Monorepo for Aesthetic.Computer
aesthetic.computer
drafts: a16z Speedrun application prefill + Whistlegraph platter index
Two new, reference-only markdown drafts in their respective directories —
neither touches runtime code or deployed site.
gigs/a16z-speedrun/README.md
Pre-filled answers for speedrun.a16z.com/apply/form, with word counts and
\`[FILL]\` markers for fields requiring a human decision (contact info,
equity history, etc.).
papers/whistlegraph-platter/README.md
Index-only pointer file mapping all Whistlegraph source material across
the repo, the web, and Dropbox. A sub-platter under papers/ that feeds
the arxiv paper, the are.na channel, and the Are.na Annual Vol. 8 pitch.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
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gigs/a16z-speedrun/README.md
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# a16z Speedrun — Application Prefill
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Pre-filled answers for [speedrun.a16z.com/apply/form](https://speedrun.a16z.com/apply/form).
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Fields marked `[FILL]` need a human answer. Word counts noted next to each answer (form's caps in parens).
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---
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## TEAM
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**Work Status** — Full-time
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**Full-Time Founders Count** — `1`
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**Total FTE Employees** — `1` *(or update if contractors should be counted proportionally)*
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**CEO**
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- First name: Jeffrey
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- Last name: Scudder
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- Email: mail@aesthetic.computer
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- Phone: `[FILL]`
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**Relevant Experience** *(100 words max — current: ~97)*
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> Solo founder, 6+ years on this lineage. Predecessor *No Paint* (2020) hit the [Hacker News front page](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23546706). *Whistlegraph* — a drawing form I invented in 2019 where every mark is a sung syllable, designed so a child can learn it from one viewing — reached 2.6M TikTok followers organically with no paid promotion. Whistlegraph editions sold via Feral File; commissioned by Rhizome / New Museum. *Notepat* (2024) hit [HN](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41526754). I built and maintain the entire stack: web runtime, **KidLisp** (an original child-readable Lisp), session backend, federated identity (AT Protocol), bare-metal OS. ORCID-listed.
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**Founder Info**
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- Country: `[FILL — United States?]`
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- City: `[FILL — Los Angeles?]`
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- Citizenship: `[FILL]`
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- College / University: `[FILL]`
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- Highest education level: `[FILL]`
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- Years professional experience: `[FILL — ~15?]`
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- Technical enough to build end-to-end? **Yes**
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**Links**
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- LinkedIn (required): `[FILL]`
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- GitHub: https://github.com/whistlegraph
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- X: `[FILL — @jeff_aesthetic? or skip]`
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- Portfolio: https://aesthetic.computer *(or https://prompt.ac/@jeffrey)*
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**Team Description** *(100 words max — current: ~95)*
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> Solo authored. The platform's coherence — language, runtime, social layer, OS — comes from one person making every architectural decision, the same way Logo had Papert and HyperCard had Atkinson. Strategic collaborators: the Tangled team (decentralized git over AT Protocol) and Jamsocket (per-session backends). 359 built-in pieces and a community of 2,812 handles have evolved together over six years; user-published pieces (265) and the practice of authoring KidLisp share the same publishing surface kids use to chat. Looking to bring on a co-founder with education or community-product experience post-Speedrun. Key advisors: `[FILL — any names you want listed?]`.
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---
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## STARTUP DETAILS
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**Startup Name** — Aesthetic Computer
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**One-Sentence Pitch** *(10 words max)*
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Pick one (all ≤10 words):
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- **A.** A pocket-sized creative computer where every URL teaches itself. *(10)*
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- **B.** Children's creative-computing platform where every URL is a learnable program. *(10)*
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- **C.** A computer for kids — type a word, run a program. *(10)*
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*(Recommend A — echoes the "score that teaches itself" thesis without locking the audience to kids only.)*
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**Startup Description** *(100 words max — current: ~98)*
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> Aesthetic Computer is a creative computer for kids and curious beginners — type a word at a prompt and a "piece" runs: a synth, a drawing tool, a tiny game, a generative composition. Every piece is a single file, URL-addressable, and writable in **KidLisp**, an original child-readable Lisp dialect (`(wipe "blue") (ink "lime") (line)`). We close the gap between *playing software* and *making software*: the same prompt that runs a piece also opens its source. Heir to Logo, Scratch, and HyperCard, designed mobile-first. Today: 2,812 handles, ~21,000 user-made programs and paintings — all organic.
