Houston Gets a TED

I just got word from Javier Fadul at Culture Pilot that Houston is hosting a TEDx event on June 12, 2010. TEDx is the newly launched mini-me of the TED Conference (which started in 1984 to bring together the "greatest minds" in Technology, Entertainment and Design). The “TED Talks” videos are positively addictive (see "Confessions of a TED Addict," Victoria Heffernan, NY Times), featuring eggheads who are at the forefront of everything from brain science to open-source architecture to spaghetti sauce (or rather the nature of happiness through spaghetti sauce as a metaphor, according to author Malcolm Gladwell). Drop tab, sit back, and watch the world unfold as a slightly better place.

What’s that you say? What artists and curators have given TED Talks?

Vik Muniz

Paola Antonelli

Golan Levin

And others.

The Houston TEDx is curated by local reps, and will feature “a suite of short, carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances on a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder — and to provoke conversations that matter,” as well as pre-recorded talks from its big brother TED. This year’s official TED2010 Conference has the theme “What the world needs now” and takes place February 9-13, 2010 in Long Beach, CA. As usual, TED2010 is sold out, even with standard registration priced at $6,000. The good thing about Houston TEDx is that it’s afforable and nearby. Planning is still underway, but you can sign up for notices about TEDxHouston on their website .

also by Andrea Grover

• The Future is Fungal: Interview with Phil Ross - September 8th, 2012
• Book Sprints, Hive Mind, & Slowing Down Time - December 5th, 2011
• Part 1: Report from "Art as a Way of Knowing" Conference at Exploratorium - March 14th, 2011
• I Am Not A Program - November 30th, 2010
• Art for Aggregators' Sake - November 15th, 2010