!!BLITZED!!

Well that's it for 2008 folks! We've had our first successful interactive Computer Graphics challenge and gallery. The city will never be the same, and hopefully our niche market of Computer Art developers will continue to spit out some spellbinding material. Of our few entries this year everyone earned awards and kudos. The most popular category hand's down was our interactive section. Ryan Hill's Mullet Man submission was our sole linear animation, and we had a grand total of zero procedural programmatic entries. Developers, get to work for next year! Submission awards were sponsored by MIDMA, Assiniboine Community College, and Flash In The Peg (with Apress and O'Reilly Media).

Now in this year's event, one submission did rise to the top with the event-wide People's Choice Award earning accolades from the crowd. Congratulations to Devin Reimer with his entry Virtual Spray Paint. Devin devised a way to paint digital ink particles onto a background using a Wiimotes to create the spray can and spatial measurement indicator. Not only did the spray can paint with a natural feel, but the Wiimote's progress was tracked over time, resulting in ink running low (built back up by shaking the can). All-in-all an incredible innovative installation that everyone was able to try. Congratulations Devin, and to all this year's submitters. Keep up the great work!

What is blitzgiving?

Welcome to the inaugural event known throughout the world (starting right here in Winnipeg) as Blitzgiving! This is the debut of a Computer Graphics celebration and challenge -  with the hopes of bending some minds, causing a few late nights (for the love of it, of course) and producing some great computer generated art! It’s a challenge to all of those from Winnipeg and abroad, to create and present there computer art for prizes and recognition. Isn’t that why we do anything ?!? So no reason not to enter :p

Who can Enter?

Blitzgiving is open to computer artists, whether that means you are a graphic designer, animator or programmer. There are three categories to cover as many basis as possible. We want to stretch the envelope in defining computer art. If we’re blown away in the process…all the better! The Categories are: Linear Presentation, Interactive Installation and Procedural Programmatic. Detailed descriptions can be found in at the Categories link.

What do I get?

Aside from your video, installation or application on view for your adoring public to see, there will be prizes in each category, TBA as they go through our “this will be groovy” filter. There will be for levels of recognition for each category. 1st, 2nd, and (for those that see the pattern, this may not surprise) 3rd place, and then a People’s Choice Award spot.

And how will I be judged?

From a council of peers, of course! Okay, maybe not peers…and maybe not a council! We will have 3 judges for all applications. One representing years of experience in the visual arts, one with extensive programming background, and one from the business side of our illustrious industry. Again, TBA. Oh, all the suspense! Peoples choice will be available for viewing as a YouTube video that we will post and link from this site, or if you’re submission is non-linear, we will host it as a web application here. If for some crazy reason we can’t do either, we will work with individual entrants to determine the best and most effective way to get your submission seen.

How long do I have?

Not long! But long enough that you don’t really have a excuse NOT to submit something. There will be a wrap-up dinner gallery on October 25th, 2008, that is pared up as a fundraiser for Arthritis Research, organized by Christa Wilchowy’s Joints In Motion Training Team [http://christa.wilchowy.com] . The wrap up gala is a Saturday. It will be an evening of dining, schmoozing and playing with the interactive CG submissions projected throughout the event. You can watch, play with and witness the computer art, and we’ll wrap it up with the announcement of winners, and a showcase of their piece. To do that, well we have to judge them, so entrants will have to submit no later than Wednesday, October 22nd. To arrange a submission, just email checkmyart@blitzgiving.com.

Remember to book your time for our Wrap-up dinner and gallery on October 25th! Enjoy media mingling with our interactive gallery. Take part in silent auctions. Schmooze with local computer artists. Ticket and auction proceeds go towards Joints In Motion Arthritis research.