How to Build Your Own Web Server
Facilitated by Imogen Clendinning
Saturday June 28th
1 - 4pm
Free
As the Internet continues to evolve into a highly commodified space, affected by technocorporate and algorithmic influence, the act of building our own spaces online can be a revelatory act. As many across Turtle Island have expressed growing anxieties concerning the environmental impacts of accelerating AI and the far-right creep of social media platforms, many artists and creatives are beginning to turn away from existing popular web platforms. In recent months the boycott movements of Lights Out Meta and the mass exodus from X have encouraged many individuals to seek new forms of virtual connection: starting their own newsletters, blogs and building their own web platforms. In this one day workshop we hope to empower FCG members to gain new introductory web skills in order to contribute to this growing movement towards a decentralized and user-driven DIY Internet.
In this one day workshop, artist and scholar Imogen Clendinning will guide participants through building a web server and website using a raspberry pi microcomputer and open source softwares. This tutorial could be useful for individuals seeking to gain skills in building their own artist website, blog or Internet Art piece. Participants will gain skills in minimalist web design and working with Pelican, Apache2 and Ubuntu, while also discussing digital sovereignty, right to repair and the Slow Internet movement. By building our own websites, these small acts of resistance can cultivate new ways to connect with one another outside of increasingly corporatized digital platforms.
Registration is limited for this workshop. Participants have the opportunity to work in collaborative teams of 2. If you would like to register for the workshop as a team please have one member register for 2 tickets so we can make sure there are enough workstations.
At the end of the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to contribute their text, images and GIFs to a collaborative solar-powered website, to be installed in Forest City Gallery and Inter/Access Gallery (Tkaronto, ON) in July.
