Source: Wired News
By Rachel Metz
30 April 2005

NEW YORK -- The city's tinkerers turned out in force for Bent 2005, an arts festival devoted to dismantling electronics to see what sounds they can make, often with loud results.

Held last week at city arts venue The Tank, the second annual circuit-bending festival attracted crowds to various free events and paid concerts -- all designed to give techies and newbies alike a chance to learn the subtle art of "circuit bending."

Circuit bending involves opening up and playing with the wiring in gadgets like electronic instruments and toys to produce different sounds. While children's toys are a popular choice and an easy place to start, many different gizmos can be "bent," all with different results.

Bent 2005 featured circuit-bending labs in the basement of The Tank's Midtown Manhattan location and workshop activities like Nintendo and Game Boy hacking. Come nightfall, the events wrapped up with concerts featuring bending musicians like DJ Sniff, Lorin Edwin Parker and Joker Nies.

Full Story