.
Presented as part of the Knight Digital Innovation Lab at Locust Projects.