FoAM - website

...grow your own worlds

nik — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 09:34:40 +0000

FoAM is a research group and a transdisciplinary laboratory for holistic and speculative cultures.

FoAM consists of a network of generalists, committed to supporting and developing a holistic culture. Our members include artists, facilitators, gardeners, cooks, technologists, designers, entrepreneurs, writers and scientists from all walks of life.

FoAM's activities arise from the gaps between traditional disciplines, to uncover and strengthen links & interdependencies between them. The activities are developed in three interconnected streams: creative research, collaborative facilitation and archiving. The activites range from research initiatives and residencies, to workshops and coaching, public events and publishing.

All FoAM's pursuits foster cultural resilience, interdependent collaboration and playful curiosity. We are dedicated to supporting and advancing a community of generalists, people who live and work in the interstitial spaces between professional & cultural boundaries, operating under the motto “grow your own worlds”.

darcs repositories

nik — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:38:08 +0000

The darcs repos previously found at this URL are currently unavailable. please contact nik.at.fo.am with any questions/requests/commits.

http://x4.fo.am/cgi-bin/darcsweb.cgi

The Libarynth

_pix — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:42:03 +0000

The ever-growing Libarynth is exactly what its name implies – a hybrid between a library and a labyrinth, a maze of pages in various stages of completion. FoAM's collaborators and friends use the Libarynth as their research diary, sketch-book, or activity log. Some pages are valuable references, on a variety of topics; from visual programming, to inflatables and even vegetarian-friendly restaurants around the world. Others are fully-fledged research reports, or concept documents. Many of the pages are in development, containing a few links and a couple of short notes, inviting interested wiki-gnomes to complete them. Some sections of the Libaryth are well structured, others are overgrown and forgotten. For weeks it could be quiet on the Libarynth, with sudden bursts of activity when several people work on a joint project, or one person spends a substantial amount of time updating pages, during a research residency. It is messy and unkempt, but we like it that way. It is a living archive of FoAM's interests and activities, continually changing and expanding. For novice users, it can be overwhelming, so we advise extreme caution when first treading into the Libarynth. You can easily get lost, stumble upon many dead ends, but also find surprising treasures...

http://libarynth.org

Resources

_pix — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:35:57 +0000

FoAM's network is an abundant source of trans-disciplinary and multicultural nodes - individuals, collectives, other networks. Among our collaborators and friends, we share a rich source of knowledge and experience, most of which is publicly available in different forms. Practitioners of all colours and specialisations have access to our distributed consultancy. We can provide the consults online, or in our studios, depending on the particular needs of the advice-seekers.

For people who prefer finding things out on their own, FoAM has a library and a documentation centre. Both online and on-site, researchers can dig through a wealth of information, collected over the years of research and production. For the more sensorially oriented, FoAM offers a collection of materials and media, that can be touched, viewed and listened to, in the quiet library of our studio in Brussels. All of these resources focus on providing our peers with the necessary information, time, space and people, which are needed to advance their practice and strengthen the community as a whole.

advice centre

nik — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:05:18 +0000

FoAM's consultancy is a way for us to share the knowledge and experience that we have accumulated over the years. As our network of collaborators is spread around the globe, the consultancy is distributed as well. Our primary site, where people can pose their questions is the online forum. If a question can be answered online, we will do so through the forum, or if necessary by exchanging direct emails and voice conversations. When the advice requires more in-depth research, we organise meetings in our studios, with one or more consultants. Sometimes, the practitioners ask for a longer term follow-up of their activities, when FoAM's collaborators assume a mentoring role, guiding the practitioners through the initial stages of the research or production process. Our expertise lies in connecting disparate fields of knowledge, whole systems thinking, as well as functioning as a 'match-maker' for trans-disciplinary collaborations. On a more practical level, we often consult on technological development for the social and cultural sphere, new materials, eco-design, group facilitation, as well as structuring and financing interdisciplinary initiatives. If we can't answer the questions ourselves, we reach deeper within our network and connect people with our partner organisations in Europe and beyond.

Network

nik — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:44:35 +0000

[foam]'s network is composed of individuals, collectives, organisations and institutions, who we collaborate with on various aspects of our activities. The network gains its stability from long-term relationships, while the new, or temporary nodes provide the flexibility and dynamics. The resilience of the network lies in its diversity - its nodes vary in size, geographic position, expertise and resources.

