15. Juraj Kojs

Cultist proudly presents "100 Creatives," where we feature Miami's cultural superheroes in random order. Have suggestions for future profiles? Email [email protected] with the whos and whys. 15. Juraj KojsArtist Juraj Kojs makes music with things and art with people. He uses everyday objects, computers, lights, and manpower to create interdisciplinary...

By Liz Tracy

February 11, 2011

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Cultist proudly presents "100 Creatives," where we feature Miami's cultural superheroes in random order. Have suggestions for future profiles? Email [email protected] with the whos and whys.

15. Juraj Kojs

Artist Juraj Kojs makes music with things and art with people. He uses everyday objects, computers, lights, and manpower to create interdisciplinary performances. During last year's Here & Now Festival, he revealed Neraissance (Neo-Renaissance). The show used the energy of people pedaling stationary bikes to fuel machines. The created power created a unique symphony of sewing machines, radios, fans, and other gears. The electronic cacophony was supplemented by live performances by a post-punk, fetish fairy and a bride wrapped in lights. Watch the hypnotic video here.

He has shown his unique brand of kinetic, visual, and sound art in Europe, Asia, and the Americas and in the journals Organized Sound, Digital Creativity, Leonardo Music Journal, and Journal of New Music Research.   The Slovakian composer, performer, and multimedia artist is also a PhD, having received his degree in Composition and Computer Technologies from the University of Virginia.

He is the director of Foundation for Music Technologies (FETA). And at Harold Golen Gallery in Wynwood, he has held a concert series 12 Nights of Electronic Music and Art for the last three years. Kojs spent the last two years on faculty in the Department of Music at Yale University as the Postdoctoral Associate in Music Technology and Multimedia Art.

1. List five things that inspire you.

-People 
-Nature

-Movement

-Silence

-Technologies

2. What was your last big project?

MATA selected me to curate an event for their Interval concert series in NYC. The concert "In One" happened on January 13 at Issue Project Room in Brooklyn. I performed my own composition At and Across (sheep bells and cyberbells) at the concert.   It received a wonderful review.   

3. What's your next big project?

I am collaborating with Alexey Taran and Carla Forte of the Bistoury physical theater company on a new hour-long performance project Assassins for One Night, based on the play The Night of Assassins written by Cuban playwright J. Triana. The premiere performance is scheduled for May 5 at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium's Black Box Theater. In the meantime, one of the scenes will be performed at the 92Y Contemporary Dance Festival in NYC in a few weeks.

I'm also working on a muscle-powered multimedia installation Riding Music and Light for the Wynwood's O-Cinema. In this ecological installation, the viewers will pedal a stationary bicycle attached to a power generator and energize networks of light and sound. The installation will open during the gallery walk night on May 14. Mark your calendars.

 4. Why do you do what you do?

 
I cannot do otherwise.

 5. What's something you want Miami to know about you?

I have been enthusiastic about developing the experimental music scene in Miami's Wynwood and forming a community of people interested in emerging art forms and technologies. Three years ago, we began a concert series called 12 Nights of Electronic Music and Art at Harold Golen Gallery. Thirty seven (yes) free (that's right) concerts later, we are ready to open our 2011 season tonight. Come, join, and enjoy. We're always looking for new talents. In case you are interested in supporting us in any way, please, contact us to become a part of this invigorating music and art force in Miami.

What's something you don't want Miami to know about you?

If you do not want someone to know something, do not tell them.

The Creatives so far:

16. Cat Dove
17. Campbell McGrath
18. Frances Trombly
19. Jose Mertz
20. Emma Trelles
21. Pablo Cano
22. Natasha Tsakos
23. Freegums
24. Aurora Natrix
25. Gean Moreno
26. Yaddyra Peralta
27. Barron Sherer
28. Brigid Baker
29. Daniel Fila
30. McLaine Oberhellmann
31. Fro Rojas
32. Annie Hollingsworth
33. Preston Allen
34. Cristina Molina
35. David Josef Tamargo
36. Jillian Mayer
37. Alfonso Vega
38. Natasha Lopez de Victoria
39. Aholsniffsglu e

40. Heather Malone y
41. Jorge Rubiera
42. Elaine Lancaster
43. Nick Duckart
44. Danielle Estefan
45. John Dufresne
46. Monica Lopez de Victoria
47. Bill Bilowit
48. Alette Simmons-Jimenez
49. Tawnie Silva
50. Ginger Bardot
51. Jonathan David Kane
52. Naomi Fisher
53. Rocky Grimes
54. Teresa Barcelo
55. Paul Tei
56. Lee Materazzi

57. Karla Garcia
58. Anna Mixon
59. Octavio Campos
60. P. Scott Cunningham
61. Elena Garcia
62. Summer Hill
63. Autumn Casey
64. Juan Navarro
65. Serge Toussaint
66. David Rohn
67. Diane Brache
68. Spencer Morin
69. James Anthony
70. Jim Drain
71. Claudia Calle
72. Kevin Arrow
73. Andrew Hevia
74. Ana Mendez
75. Michael McKeever
76. Diana Lozano
77. Ricardo Pau-Llosa
78. Agustina Woodgate
79. Tarell Alvin McCraney
80. Jennifer Kronenberg
81. Farley Aguilar
82. Colin Foord
83. Karelle Levy
84. Matt Gajewski
85. Antonia Wright
86. Allen Charles Klein
87. Christy Gast
88. Gustavo Matamoros
89. Shareen Rubiera-Sarwar
90. Kyle Trowbridge
91. Clifton Childree
92. Jessica Gross
93. Danny Brito
94. Nektar de Stagni
95. Anthony Spinello
96. Vanessa Garcia
97. Justin Long
98. Rosie Herrera
99. Rick Falcon
100. Ingrid B

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Liz Tracy is a culture and health journalist whose writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Glamour, and Vox. Previously, she served as New Times Broward-Palm Beach's music editor for three years. Wherever she goes, she brings a little bit of Miami with her.

Contact: Liz Tracy

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