Get updates by RSS
Update #4: 24 hours to go! SF Event tonight! and 1 million updates yet to come.
24 hours to go! SF Event tonight! and 1 million updates yet to come.
Thanks to you and the generous donation of Square Enix, a couple of large donations by Individuals, and countless of donations from all over the world — we made our Kickstarter goal, meaning we will be able to fund the development of the prototype of an eye-camera.- but again this is the minimal for just stage one of building the prototype. We definitely need more than 100k for it to be a viable device! So we need to keep raising money!
So for our final 24 hour window we want to celebrate with you tonight before the deadline tomorrow!
But we are so incredibly thrilled we reached our Kickstarter goal! There are still 24 hours to go and we are hoping to raise over 1K to reach a 20K mark. Besides helping create a sustainable enterprise; this will go to planning other aspects of EyeTanya’s mission: Interactive Website (A Bionics and Healing Resource for the Visually Impaired & Disabled,) Graphic Novel, Experimental Documentary, Interactive performances, ETC.
There are so many things to update you all about. But there hasn’t been time for me to sit down and blog – I guess that’s a good thing when life takes you galloping and all you have are the reigns, and the knowledge at some point you will have time for a breather and reflection. But the meantime, I’m back from a brief stint in NY just in time for
our GROW A NEW EYE, SF event tonight!
Hope to see you there!
~tanya
EVENT DETAILS: http://growaneweyesf.eventbrite.com/
The evening is guaranteed to stir the imagination. There will be music, video installations, film screenings and heated discussions about the possibilities and limitations of technology on the human body.
Live Streaming
The Retro-Future Experience with performances by
Project Agora
Haggai Cohen Milo
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT TICKETING:
Entry is via donating on Kickstarter. If you have already backed the project on our Kickstarter campaign at the $25 level or higher, your name will be on the Will Call list.
To purchase a ticket in advance, back our project at the $25 level or highter at: http://kck.st/jOsMw0.
All walk-ins are welcome but you will be asked to contribute via Kickstarter at the door! Of course if you want to pay cash only – we won’t turn you away!
Follow on Twitter: @TanyaVlach @EyeTanya
RELATED ARTICLES- Tanya Vlach’s ‘Grow A New Eye’ Camera On Kickstarter (VIDEO)(huffingtonpost.com)
Update #3: Holy Bionic Eyeball!
Yesterday we received a hefty donation from the folks at Square Enix, a donation that sent us over the edge. At first we thought "Square Enix" might be a pen name for a donor who wished to remain anonymous. It turns out that's not the case and Square Enix, the gaming company responsible for the famed game: Deus Ex (!) has backed our project. There is an obvious symmetry between the themes of augmentation in their game and what Tanya is attempting to do in real life. Much potential in future collaboration! Square Enix's reward is a souvenir eye-camera (batteries not included)! Thanks infinitely for taking us beyond our funding goal, guys!
And thanks to EVERY ONE of you who has donated your hard-earned money, and spread the word to your friends, family and colleagues. Thank you for your spirit, for believing in this hair-brain idea and for sending this story on to it's next chapter.
But it ain't over 'til it's over. We still have 6 days to go before the end of our Kickstarter chapter so thanks for continuing to spread the word! If you have donated please let people know on FB, Twitter, or on the bus that you were part of making a bionic camera eye. We hope you'll stay along for the ride because this is truly just the start of our journey.
As a crowdfunded effort, this project is definitely yours too. That's why we'd like to invite NY backers who have donated at the $20 level or above to join us for a celebration on Sunday, July 31 at the Brooklyn Winery in Williamsburg. Tanya's in New York until Monday and she'd like to thank all of you New York backers in person. Special highlights will include a video installation, live video projections from supporters of our project and a silent auction including a signed print from notorious photographer Dan Winters. Then on Tuesday, August 2nd, she'll return to the fog for a celebration at Kunst-Stoff Arts in San Francisco with live performances by Project Agora and Haggai Cohen Milo. Your name is on that guest list too.
If you've backed at a lower tier and would like to attend one or both (you jet-setter, you) of these events, you can adjust the amount of money you've donated online or pay the difference at the door. Or if you are strapped for cash (totally understandle) and you still want to come you can help us out at the event. We can use all the help we can get.
Thanks for making this dream a reality. I'm thrilled you helped us on the way. The better to see you with my dears.
In gratitude,
EyeTanya
Update #2: Sooo Close!
Hey Kickstarter Supporters!
Thank you so so SO much for supporting our Grow A New Eye campaign. Over the past month, we've been overwhelmed by your generous donations not to mention the unanticipated media buzz on Engadget, Gizmodo and the Huffington Post. From $1 donations to a $4K donation that just came in yesterday, every dollar has helped bring us closer to making this vision (no pun intended) a reality. Your messages have warmed, inspired and challenged us! Let's keep the conversation going:
- If you're a Facebook user, please like our page: https://www.facebook.com/myeyecamera
- EyeTanya has also branched off from Tanya's personal Twitter account! Please, if you tweet, follow the project at www.twitter.com/eyetanya and let us know if you've donated with #growaneweye
- Also, we love your little online avatars but we'd love you more in person. We are having two events--One on Sunday, July 31 in NYC and then on Tues, August 2 in SF! This event is for all of you who have donated at the $20 level or higher. The events will be streaming live, so everyone else who has donated $1 and up will be sent a private link to be a part of the event remotely. Tanya, herself will send you a special update about these two events shortly.
