Founded in 2016 by multimedia artists Andrew O'Connor and John Smith, OPTICKS is an experimental projection and light art initiative based in Hamilton, ON. As of December, 2024, OPTICKS is registered as a not-for-profit incorporation.
OPTICKS is part of a worldwide family of 'Bring Your Own Beamer' (BYOB) type events, an open-source exhibition format started in Berlin in 2010 by artists Rafaël Rozendaal and Anne de Vries, in which anyone can create an exhibition simply by finding a space and inviting artists to bring their projectors. Hundreds of BYOBs have since taken place around the world, though most were one-off shows. Running continuously since 2016 and now in our 10th year, OPTICKS is one of the longest continuously running BYOB-style communities in the world, and the longest in Canada that we know of.
We host 'Open Lab' sessions where people of all interest levels and backgrounds are encouraged to participate, explore, or socialize in the fields of projection and light art. Our locations often rotate, and the best way to stay updated is by following our Instagram page, or joining our email list below. Occasionally, as an informal larger group, we organize shows and participate in performances.
Want to attend an 'Open Lab'? Awesome! There is no cost or registration required. We do our best to provide enough table space and power, but we ask everyone to consider sharing resources (like table space, power bars, and projectors) to maximize participation. Our only rules are to be kind and welcoming to everyone. We aim to foster a space for learning, not ego. Additionally, please refrain from projecting obscene or highly offensive content, as we sometimes have families attending our events.
What makes OPTICKS unique is our encouragement of intermixing signals and overlapping projections. As sessions progress, this approach often results in the creation of unique, ethereal collages.
'OPTICKS' is named after a book by Sir Isaac Newton, in which he examined the “reflections, refractions, inflections, and colors of light.” We feel this concept encapsulates our shared interest in exploring light and projection arts. It’s a fitting name for our journey of exploration, experimentation, creation, and learning.
You can contact us via Instagram or email: hamiltonopticks@gmail.com
Sign up for our email list to be alerted about upcoming events and news:
Want to make it official? Becoming an OPTICKS member is simple and free. Members are part of our not-for-profit's official community and can vote at our Annual General Meetings, helping shape the future of OPTICKS. More member perks are in the works as we grow.
Open Labs are meet-up social events where people are encouraged to bring their own projectors and light-art gear to set up and socialize. Similar communities have popped up worldwide over the past two decades, sometimes called 'Bring Your Own Beamer' events. If we have music, it's typically quiet to allow for easier conversation; for some special events we might have music or a DJ and will let people know in advance. We encourage artists to collaborate, often mixing signals or overlapping projections throughout the events to make for special one-of-a-kind moments. View our videos above to get a sense of what to expect.
Part of our goal is to make projectors more accessible to our community. While we don't currently own projectors, we intend to acquire some for the group in the near future. If you'd like to share time on a member's projector, please reach out to us in advance of attending at hamiltonopticks@gmail.com and we will do our best to accommodate.
If you'd like to project, bring your projector plus whatever plays your content - a laptop, media player, or phone - and any cables or adapters you need. A power bar is always appreciated. We try our best to provide power and table space for everyone, and we ask for your understanding that, depending on resources, we might need to accommodate or scale down setups to allow others to participate. We also love exploring analogue light art (not using computers and projectors).
We don't have a set venue, and that's part of the fun! We try to rotate across different spaces, based on what is available for us to use. Occasionally we host outdoor Open Labs when the right weather and power requirements exist. We aim to do four Open Labs a year, though timing may shift based on space availability. Please sign up for our email list above to be alerted about future Open Labs, and follow us on Instagram.
Yes! Open Labs are free. Some special events we organize and host may have a ticket or cover price, and will be advertised accordingly.
Generally yes, but sometimes we use spaces that are 18+ (such as when we host inside bars), so Ontario laws and bar rules apply accordingly and you might want to check with the venue ahead of time.
We generally try to keep our Open Labs 'all ages friendly' in terms of projected content. We reserve the right to unplug hateful or distasteful imagery at our events. Sometimes we have meetups in parks and outdoor spaces, so please prepare content accordingly.
In a casual sense, yes absolutely! Generally as a group we are curious to learn about what people are working on. We don't have a 'platform' for presenting, but you're welcome to bring your ideas and chat with people at the meet-ups.
100%. Our ethos is to be a friendly community for people of all backgrounds and skill levels. You can simply show up to check things out or ask questions. Everyone starts somewhere.
Open Labs are social events, so people are likely to take photos. OPTICKS tries to document each event with video in a casual way (not overfocusing on individuals), but rather documenting the work created and the overall sense of the space, which may include visitors and participants.
You can support OPTICKS a number of ways!
Still images courtesy of Factory Media Centre.
