A contemporary ensemble L2Ork explores the power of gesture, human-computer interaction, and the multidimensionality of arts, to build and strengthen physical and virtual communities of 21st century creatives.

 

 

(the 1,000 ft. version)

Named as one of the top six national transdisciplinary exemplars (a2ru, 2015), and one of the top eight research projects at Virginia Tech (DCist, 2014), a contemporary intermedia ensemble Linux Laptop Orchestra (L2Ork) [pronounced as lork] mixes traditional orchestra with increasingly accessible human-computer interaction technologies for the purpose of exploring expressive power of gesture, communal interaction, discipline-agnostic environment, and the multidimensionality of arts.

L2Ork, founded by Dr. Ivica Ico Bukvic in May 2009, is part of the interdisciplinary initiative by the Virginia Tech Digital Interactive Sound & Intermedia Studio (DISIS) and the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT). As the world’s first Linux-based laptop orchestra incorporating extensive study of gesture and Taiji (Tai Chi) choreography L2Ork offers optimal infrastructure for creative research at minimal cost. By providing a seamless integration of arts and sciences it is in part designed to provide an integrative approach to STEM, Arts, and Design, with particular focus on K-12 education and Maker-like initiatives.

Since its inception, L2Ork has helped start seven laptop orchestras in North and South Americas, most of which rely heavily on its affordable design. L2Ork’s infrastructural backbone, pd-l2ork, a Pure-Data variant with its unique K-12 learning module has been utilized in over half-dozen K-12 Maker workshops, including a Raspberry Pi Orchestra summer gifted program introduced in 2014.

If you would still like to learn more (as in 1 ft. version), please visit the No, Really, What is L2Ork? page.