We're 87% away from our &15k goal to begin building the prototype for the camera eye prosthesis. Thanks for giving us a shout out on your various social media channels If we can make it to 15k great! But this is just a stepping stone. If we can make more, it will allow us to bring on a team of engineers and medical consultants to take this vision even farther. This is just the beginning in reframing the discourse around disability.
Thanks again for all of your incredible support and enthusiasm! We won't forget!
~EyeTanya
Update #1: Grow a New Eye Kickstarter Update!
Hi - sorry for the long LONG pause before my first update. June was a hectic month!
"For those of you outside the U.S. who have tried to back my Kickstarter project and cannot because Amazon “sometimes” has problems with foreign accounts… I finally received a response from Kickstarter – they are aware of this problem and said Amazon offered them this inelegant solution: Have the person start a new account at Amazon to make the payment from. It should go through no problem. Sorry! I hope that helps you guys!"
News:
July 13th - Gizmodo.com http://gizmodo.com/5820839/nows-your-chance-to-buy-a-bionic-camera-eye-for-a-lady
July 10th - Engadget.com http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/10/insert-coin-prosthetic-eye-digital-camera-video/
July 9th - Tecmundo.com.br http://www.tecmundo.com.br/11415-olho-bionico-promete-dar-zoom-e-ate-gravar-em-hd.htm
We are 38% funded for the Grow a New Eye Kickstarter campaign and I’m thrilled that you all have contributed as much as you did - we are still a ways off and have 20 days left! Seriously stressful stuff.
I’m continuing to collect the suggestions and will post the highlights in each update. Video update is coming!
1. First I want to clear up that this project by no means entail connecting to my occipital lobe to regain sight in my left eye. This is invasive surgery and I’ve been told I’m not a candidate anyway - my Grow a new eye project is primarily a technological artistic experiment, transforming something that was lost into another type of seeing device.
2. Grow a new eye is phase one in engineering the eye-camera. This will entail building a bread board to make sure all the parts work together. In other words it will take some time and more funding to get the technology to work and be small enough to fit inside my prosthesis.
3. Battery Power - is one of the biggest challenges with the project.
In terms of heat, size, and affect on the body.
Spoke with an engineer today who specializes in battery and wireless power,
And he mentioned energy harvesting - sounds pretty darn cool.
4. One of the earliest suggestions was using silicone for the prosthesis instead of Acrylic- this is the first I heard of a silicone eye-prosthesis and I’m open to experimentation. I think the upside to silicone is that it may handle higher temperature than acrylic.
5. I am looking to build a community forum for my website on EyeTanya’s Community Page this will separate the One-Eyed comments and the Engineering suggestions and inquiries (there will also be an art section). I'd like place for all of the new and old info to go and to be organized. Currently my website is still wordpress.com and I need to migrate to wordpress.org
6. Thanks all who have contributed - complete list up til the minute is added to the BACKER Page on my EyeTanya.com website! UBER GRATEFUL - video updates coming I swear. And I can’t wait to get you your EyeTanya schwag.
7. Call to action: please tell your friends! or someone who you think might be interested in the project. We accept $1 donations and $5000 donations and anything in between.
8. If you donated you are invited to attend an exclusive event in NY July 30th and/ or San Francisco August 2nd (the day before the end of the campaign.
And if you haven’t donated you are invited to contribute via Kickstarter at the door!
9. Yes, I know who the EYEBORG is! We've met and our cyborg rivalry continues - he is not interested in collaborating. So I say let the best WOman win!
While I'm teasing; our projects are different and both of us have something to offer in terms of our unique perspectives. I'm open to collaborate in the future if a Cyborg peace offer is made. :)
10. Other things: Open source!
Much appreciated!
See you on the flip side!
~tanya
EyeTanya.com
318
Backers
$19,631
pledged of $15,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on August 3, 2011.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
A special handmade Eye Tanya magnet or button + all of the above.
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
$20 or more will get you into two exclusive EyeTanya events, one in NYC on July 31 (http://growaneweyeny.eventbrite.com/) and the other in San Francisco on August 2 (http://growaneweyesf.eventbrite.com/). If you're not in these areas, we'll send you a link to attend the event remotely via a live stream.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
A limited edition signed, Eye,Tanya thank you note made from sketches for the graphic novel component of the project, + your name on the website and exclusive project updates.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
A full rez printed image of YOUR choice taken from the eye cam and signed by Tanya Vlach + all the above
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
A private invitation to the exclusive wrap party, unveiling the camera prosthesis and how it works + Associate Producer credit.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
VIP access to the exclusive wrap party + Associate Producer credit.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
VIP access to the exclusive wrap party and a private interview with Tanya.
Pledge $1,500 or more Pledge $1,500 or more
Limited edition designer Eye Patch by renouned designer (TBD) + VIP access to the wrap party.
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
Your very own souvenir version of the eye camera (not to be worn as a prosthesis) + producer credit. More information available upon request.
Project By
Connected as Tanya Marie Vlach (1653 friends)
The same day Hurricane Katrina hit, Tanya Vlach was driving on the other side of the country in Northern California on her way to one of the largest arts festivals in the world. At dusk she was found unconscious from a traumatic accident. Tanya barely came out alive, losing her left eye in the tumble, among other injuries.
Becoming this intimate with death, Tanya is driven by the consciousness of the fragile nature of life and her work is imbued with this sense of urgency.
5th generation San Franciscan, Tanya considers herself a trans-disciplinary artist, having an extensive background in dance, theater, visual, and literary arts.
Founder of COLIBRITA Production Company, she has produced and curated several multidisciplinary events throughout the Bay Area.
Any more updates to come, or was this it?