Events Listing

Learn to Plat

Past Events

Susana Ruiz “Take Action Games”

9:30 am, 10:30 am, Tuesday, Feb. 22
De Anza College, Admin 109, Administration Building* (center campus)
21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Cupertino, CA (map)

take action games

Noted game developer Susana Ruiz and Take Action Games (TAG) create games as Finding Zoe, Darfur is Dying, and In the Balance, an ongoing trans-media project. TAG is also wrapping up a quiz-based game for the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

Ruiz and TAG worked with Toronto’s METRAC (Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children) to create Finding Zoe. METRAC was interested in a game for youth, ages 8-14, addressing abusive dating relationships and gender stereotyping. TAG specializes in casual games for change, addressing social/political content, traversing the intersections of computational art, narrative, journalism, activism, ethics, history and documentary. Questions and discussion to follow.

Co-sponsors: Euphrat Museum of Art, CADRE Laboratory for New Media, De Anza College Sociology Department, Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations, De Anza Associated Student Body, Applied Materials Excellence in the Arts Grants, Arts Council Silicon Valley

Facebook Event

learntoplay ruiz

*Possible Room Change (updates)

Brenda Brathwaite “Games Like Photographs: Capturing Emotions”

6:30 pm Wednesday, Feb. 16
De Anza College, Forum 1* (next to Administration Building in the center of campus)
21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Cupertino, CA (map)

Brenda Train

Noted indie game developer Brenda Brathwaite takes on “Difficult History,” periods such as the Holocaust, Middle Passage, Trail of Tears, and the Irish experience.

With a focus on her provocative games, such as Train, Brathwaite challenges academic learning/knowing about difficult histories, pushing you to experience strong emotions then reflection, during game-play and long afterward. These artful games are intriguing and compelling complements to narrative, poetry, photography, video, and film. Questions and discussion to follow.

Co-sponsors: Euphrat Museum of Art, CADRE Laboratory for New Media, De Anza College Psychology Department, Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations, De Anza Associated Student Body, Applied Materials Excellence in the Arts Grants, Arts Council Silicon Valley

Facebook Event

learn to play brathwaite

*Possible Room Change (updates)

Craft & Punishment, Reception and Artist Talk

Tue Feb 15, 5pm – 7:30pm
Evergreen Valley College Art Gallery

Craft and Punishment
The Art and Craft in Game Design
Presented by Learn to Play

Reception and Artist Talk
Tue Feb 15, 5pm – 7:30pm
Visiting artist: Anna Anthropy

Facebook Event

Craft & Punishment, a new show from the creators of Learn to Play, asks the questions: Is there a dialog between art and craft in game design? Where does such a distinction lead? Is digital pain the new pleasure?

Indi-game designer and critic, Anna Anthropy, creator of Mighty Jill Off, will be giving an artist talk as part of this evening’s reception

Exhibiting Artists:
Gaijin Games, Ian Bogost, Anna Anthropy, Jason Rohrer, Amon 26, Michael “Kayin” O’Reilly, Mark Essen, Paul Robertson, Arnt Jensen /w Playdead Games, Terry Cavanagh, Jonathan Blow, Jennifer Lau, Jonatan Söderström

Regular Gallery Hours
Mon -Thur, 10:30am – 2:30pm

Evergreen Valley College Art Gallery
3095 Yerba Buena Road
San Jose, CA

Craft and Punishment flyer

April Banks “We Love to Watch”

Monday, February 14 · 9:00am – 12:00pm
De Anza College at room AT120*
21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Cupertino, CA

banks

Conceptualist artist April Banks speaks about her art, including her provocative photographic series “We Love to Watch”, her installations, such as The Price of Rice (Let’s Talk of a System) and her activist cross-country travel blog.

For her photograph “Milk Bath”, Banks worked with DeQawn Mobley, a former collegiate and NFL player. Mobley is shown putting on his gear amid stereotypic symbols of… milk and watermelon. The photo calls attention to the commodified image of the hyper-masculine black athletic body as violent and sexual — a ubiquitous “game piece,” putting on his game face. Using the historically racially charged symbol of the watermelon, this work explores Mobley’s experience as a collegiate and NFL player and its well-debated parallels to the slave trade. Going beyond a first-person narrative, Banks and Mobley explore what it means to be reduced to a game time object on the field, watched and “loved” by millions.

Co-sponsors: Euphrat Museum of Art, CADRE Laboratory for New Media, De Anza College Art Department, Women’s History Month, Visiting Speakers Series, City of Cupertino, De Anza Associated Student Body, Applied Materials Excellence in the Arts Grants, Arts Council Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations, ZER01

Facebook Event

learn to play banks

*Possible Room Change (updates)

Gameshare

Saturday Feb 12th at 1:30pm

gameshare

Learn to Play Too in conjunction with the San Jose State and Cogswell game development clubs host an afternoon of game design and critique.

Come build a community with fellow gaming enthusiasts.
We will be sharing and critiquing our favorite games. What’s your favorite game? What makes it so amazing?

EXTRA !! Xander will share special announcements about the formation of the De Anza Game Developers Club !!

Saturday museum hours: 1pm to 4pm
It all takes place at the Euphrat Museum of Art on De Anza campus.
21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Cupertino, CA

Facebook Event

Sidescroller 4 !!!

