Equilibrium: Love September 24, 2009

EQUILIBRIUM is a new event from the folks at Langton Labs and Down to a Science. Every month, we'll craft a unique experience of science, art, and music all around a singular theme. Kicking off the series will be "LOVE"

When you arrive, mingle with liked-minded nerds, view an exhibit of the "I Love You Because..." photo project and create your own portrait with the artist. Take a seat with an old friend or friendly stranger in Empath - a biofeedback based visualization of how honest your communications really are. Visit the bar, stocked with special aphrodisiac cocktails, At 8, we'll dive into the talks: hear about neurophysiology of love, the complex relationship issues of chimpanzees, and what it takes to keep love alive in a relationship. A lighting round of audience Q&A follows each short talk. Trade your thinking caps for some easy listening - at 9:30 Steve Taylor takes the stage with a special acoustic set of his inspired tracks. Finally, break out your dancing shoes and pop-lock-grind it out as producer/dj Shipwrek drops delectable beats from his masterfully crafted debut album, Journal.

There will be a licensed cash bar provided by Missing Piece Mobile. Chocolate Truffles will be available for purchase thanks to Edible Love Chocolates.

TALKS
The Neurophysiology of Love with Dr. Kiki Sanford
New love can look for all the world like mental illness, a blend of mania, dementia and obsession that cuts people off from friends and family and prompts out-of-character behavior - compulsive phone calling, serenades, yelling from rooftops - that could almost be mistaken for psychosis. Kirsten will discuss the recent brain imaging research that explains some of our compulsive behavior when we are bitten by the love bug.

Dr. Kiki is a PhD scientist (Neurophysiology) who somehow escaped from the lab and is now making my way in independent Science media and journalism.

Love Will Keep Us Together? with Jerry Candelaria
Almost every love story begins like a fairy tale. Relationship beginnings are always incredible and they can often experience a renaissance following wedding, honeymoon, or even a special anniversary. Couples often find that the love and romance becomes more of a challenge to keep alive when their lives evolve with jobs, children, and other life commitments. Sometimes love and romance can get lost in the shuffle of life. So can Captain and Tenille be right? Is Love good enough to keep you together?

Jerry has an extensive background in coaching individuals & couples in the areas of intimacy, communication, life purpose and producing powerful life changing results. He is a bit of a ham as well.

Jungle Love with Jody Gillerman
As the saying goes, we evolved from the apes, but did we inherit the same relationship issues? Jody talks about her experiences observing the complex interrelationships between chimpanzees at the St. Louis Zoo. She developed the "Chimp Finder", a LIAISON system (Live Interactive Animal Identification System and Observation Network) which provides the Zoo visitor a connection to the animals never previously experienced. "Chimp Finder" provides access to the animals, their individual and group habits as well as the activity of their daily lives.

Professor JoAnn (Jody) Gillerman is an innovative media artist, videographer, and educator exploring the integration of art, science, culture and technology.She is currently a Professor of fine arts at California College of the Arts and founded a media arts company Viper Vertex.

INTERACTIVE ART (Participation is encouraged)
I Love You Because... by Alexander Warnow
If you could complete the phrase “I love you because . . .” how would you do it? Why do you love who you do? How would you illustrate that actually spelling out the words “I love you because . . . (insert your reason here)” in the photo? I realize that it is sometimes hard to articulate why we love who we do. Therein lies the challenge (and the reward) of this project.

You'll be able to make your own ILYB photo on the spot with the artist Alexander Warnow

Empath by Jean Rintoul
Imagine if you knew how the person you were talking to was reallyfeeling, and vice versa? Are your jokes really funny? Empath uses Galvanic Skin Response to measure your emotional response, and then plays it back to you in sound and light. You can hear and see your emotional response. Both participants can be aware of how the other
person is feeling, and how they are affecting them. Empathy and honesty in communication. Is this love?

Jean is fascinated by new modes of communication and interaction which are unrecognized in everyday life, especially biofeedback. What do your feelings sound like?

MUSIC
Shipwrek
Supremely talented composer and producer Shipwrek recently dropped 'Journal' a breathtaking debut; operatic and danceable, it was crafted with both electronic mastery and heaping dose of love that comes through with every listen. Get your damn dancing feet ready and follow his beat. In the meantime, scope the album.

"Most nights, when life allows, I music journal. I just hit record and pour out the day in the most honest way I know. These entries go onto a hard drive, and stay there: a chronological, date stamped account of where I have been and what it was like to be there. This album is a compilation of these journal pages, a full year of my life into your hands. From more than a hundred journal entries between Spring 2008 and Spring 2009, I've refined thirty that most honestly tell this year as it has been. Thirteen of these are compiled in this album"

Steve Taylor of the Steve Taylor Band
Playing with a passion and honesty that's lost on most contemporary artists, Steve merges the heart-on-your-sleeve confessional style of Joni Mitchell, the northern soul of Van Morrison, and the pop hooks of T-Rex, and filters them through a progrock lense, creating a soundscape that's both modern and unironically influenced by 70's AM rock.

FOOD & DRINK
Edible Love Chocolates
Indulge in a truly decadent chocolate experience with Edible Love's chocolate truffles, made from delicious organic fair-trade chocolate and a variety of organic ingredients that will leave you asking for more!

Official Website: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159375360930