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AbsoluteZERO: Festival of madness and marvels

The AbsoluteZERO festival showcased the mind-bending ideas of over 100 artists.

BY Loni Stark — 09.18.2010

AbsoluteZERO

Absolute zero is the mythical temperature at which entropy, a quantifiable measure of the movement of heat from hot to cold areas in a system, would reach its minimum value.

However, yesterday, it was also daylong celebration of eclectic inventions and marvels that descended upon the SoFA District of San Jose as part of 01SJ Biennial by ZERO1. The AbsoluteZERO festival showcased the mind-bending ideas of over 100 artists, some literally wheels out into the open street festivities from the “Out of the Garage Into the World” exhibits from South Hall.

Here are some photos of the event, just as it kicks off.

Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial

Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
“Over the Top: Rider-propelled Ferris Wheel” was a popular ride at the celebration. It was still early and there was already a line up to try it out. Riders actually used two knobs which they pull towards themselves to keep the wheel in motion.
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
The Work had groovy music playing and arcade-like space shapes that people could interact with.
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
This exibit showed the truly addictive qualities of white soap bubbles and hypnotic music. A curious machine had many interacting with the control pads and reaching out to touch bubbles generated. Mad science becomes social.
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
MACLA had a colorful exhibit “Lineas” which explored the new modes of contemporary urbanism. There were many pieces that begged to be touched and sat on. Alas, this was not allowed.

Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial

Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
There were a couple of BBQ and Taco trucks serving up tasty fare. A little further down, an Underground Food Fair which was to start at 5 pm had still not gotten off the ground by 6:30 pm because a couple of “t” weren’t crossed and the San Jose health inspectors were on site.
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
Delightful performance!

Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial

Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial

Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
The Work had groovy music playing and arcade-like space shapes that people could interact with.
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
MACLA had a colorful exhibit “Lineas” which explored the new modes of contemporary urbanism. There were many pieces that begged to be touched and sat on. Alas, this was not allowed.
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
Delightful performance!
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
This exibit showed the truly addictive qualities of white soap bubbles and hypnotic music. A curious machine had many interacting with the control pads and reaching out to touch bubbles generated. Mad science becomes social.
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
“Over the Top: Rider-propelled Ferris Wheel” was a popular ride at the celebration. It was still early and there was already a line up to try it out. Riders actually used two knobs which they pull towards themselves to keep the wheel in motion.
Absolute ZERO, 01SJ Biennial
There were a couple of BBQ and Taco trucks serving up tasty fare. A little further down, an Underground Food Fair which was to start at 5 pm had still not gotten off the ground by 6:30 pm because a couple of “t” weren’t crossed and the San Jose health inspectors were on site.
AbsoluteZERO

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Loni Stark

Loni Stark is an artist at Atelier Stark, psychology researcher, and technologist whose work explores the intersection of identity, creativity, and technology. Through StarkMind, she investigates human-AI collaboration and the emerging dynamics of agentic systems, research that informs both her academic work and creative practice. A self-professed foodie and adventure travel enthusiast, she collaborates on visual storytelling projects with Clinton Stark for Stark Insider. Her insights are shaped by her role at Adobe, influencing her explorations into the human-tech relationship. It's been said her laugh can still be heard from San Jose up to the Golden Gate Bridge—unless sushi, her culinary Kryptonite, has momentarily silenced her.

Loni Stark - A West Coast Adventure - A Lifetime in the Making - Stark Insider

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