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**Primary Category** — `Other` → write in **"Educational / Children's Computing"**
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*(No fitting category in the form. Closest fallback: Consumer Applications.)*
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**Secondary Category** — `Consumer Applications`
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**Location**
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- Country: `[FILL — United States?]`
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- City: `[FILL — Los Angeles?]`
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**Founding Date**
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- Year: `[FILL — 2022 (repo init) or earlier if counting No Paint lineage]`
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- Month: `[FILL — December if 2022]`
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**Company Website** — https://aesthetic.computer
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**Additional Notes** *(100 words max — current: ~99)*
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> Computing literacy for kids has been frozen since Scratch (2007). Tablets shipped, touch shipped, the social layer shipped — and the canonical way a child writes their first program still looks like a 2007 desktop UI. Aesthetic Computer is the post-touchscreen, post-social retake: every program is a URL, every URL is shareable, every shareable thing is editable. KidLisp is small enough that a 9-year-old fits a working program in one tweet. Reference points: Logo, Scratch, HyperCard, Smalltalk's Etoys, Bret Victor. Traction so far is organic creative output: 16,779 KidLisp programs, 4,429 paintings, 18,107 chat messages. No growth tactics.
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---
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## ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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**Pitch Deck** — `[FILL — upload PDF if ready, otherwise skip]`
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**Traction** — Suggested attachment: a one-pager with the live stats from `SCORE.md` plus the HN/TikTok/Feral File proof points. *(Or paste link to https://aesthetic.computer / live counter.)*
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**Funding History** — `[FILL — bootstrapped + Liberapay/sponsors? attach if you want to mention give.aesthetic.computer / bills.aesthetic.computer transparency]`
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**Active Fundraising Round** — `[FILL — none / pre-seed?]`
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**Referral** — `[FILL — anyone in the a16z network referring? if so, name + relationship]`
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**Discovery Source** — `[FILL — X / event / friend / etc.]`
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- Additional info: `[FILL — handle, post, or event name]`
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---
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## SUPPORTING LINKS (for reference, not the form)
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- Live: https://aesthetic.computer
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- Try it: [`notepat`](https://aesthetic.computer/notepat) · [`boyfriend`](https://aesthetic.computer/boyfriend) · [`chat`](https://aesthetic.computer/chat) · [`list`](https://aesthetic.computer/list)
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- Predecessor: [No Paint (2020)](https://nopaint.art) · [HN thread](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23546706)
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- Notepat HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41526754
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- Source (canonical): https://tangled.org/aesthetic.computer/core
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- Source (mirror): https://github.com/whistlegraph/aesthetic-computer
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- Founder ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4460-4913
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- Funding transparency: https://bills.aesthetic.computer · https://give.aesthetic.computer
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## STATS TO QUOTE *(from `SCORE.md`, refresh before submitting)*
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- 359 built-in pieces (341 JS + 18 KidLisp)
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- ~90 API endpoints
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- 2,812 registered handles
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- 265 user-published pieces
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- 4,429 paintings
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- 16,779 KidLisp programs
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- 18,107 chat messages
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- 20 prints ordered
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*Last refresh in repo: Mar 16, 2026 — re-run the stats job before sending if it's been a while.*
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# Whistlegraph Platter
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An index of whistlegraph materials across the repo, the web, and dropbox. A sub-platter within the [papers platter](../SCORE.md) — source material that feeds the arxiv paper, the are.na channel, the Annual Vol. 8 pitch, and anything else that comes next.
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> **Whistlegraph** — a drawing form invented in 2019 where every line is a sung syllable. You draw it while you sing it. The finished drawing is a score. The score teaches you how to play it.
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This is **index-only**: pointers to where things live. No file migration, no binary duplication. Extend sections as material is cataloged.
