Renegade Electronics for Artists Summer 2025
DIY Tactical Electronic Art & Sound Course with Matt Steinke
This summer, join me for the Renegade Electronics Workshop—a hybrid online course combining self-paced content and live Zoom sessions, exploring experimental electronics, kinetic sound, protest tech, and DIY tools for subversive art.
Schedule Overview:
- Week 1 (June 30, 8 PM ET): Kickoff Zoom Lecture/Discussion, onboarding begins, Discord opens.
- Weeks 1–4 (June 30 – July 29): All self-paced video projects are released at the start, with support for specific projects delivered weekly. Ongoing Q&A will take place in Discord throughout the month.
- Week 4 (July 29 – August 10): We’ll host two live Zoom Q&A sessions, each tailored for half the class to provide specialized support; a poll will determine the most suitable dates and times; Supporter Tier participants will also have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one sessions thereafter.
- Lifetime Access: You’ll have full access to all course materials—including downloadable guides, schematics, code snippets, and resources—as long as I’m alive and maintaining the site.
Week 1: DIY FM Transmitter
- A pirate-style radio jammer using Manhattan-style construction.
- Skills: Advanced soldering and construction methods, analog FM transmission, and transmitter design compact enough for an Altoids can.
- Level: Beginner
- Time: 2-3 hours
Week 2: Self-Destructing Kinetic Sculpture
- A sonic performative kinetic art object that falls apart as a form of behavioral disobedience.
- Skills: DC motors, DC power management, mechanical design, battery/solar power options, and contact mic sound amplification.
- Level: Beginner
- Time: 2-3 hours
Week 3: Robotic Protest Drums
- Autonomous percussion instruments with motorized pitched scraper sirens.
- Skills: Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller programming with Arduino, C, and Chat GPT, high current output control, MIDI integration, and acoustic percussion design.
- Level: Beginner, Intermediate
- Time: 3-5 hours
Week 4: Microcontroller-Based Chromosthesia Sound Synthesis
- Build DIY sensor reactive light, color, and sound tools for experimental noise interventions.
- Skills: Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller programming in C, LED control, DACs and amplification, sensor integration, and utilizing coding libraries.
- Level: Beginner, Intermediate
- Time: 3-5 hour
Sliding Scale Pricing
- Standard Access – $200 Full course access + lifetime materials.
- Supporter Tier – $400 Everything above + up to two 45 min 1-on-1 Zoom sessions + future perks.
- Limited Sliding Scale – $150 by short application
- Estimated Supplies/Materials Cost: $35–$95:
Materials costs can vary depending on how many parts are salvaged, reused, or purchased in bulk. Many components (like batteries, motors, or microcontrollers) are shared across projects. Students are encouraged to source creatively to keep costs low. All projects use common consumer parts with links provided to online examples. An offical materials list page will be posted by June 1st.
Sign Up Now (Limited Spots)
Deadline to register is June 25
You must be 18 years or older to register, or have parental consent if under 18.
Payment Options:
Instructions:
- Payment: Choose a Payment Method above to submit your registration fee. Submit chosen payment method to complete the payment process. Copy the CONFIRMATION NUMBER.
- Complete Registration Form: After payment, fill out the registration form including your name, email, and the CONFIRMATION NUMBER or TRANSACTION ID from the payment.
Post-Registration:
- Registration Confirmation: Upon completing your registration, you will receive a confirmation email acknowledging your submission. Please retain this email for your records.
- Onboarding Details: On or before June 25, an onboarding email will be sent to you containing detailed information about the workshop schedule, access links, and what to expect.
- Supply List: A comprehensive supply list will be posted on this page by June 1. This list will outline all necessary materials and tools required for the workshop, allowing you ample time to prepare.
- Important Participant Minimum: Please be aware that a minimum number of participants is required to conduct the workshop. If this minimum is not met by the registration deadline, all registered participants will receive a full refund. We will notify you promptly if this occurs.
Traveling or Busy in July?
You can still join asynchronously:
- Watch recordings of Zoom sessions
- Access all content at your own pace
- Still get community access, resources, and future perks
Video Format
Each video is 10–20 minutes (or broken in shorter segments) and follows a structured format:
- Concept & Inspiration – Historical context and creative applications
- Build Process – Step-by-step construction with close-ups and key concepts
- Tactical Applications – Ways to modify, expand, and apply the project in real-world contexts
- All projects include schematics, diagrams, material lists, FAQ, and bonus references.
Safe + Inclusive Space
This course centers inclusivity and mutual respect. All participants are expected to engage professionally and treat one another with dignity. LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals, folks from rural or culturally underserved areas, people with alternative learning styles, neurodiverse identities, and people with disabilities — you are welcome here. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to create, connect, and subvert.
More about Renegade Electronics
This workshop examines the convergence of DIY electronics, kinetic art, and sound to create multidisciplinary works that challenge technological and social conventions. Participants will design tools and devices for artistic expression and social intervention, integrating technology with principles from installation and performance art. The course explores how electronics can facilitate and celebrate protest not only as public demonstrations but as every day interactions, emphasizing creative resistance through hands-on experimentation. Projects encompass sound installations, kinetic sculptures, and wearable protest technology.
The Renegade Electronics for Artists Summer 2025 workshop is designed to:
- Develop Technical Skills: Further soldering/construction, motor control, DC power management, analog FM transmission, and microcontroller development
- Create Performative Art: Design kinetic sculptures and objects that interact with their environment, incorporating mechanical and electronic components.
- Design and Build Invented Instruments: Design and program an experimental synthesizer, construct robotic percussion instruments with motorized components, integrating microcontroller programming and acoustic design.
- Explore Interactive Media: Build sensor-reactive devices that combine light and sound, utilizing microcontrollers and various sensors for immersive experiences.
- Foster Creative Resistance: Engage in projects that blend art and activism, using technology to challenge conventions to promote social discourse.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have:
- Acquired hands-on experience in designing and building electronic art.
- Developed a collection of projects that demonstrate technical proficiency and creative exploration.
- Gained insights into the integration of art, technology, and activism.
- Established a network with fellow artists and access to ongoing support through the workshop’s community platform.
