One of the questions I get at Geek Dinners is to explain what AS220 is all about. Here’s a little background on AS220, how it crisscrosses with Providence Geeks, and how you can help AS220 grow (disclaimer: I’m the secretary of AS220′s board). AS220 is a non-profit arts center, founded in 1985, that provides an uncensored and unjuried venue for Rhode Island artists: gallery space, performance space, live/work space, and more. AS220 owns two buildings in downtown Providence: AS220 (the Empire Street building where we meet) and the AS220 Dreyfus Hotel. AS220 also runs the Broad Street Studio, a transitional arts program for youth who have been in foster homes, group homes, or the state’s juvenile detention facility.

AS220 has always been a little bit geeky. Its web site, as220.org, has grown into a server hosting not only AS220, but local area artists and arts organizations. For years,there was a public access Linux terminal in AS220 (unfortunately gone due to space constraints). Currently, an electronics lab is being developed on the second floor, and the plan is to use that as a workshop not only for the Broad Street Studio youth, but for the public and for groups like Providence Geeks and DC401. Additionally, AS220, Providence Geeks, and the Steel Yard had a summit on fabrication technology (3d printing, laser cutters, etc.) some time back, and one goal is to provide access to this technology using a model similar to AS220′s darkroom. (For more on the fabrication topic, be sure to check out the upcoming RI-Nexus event on next-generation working environments and fab labs).

Now, here’s how you can help. AS220 recently revamped its membership program. Instead of the original tiered membership, there’s a flat yearly membership contribution of $50 (note that you don’t have to be a member to visit, exhibit at, or enjoy AS220–it is open to all). To get into NPR mode here for a moment, you get some cool stuff (pictured above) with that: a limited edition print, a bumper sticker, a subscription to the monthly calendar/newsletter, and a member card offering discounts or special offers at local merchants, including the AS220 galleries, the RISD Store, Jerry’s Artarama, Abar, Eastern Art and Frame, Adler’s Hardware, Picture This, Perishable Theatre, Books on the Square, and Myopic Books. And like any good geek, AS220 lets you join online.

Don’t miss this month’s Providence Geek Dinner (this Wednesday!); In the spirit of the holiday season and giving back to the community, Providence Geeks is a proud sponsor of Rhode Island’s 2008 FIRST FTC Robotics Challenge. The program provides high school students the opportunity to build working robots and test their creations in head-to-head competition. At Wednesday’s Geek Dinner, Tech Collective President Tim Hebert and other RI FIRST FTC team members will give an overview of the program, the kids, & the robots, and explain how Providence Geeks members can serve as volunteer mentors and referees. Details and RSVP here.

The Providence Geek Dinner returns this month on Wednesday September 19 at the usual time and location. Check out the Providence Geeks blog for complete details and RSVP!

Details and RSVP here.

Make is a sponsor of AS220′s Foo Fest (the successor to AS220′s yearly Fool’s Ball), which is a free block party that takes over Empire Street in Providence, RI from noon to 1am on July 14, 2007.

I’ll be at the Make booth with a bunch of our Make:it Kits, Make:it for Crafters, T-Shirts, boxed sets, and more for sale. I’ll be assembling a few of the kits right there, so if you’re curious about how these things go together, stop by and check out the hot molten lead action!

Don’t miss this month’s Providence Geek Dinner (Wednesday June 20!); Providence Geeks regulars Public Display will be giving their first public demonstration and you don’t want to miss it! Details and RSVP here.

Don’t miss this month’s Providence Geek Dinner (this Wednesday!); Arnell Milhouse will be giving a sneak peek at his ambitious “Virtual Providence” project. This is going to be very interesting. Details and RSVP here.

AS220 had a slight disruption today:

Some folks over at Paramount Pictures used AS220 to shoot a few scenes for a pilot TV show they hope to create.

For those of you who are not familiar, the Photo Lottery is a unique fundraiser that allows patrons who purchase a Photo Lottery ticket to take home a work of photo based art from our opening. A number on each ticket sold will correspond at random to one of at least 125 works of art on the wall at the reception. Everyone who buys a ticket is a winner. Everybody is invited to come to attend Photo Lottery free of charge, but only people who buy tickets will win photography. We do not sell more tickets than there are artworks. The past two events have been incredibly successful and made a meaningful impact on our ability to support and serve the artists and youth in our community. We look forward to 2007 being even better!

See the 2007 Photo Lottery web site for more information.