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---
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## 1. In this repo
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### Paper
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- [papers/arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph.tex](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph.tex) — main arxiv paper, 4pp, "Whistlegraph: Drawing, Singing, and the Graphic Score as Viral Form"
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- [papers/arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph-cards.tex](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph-cards.tex) — single-sheet card version
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- Translations: [da](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph-da.tex), [es](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph-es.tex), [ja](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph-ja.tex), [zh](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph-zh.tex)
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- Built PDFs: [en](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph.pdf), [da](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph-da.pdf), [es](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph-es.pdf), [zh](../arxiv-whistlegraph/whistlegraph-zh.pdf)
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- Published PDFs (papers.aesthetic.computer): [en](../../system/public/papers.aesthetic.computer/whistlegraph-26-arxiv.pdf), [cards](../../system/public/papers.aesthetic.computer/whistlegraph-26-arxiv-cards.pdf), [da](../../system/public/papers.aesthetic.computer/whistlegraph-26-arxiv-da.pdf), [es](../../system/public/papers.aesthetic.computer/whistlegraph-26-arxiv-es.pdf), [zh](../../system/public/papers.aesthetic.computer/whistlegraph-26-arxiv-zh.pdf)
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- Figures — 10 score PNGs in [papers/arxiv-whistlegraph/figures/](../arxiv-whistlegraph/figures/): butterfly-cosplayer, i-dont-need-an-iphone, lately-when-i-fly, loner, mommy-wow, people-pleaser, puzzle, slinky-dog, time-to-grow, whats-inside-your-heart
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- [papers/arxiv-whistlegraph/pals.pdf](../arxiv-whistlegraph/pals.pdf) — referenced inclusion
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- [papers/arxiv-whistlegraph/references.bib](../arxiv-whistlegraph/references.bib) — bibliography
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### Practice surface (aesthetic.computer)
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- [system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/whistlegraph.mjs](../../system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/whistlegraph.mjs) — the piece: draw-while-singing, record, learn, perform
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- [system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/whistlegraph/whistlegraph-cards.js](../../system/public/aesthetic.computer/disks/whistlegraph/whistlegraph-cards.js) — card-based score browser
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- Live URL: https://aesthetic.computer/whistlegraph
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### Standalone site
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- [sites/whistlegraph.com/index.html](../../sites/whistlegraph.com/index.html) — whistlegraph.com landing page
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### Are.na Annual Vol. 8 submission (2026-04-20)
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- [gigs/are-na-annual-vol-8/](../../gigs/are-na-annual-vol-8/) — pitch package, channel seed scripts, block validation
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- [system/public/are.na-annual/index.html](../../system/public/are.na-annual/index.html) — published pitch page
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- Live: https://aesthetic.computer/are.na-annual
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---
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## 2. External
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### Whistlegraph-owned domains and accounts
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- **TikTok** — https://www.tiktok.com/@whistlegraph · ~2.7M followers (peak, 2020–2023)
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- **Instagram (post-2023, Jeffrey solo)** — https://www.instagram.com/whistlegraph/
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- **Instagram (trio era, 2020–2023)** — https://www.instagram.com/whistlegraph.trio/
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- **YouTube** — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ_5AuCebRbm9t9_Y7SrckQ (incl. *Whistlegraph LIVE: Cat Charmer*, *WHISTLEGRAPH TIKTOKS 2019* compilation)
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- **X / Twitter** — https://x.com/whistlegraph
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- **GitHub** — https://github.com/whistlegraph (the org; @jeffrey is prompt.ac handle)
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- **Trio site** — https://trio.whistlegraph.com/about
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- **Shop** — https://shop.whistlegraph.com (zine, editions)
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- **One-pager** — https://whistlegraph.mmm.page
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- **Fan wiki** — https://whistlegraph.fandom.com
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- **Are.na channel** — https://www.are.na/aesthetic-computer/self-teaching-scores · 68 annotated blocks
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### Institutional / commissions
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- **Rhizome × New Museum** — *The Longest Whistlegraph Ever (so far)*, commissioned 2021, debuted at the New Museum on **2022-05-14** as part of *First Look*. Dedicated site: https://sites.rhizome.org/the-longest-whistlegraph-ever-so-far/ · Editorial: https://rhizome.org/editorial/2022/sep/13/first-look-the-longest-whistlegraph-ever-so-far/ · Workshops call: https://cdn.rhizome.org/editorial/2022/mar/02/apply-to-whistlegraph-workshops/ · Event page: https://rhizome.org/events/the-longest-whistlegraph/
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- **Feral File** — artist page https://feralfile.com/artists/Whistlegraph · *Ten Whistlegraphs* exhibition, May 2022 · also featured in **FF1** retrospective https://retrospective.feralfile.com/ff1
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- **Schneider Museum of Art** (Southern Oregon University, Ashland) — https://sma.sou.edu/whistlegraph/ · *Virtual Creative Industries Discussion*: https://sma.sou.edu/virtual-creative-industries-discussion-whistlegraph/ · *FREE Family Days with Whistlegraph*: https://sma.sou.edu/free-family-days-with-whistlegraph/
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- **KADIST** — Jeffrey Alan Scudder artist page: https://kadist.org/people/jeffrey-alan-scudder/ · *TBD: confirm specific whistlegraph work(s) in KADIST's collection*
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- **SMK** (Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen) — *TBD: confirm. General search didn't surface a direct whistlegraph holding; may need to cross-check with Jeffrey's CV*
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### Related Jeffrey Alan Scudder pages
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- **Artist archive** — https://jas.life
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- **Wild.xyz** — https://wild.xyz/jeffrey-scudder/
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### Press, prior writing, context
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- **The Whistlegraph Zine** (2023-06-06) — 60 pages, ed. Asher Penn for *Sex Magazine*, **750 copies**. Long-form interviews with Jeffrey / Alex / Camille + two fan entries.
