The Arcade Scrapyard Challenge Workshop

The Scrapyard Challenge Workshops is an intensive workshop co-developed and co-led by Jonah Brucker-Cohen and Katherine Moriwaki where participants build simple electronic projects (both digital and analog inputs) out of found or discarded “junk” (old electronics, clothing, furniture, outdated computer equipment, appliances, turntables, monitors, gadgets, etc..). Since 2003, over 100 workshops have been held in 15 countries, on 5 continents with 3 different themes.

This workshop will focus on creating classic arcade game controllers out of discarded objects and junk. Participants will be broken up into 4 to 5 groups, with each group focused on creating a controller for their chosen game. All interfaces created will be connected to a Raspberry Pi running RetroPie. The Workshop participants within their groups will then have time to demonstrate and present their creations to everyone.

No electronics skills or any experience with technology is necessary to participate in the workshops.

Bring Your Own Junk!

You are welcome to bring old electronics – video game controllers (joysticks), radios, toys, outdated computer equipment, old appliances, turntables, random gadgets, stuffed animals, etc.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, October 10, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: D.G. Ivey Library, New College (20 Willcocks Street)

Note: This workshop is offered at part of the New One: NEW103 Digital Technology and Society. Open to New College and University of Toronto community.

Space is limited – register today!

Thank you for your interest – registration is now closed.

Have questions about the upcoming event – reach out to new.one@utoronto.ca

If you missed this event, don’t worry, check out New College’s Event page for all our upcoming events.

As part of the International Leonardo LASER series. Johan Brucker-Cohen will be holding an evening discussion called Critical Networked Experience – an Artist Talk at The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences on Thursday October 10 at 5:30 PM. Register today!

Workshop Leader:

Jonah Brucker-Cohen

Jonah Brucker-Cohen, Ph.D., is an artist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Lehman College / CUNY in the Bronx. He was a visiting artist at Cornell Tech and designer in residence at the New York Hall of Science. He received his Ph.D. from Trinity College Dublin. His work focuses on “Deconstructing Networks” with works that challenge and subvert accepted perceptions of network interaction. His artwork has been exhibited at venues such as SFMOMA, Canadian Museum of Contemporary Art, MOMA, ICA London, Whitney Museum of American Art, Palais du Tokyo, Tate Modern, Ars Electronica, Transmediale, and more. His artworks, “Bumplist” and “America’s Got No Talent” are in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art. He has written for WIRED, Make, Gizmodo, Neural and more. His Scrapyard Challenge workshops have been held in over 15 countries in Europe, South America, North America, Asia, and Australia since 2003.

Check out Jonah’s projects and work!