The Time Machine!

So, its happening… last week I time travelled and took a walk in turn of the century Luna Park! It was really exciting and gave me a huge boost that this project is going to be amazing. It’s one thing to see the models of the buildings on a screen, but wearing the VR headset, you’re […]

Fred at TED!

It’s been hard to keep my mouth shut the last two months, but I am finally able to announce that I will be spending the next 3 months as a Resident at TED, working on a project to recreate turn of the 20th century Thompson & Dundy’s Luna Park in VR, with an accompanying TED talk […]

Come Learn 3D Modeling, Scanning, Printing & Glass Casting with me at Pilchuck in June!

There’s only a few weeks until my class TaDDDaa!, which covers a range of digital processes for glass casting at the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood Washington and there’s still a couple slots available! Session 2 runs May 30-June 17. The course will combine a 3D modeling, scanning and 3D printing/CNC routing track with a physical track […]

Dear Friends of The Great Fredini

Coney Island has been an important place in shaping my identity as an artist, primarily through my involvement with the nonprofit arts organization Coney Island USA. For over 35 years, CIUSA has provided a staging grounds for a huge range of artists, performers, actors, playwrights, musicians, filmmakers and practitioners of just about any other artistic discipline […]

Detroit : Theatre Bizarre 2015

Detroit fascinates me. Even more than LA, this city seems to exist to showcase the glory of the car. Multi layered highways twist and wind like a giant Hot Wheels set with exits to both the left and right. There’s an energy and vibrancy to the urban decay that’s inspiring. It’s no wonder Detroit is […]

Bay Area Maker Faire Talk: Fredini’s History of Technology as Entertainment

Its been a whirlwind ever since I went out to San Francisco for Maker Faire. I meant to post a recap of some of my favorite highlights of the weekend, but have been swamped with Scan-A-Rama and getting ready for this year’s fellowship at Wheaton Arts. This week I’m doing a quick visiting artist stint […]

R.I.P. Carlos

One of the local Coney Island guys I have known since he was a boy died this week. Carlos had a heart attack just short of celebrating his 40th birthday. He was a hustler at one of those crooked game joints you can never win at, but he was a nice guy underneath it all. […]

A Blast from the Past… 1990’s Coney Island

The world is all abuzz about sideshows and freak shows this week with the debut of American Horror Story: Freak Show so I thought I’d follow up by posting some images I just came across from my first season in the Coney Island Sideshow. Recognize anyone?

Coney Island

In the 1980’s I discovered Coney Island. It was a magical time when pieces of old New York were still visible. Coney Island was decrepit and lawless. Magical. I began staging performances at Dick Zigun’s Coney Island USA– a nonprofit arts center on the boardwalk. By the early 90’s my stage persona The Great Fredini […]

Speaking & Teaching

Since 2011, I have been exploring the intersection of art, technology and entertainment using the tools of the third industrial revolution- computers, 3D printers, CNC, virtual and augmented reality, among others. All of these tools are causing a seismic shift in the world and I’m interested in how tech has historically been seen as magic. […]