Tuesday Feb. 8th, 6pm to 8pm.

sidescroller4

Learn to Play Too and Sidescroller present an evening of techno music and video games to make you think.

* Live electronic music performance from Haptic Synapses
* Independent video games
* Enlightenment
* Learn to Play Game Challenge awards

It all takes place at the Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College campus
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd
Cupertino, CA

Facebook Event Page

First Thursday: Poetry and More

Thursday, December 2
5:00 – 7:30pm
Hosted by the Black Student Union and Institute of Community and Civic Engagement and the Euphrat Museum of Art and Visual and Performing Arts Center

Hands On Gaming: Saturday November 20

Come out for an afternoon of gaming. Learn to Play at the Euphrat Museum of Art presents:

train

11am – 1pm Neo-Rodeo with Cowgirl way Society

The gallery serves as a make-shift arena for the friendliest neo-rodeo you’ve ever seen. This is a chance for all you folks and cowpokes to stamp, holler, rope, ‘n buck. It’s part glittery vaudeville, part spectator sport, part interactive fiction, and all kinds of fun. Come rodeo with us!

…Wear your plaids, flannels, boots, and denim. Be prepared to move your body.

Noon – 2pm: Socks Inc workshop

“Some very exciting information has leaked from the Socks, Inc. Human Resources department. The factory will soon be accepting applications for an opportunity unlike any other! Some qualifications needed to be considered are the ability to hang out in different departments as needed, an appreciation for wackiness, and a creative sensibility.” – Socks Inc.

Noon – 2pm: Game-making Workshops

Learn to make video games. Members of the San Jose State Game Developers Club, will be leading a beginning workshop in game creation. Bring your own Laptop to be guaranteed a spot.

1 pm: Train with Brenda Braithwaite

Brenda Braithwaite will be leading players through a game of her award winning and somewhat controversial game Train. Train is not your standard board game. Except for limited engagements lead by Braithwaite, Learn to Play is exhibiting train as display only. Be there for this rare opportunity.

Reception with the Artists: November 9th

rainbow

On Tuesday November 9th please join us for the Learn to Play Artists Reception. Meet with the curators of Learn to Play and some of the people and artists that made Learn to Play possible. Be part of a gathering of indie game-developers, academics, artists, students, and a community of creatives.

5:30pm to 8pm at the Euphrat Museum of Art

Come to share, ask questions, and play.

First Thursday: Poetry and More

Thursday, November 4
5:00 – 7:30pm
Hosted by the Black Student Union and Institute of Community & Civic Engagement

Hands On Gaming: Saturday October 30

Come out for a pre Halloween afternoon of gaming. Learn to Play at the Euphrat Museum of Art presents:

Bike Friendly City

11am – 1pm: Bike Friendly City with Catherine Herdlick

*** Update ***
Bike Friendly City has been canceled due to Rain.

Catherine Herdlick will be leading a series of Cowgirl Games games indoors from 11:00 to 1:00

Noon – 2pm: Socks Inc workshop

“Some very exciting information has leaked from the Socks, Inc. Human Resources department. The factory will soon be accepting applications for an opportunity unlike any other! Some qualifications needed to be considered are the ability to hang out in different departments as needed, an appreciation for wackiness, and a creative sensibility.” – Socks Inc.

Noon – 2pm: Game-making Workshops

Learn to make video games. Members of the San Jose State Game Developers Club, will be leading a beginning workshop in game creation. Bring your own Laptop to be guaranteed a spot.

1 pm: Train with Brenda Braithwaite

Brenda Braithwaite will be leading players through a game of her award winning and somewhat controversial game Train. Train is not your standard board game. Except for limited engagements lead by Braithwaite, Learn to Play is exhibiting train as display only. Be there for this rare opportunity.

ZER01 Program

01 logo

During Friday September 17th and Saturday September 18th of the 01SJ Biennial we invite you to come to the Euphrat Museum of Art and Learn to Play. This is not merely a clever reference to the exhibition but an invitation to experience games that could change your life. It is an invitation to engage your creativity and design a game that has personal relevance. The invitation is open to family, friends and anyone who has a story to tell. Everyone who plays wins.

Our schedule of games include outdoor citywide games as well as an inspired collection of video and board games. We not only want you to be motivated by selected works from the Learn to Play exhibition but we want to give you a way to understand, explore and experience the thrill of telling a story in this medium.

The game challenge is about education, learning and most importantly fun. As an added bonus, however, some of the work created during the challenge could quite possibly be invited to join the larger exhibition. Events start Friday after work and continue through Saturday evening. Saturday will close with judging of entries and presentations from designers. Anyone is welcome to jump in at any time. Everyone is encouraged to drop in and make a game.

Learn to Play Preview Schedule

Friday September 17 (artists invited)
5:00 pm – Arcade Open, Game Challenge Begins
6:00 pm – 7:30 Game Development for Everybody Workshop with Marek Kapolka &
Kelsey Higham of SJSU GameDev
6:00 pm – 9:00 DJ Walleee
9:00 pm – Arcade Closes

Saturday September 18
Noon – 1:30 Game Development for Everybody Workshop part II
Noon – 7:00 pm Arcade
1:00 pm – Socks Inc. Live!
4:00 pm – Curators Tour
5:00 pm – Game judging, All submissions must be in.
7:00 pm – Awards announced
8:00 pm – Close, See you again October 4