Friends and collaborators. past, present and future

Adam Hyde, Adrian Cheok, Adrian Hon, Alejo Duque, Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino, Alkan Chipperfield, Allison Zinder, Alok Nandi, Amy Franceschini, Ana Rewakowicz, Andrea Polli, Angelo Vermeulen, Ann Barcomb, Ann Light, Annemie Maes, Anthony Pateras, Bart Vandeput, Ben Gimpert, Ben Russel, Biba Vickovic, Brian Degger, Brian McClave, Bunker Roy, Camila Valenzuela, Carole Collet, Caroline Daish, Chris Salter, Christina Della Giustina, Christoph De Boeck, Chuck Varga, Code31, Daina Tamina, David De Rotschild, David Griffiths, Dirk De Wit, Douglas Brew, Dylan Krasevac, Edith Doove, Edwin van de Heide, Emily Kusaite, Eric Parys, Femke Snelting, Francesca Da Rimini, Franziska Huebler, Gaëtan Robillard, Gert Aartsen, Gert Brantner, Goran Kuzmanovic, Greet Vanderheiden, Grey Filastine, Guy Van Belle, Hanne De Nil, Hans De Man, Heath Bunting, Hendrik Leper, Hervé Gouget, Honor Harger, Infernal Noise Brigade, Ionat Zurr, Isabel Rocamora, Isabelle Coppet, Jack Anderson, Jasmijn Snoojink, Jean-Noël Montagné, Jennifer Leonard, Jenny Tillotson, Jim Ruxton, Jo Vernaillen, Joanna Berzowska, Joel Ryan, John Hartley, John Wojteczowski, Jonah Bruckner-Cohen, Joris Bois, Julian Oliver, Julie Vandenbroucke, Karmen Franinovic, Kate Rich, Katherine Moriwaki, Kayle Brandon, Kirsty Kitto, Kobe Matthys, Kristina Andersen, Laura Colmenares Guerra, Leif Elggren, Liesbeth Huybrechts, Linda Karlsson, Lizbeth Goodman, Lucas Chirnside, Maggie Buxton, Maki Ueda, Marcelo Coelho, Margo De Koster, Maria Blaisse, Mark Harwood, Marko Peljhan, Matthew Fuller, Matthias Gmachl, Mette Ramsgard Thompsen, Michael Waisvisz, Mike Harding, Mike Longhurst, Mitchel Whitelaw, Myriel Milicevic, Nat Muller, Nathan Grey, Oliver Lowenstein, Olu Vandenbussche, Oron Katz, Oswald Berthold, Pablo Diartinez, Patrick De Kooning, Peter Heremans, Peter van Hoesen, Phillipe Langlois, Pieter de Wel, Rachael Tempest, Rachel Wingfield, Randall Krantz, Rasa Alksnyte, Regine Debatty, Rob Wilton, Rob van Kranenburg, Robin Fox, Roos Smith, Ruben Bus, Sabine Seymour, Sanjeev Shankar, Sara Nuytemans, Sha Xin Wei, Sher Doruff, Sia Kyriakakos, Sneha Solanki, Sonia Cillari, Srinivasan Soundara Rajan (Vasu), Stefan Magdalinski, Stephen Barras, Steven Pickles (Pix), Stevie Wishart, Suzanne Bentley, Tale of Tales (Auriea Harvey & Michael Samyn), Tapio Makela, Teis Draiby, Theo Botschuiver, Timesup, Tim Boykett, Tim Rottiers, Tina Auer, Tina Gonsalves, Toby Borland, Todor Todoroff, Tom Heene, Tom Schouten, Vahida Ramujkic, Vali Lalioti, Veronique Daussy, Wietske Maas, Xin Wei Sha, Yon Visell and others...

Want to get involved?

There are many ways in which people can get involved with [foam]. By adding new 'bubbles' into the mix, [foam] remains locally dynamic, while becoming increasingly globally resilient preparation. You can join us on one of our public events. If you have a problem, or a question, contact our advice centre. You can present and discuss your ongoing projects during one of our monthly Research Gatherings. You can participate in our workshops, become a temporary resident, intern, or a more permanent collaborator. To begin with, you can drop us an email on info (at) f0 (dot) am. We're looking forward to hearing from you...