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- Shop (Whistlegraph): https://shop.whistlegraph.com/products/the-whistlegraph-zine
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- Shop (Sex Magazine): https://sexmag.shop/products/the-whistlegraph-zine
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- **Jacob Ciocci** — *The Butterfly Effect / Rules Set You Free* — essay in the Whistlegraph Zine. Places the form in the rule-based community-art / Paper Rad lineage. Ciocci also contributed an intro.
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- **Perry** — intro in the Whistlegraph Zine (*TBD: full name / attribution*)
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- **Cmarthoughts** — *The Longest Whistlegraph Ever — Body Language*: https://cmarthoughts.com/whistlegraph-body-language/
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- *TBD: additional reviews, interviews, press mentions (check FADER, Artnews, other mags)*
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### Frequent collaborators beyond the trio
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Per Schneider Museum page: Ella Fleck, Niki Stebbins, Matt Doyle, Anastasia Lewis, Adam Schwarz, Ash Nerve, plus an online community of artists and fans.
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---
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## 3. Dropbox (needs manual catalog)
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The `aesthetic-computer-vault` has dropbox access. The following categories likely live there; fill in exact paths as cataloged:
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- **Recordings** — *TBD: dropbox path* — performance videos (the form is video-native; the archive is the primary record)
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- **Raw video / stems** — *TBD* — unedited source footage, multi-angle shoots
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- **Stills / photography** — *TBD* — chalk commissions, exhibition documentation, score photos
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- **Scores / drawings** — *TBD* — physical drawings, scans, printable editions
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- **Audio** — *TBD* — isolated vocal takes, instrumentals, Bo En collaborations
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- **Press kits** — *TBD* — bios, statements, high-res stills for distribution
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- **Design / branding** — *TBD* — logo variants, font files, poster templates
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- **Correspondence / contracts** — *TBD* — institutional agreements, edition receipts
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A small script (`sync-dropbox.mjs` or similar) can later pull manifests from dropbox API and update this file automatically.
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---
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## 4. Collaborators (2019–2023 trio)
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- **Jeffrey Alan Scudder** — creator, aesthetic.computer, @jeffrey
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- **Alex Freundlich**
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- **Camille Klein**
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- **Form invented** by Jeffrey in **2019**. **Trio formed in 2020** (pandemic, cabin in Ashland, Oregon). **Separated November 2023.** December 2023, Jeffrey took solo access to all of the group's social media. The form continues under aesthetic.computer.
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---
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## 5. Timeline (rough spine)
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- **2019** — Jeffrey invents the form. Early TikTok posts.
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- **2020** — Trio forms (Jeffrey + Alex Freundlich + Camille Klein) during the pandemic in a cabin in Ashland, Oregon.
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- **2020–2023** — TikTok growth to ~2.7M followers. No paid promotion. Viral hits with 4-stroke / 4-sung-line compositions.
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- **2021** — Rhizome commissions *The Longest Whistlegraph Ever (so far)*.
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- **2022-05** — *Ten Whistlegraphs* at Feral File; *The Longest Whistlegraph Ever (so far)* debuts at New Museum as part of Rhizome's *First Look*.
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- **2023-06-06** — *The Whistlegraph Zine* published (Sex Magazine / Asher Penn), 60pp, 750 copies. Ciocci essay.
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- **2023-11** — Trio separates. Jeffrey continues solo.
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- **2024–2025** — Form continues under aesthetic.computer: `/whistlegraph` piece, self-documenting-score as AC's founding principle.
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- **2026-04-20** — Are.na Annual Vol. 8 pitch submitted (essay: *Whistlegraph and the Self-Teaching Score*; book Dec 2026).
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---
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## How to extend this index
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1. When new material appears (a recording gets indexed, a press mention shows up, a new piece ships) — add a line here with a link or path.
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2. Use `TBD:` prefix for known-missing items so they're greppable.
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3. Don't check in large binaries; keep this as pointers.
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4. If the dropbox catalog grows large, split it into a sibling `dropbox-manifest.md` (still text, still pointers).