The Jam Jar Collective is a Leeds [UK] based group of artists makers & designers with backgrounds in programing, electronics, architectural and mobile projection, sonic design, live visuals, animation and film-making. We aspire to make all our projects out of equal parts fun, open source, interactive and based on an environmentally sound practice. We love nothing more than liberating new and old technology found in skips, military surplus yards or expired equipment donated from local companies and organisations.
We recycle what we find in our workshops, designs and installations. We are equally versed and currently researching technologies such as Arduino boards, QR codes, augmented reality and programming environments such as OpenFrameworks, VVVV, Processing, MaxMSP and others. We believe that expression through technology should be a human right and repurposing ubiquitous, house hold or forgotten technology can create new and exciting interactive installations and applications.
History
We came together through our initial project FriiSpray in Nov 2008. This uses everyday technology found in the home to create an infra-red spray can, this was then used with open source softwares to create a interactive graffiti installation. The success of the project took us all over the country showcasing the technology and speaking at conferences such as Thinking Digital, MAKEr Faire and Future Everything. We also received exposure on the BBC World service and various newspapers, magazines and exhibitions.
During this time, the 3 creators had so much of a chuckle they decided to form a company and reinvest the fruits of their labour back into the development of FriiSpray and the development of other collaborative projects.
Two years on and the collective is growing with the addition of master maker Scott Towler [RGB Laser projector, Ball Bearing Sculpture and currently working on his own DIY laser cutter].
We’ve started new collaborations with the likes of award winning animator Andy Sykes AKA hexjibber; Supreme tinkerers, designers and all super brains with our friends@Oomlout and independent curator, sculpture and furniture designer Micheale Spessa. We’ve been working with some awesome theatre companies too including Interplay and Pilot Theatre.
We are open to working with new people too, if you have an idea then drop us a line.
We are currently artists in residence at Temple Works, the once largest room in the world, former flax mill, along side Micheale Spessa, architect/artist Robert Sharples, writer in residence Phil Kirby and project director Susan Williamson. we are developing the artistic programme for the cultural project and the future of the residency space.