Contact

nik — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:08:32 +0000

FoAM vzw
Koolmijnenkaai 30-34
1080 Brussels
Belgium
email: bxl (at) fo (dot) am

phone: +32 2 513 5928

core team:
nik gaffney: nik (at) fo (dot) am | http://twitter.com/zzkt
dave griffiths: dave (at) fo (dot) am | http://www.pawfal.org/dave/blog/
maja kuzmanovic: maja (at) fo (dot) am | http://be.linkedin.com/in/majakuzmanovic
christina stadlbauer: christina (at) fo (dot) am
rasa alksnyte: rasa (at) fo (dot) am
bartaku: bvandeput (at) fo (dot) am

google earth
google maps
via michelin

Stichting FOAM lab
Witte de withstraat 122
1057 ZH Amsterdam
The Netherlands
email: ams (at) fo (dot) am

core team:
theun karelse: theun (at) fo (dot) am | http://twitter.com/theunk
cocky eek: cocky (at) fo (dot) am | http://cockyeek.com/

google maps

Grow your own Worlds

nik — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:06:45 +0000

mission

FoAM is committed to growing inclusive, resilient and abundant worlds. We do this by providing a context and a structure to research, design and reflect on transdisciplinary creative practices. By seeking out and connecting people in the interstitial spaces between professional and cultural boundaries, we are smoothing the way for a community of ‘generalists’. This diverse community enables its members to tackle complex challenges, in the cultural, as well as technological environments. While facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops, or mixing digital and physical realities, FoAM steers the creative practices towards ethically and environmentally sustainable practices. Our motto, ‘grow your own worlds’ alludes to our mission; to move from wasteful consumption and mindless dependence to responsible participation in all aspects of our lives.

core principles

All FoAM activites are derived from three sets of core principles. [1] FoAM should, through all its activities, foster interdependence between people and their disciplines through transdisciplinary collaboration. We believe that the world is an intricate tangle of realities, which cannot be understood by hacking it into a heap of single issues. By collaborating with various disciplines, we believe that we can better grasp the world in its elegant complexity. [2] Our actions and their outcomes should nourish our cultural and natural environment, as well as sustain ourselves. This can only be accomplished if we foster a culture of sharing, rather than commodifying, where prosperity doesn’t equal property. FoAM is therefore an avid supporter of open-source and copy-left movements, advocating the view that free access to resources stimulates collective creativity and innovation. [3] Working with a diversity of people and sharing resources allows us to discover new things and be amazed by the world on a daily basis. We cherish this curios approach to the world, spicing it up with a hint of irreverence, playfulness and humility.

vision

We live in a world whose social, environmental and economic systems are fundamentally out of balance. From education to politics, from science to arts, cultivation and culture, most these systems today are based on segregation, reductionism and homogeneity. We see a world, not too far in the future, in which building bridges between separate disciplines, cultures and beliefs will become not only a desired talent, but an essential survival skill. Once the bridges are built, we can work together to design a fairer and greener world, that can thrive on interdependence and diversity. Amidst turbulent climate, wasteful consumerism and xenophobic security measures, FoAM is a haven for people who are committed to finding creative solutions to these intricate problems.

organisation

As with foam (the preparation), FoAM (the group) is a dynamic entity, able to change shape and scale as required. We can be a transdisciplinary organisation in the morning, a tightly knit family at lunchtime, a learning facility in the afternoon, a loose bunch of philosophers in the evening and a dedicated designers collective by night. Most of our activities occur in FoAM-Labs, our trans-local bases; hybrids between research laboratories and creative studios. FoAM-Labs are designed to encourage reciprocal exchanges of ideas, techniques and experiences. We are organised as a distributed laboratory, with bases and nodes (people, projects and partner-organisations) spread across the globe. This distributed structure allows us to keep the bases (FoAM-Labs) as small and flexible organisations able to incubate and spawn experimental initiatives, while the network can support and develop activities on larger scales.

activities

FoAM develops its activities in a layered structure, as long-term initiatives, yearly thematic projects and short term experiments. This structure allows us to touch on 'burning issues' as they arise, as well as be engaged in projects concerned with slower, long term tendencies. Our activities can be loosely categorised as [1] research and creation, [2] education and learning, [3] dissemination and archiving. In diverse teams of generalists and specialists, we research and create experimental situations, responsive environments, active materials, generative media, culinary performances and other forms of participatory culture. We encourage shared learning and development, by facilitating workshops and hosting public events. We disseminate accumulated knowledge in co-authored publications, on-line and on-site libraries and archives. We are equally inspired by sciences and arts, nature and culture, engineering and design, physical and digital, upholding the values of complexity and whole systems thinking. We create hybrid realities by infusing knowledge with imagination and routine with magic.