Open Source Culture Creator Contest #1 with a grand prize of 225,289 satoshis (with an approximate USD value of $210 at the time of writing) has concluded and we’re happy to introduce the victor, the man behind the synonyms KN6ZZV and Micah C. Miracle and the work he’s completed as part and parcel of him winning the competition: a multimedia art piece (with a hidden Bitcoin bounty) “Timeout“
While he was working on the project, we asked him some questions about himself and his background.
- Congratulations on winning the contest! Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, where do you come from and where are you headed?
KN6ZZV: Thanks. It’s super cool to be here. I’m grateful and humbled to be chosen for this project. I look forward to making a contribution to the public domain. - From what I understand, you are quite a multidisciplinary artist: a radio DJ, a writer, and a musician. Did I miss something? Which one of those roles do you identify the most with?
KN6ZZV: Yeah. I have too many hobbies. I consider myself audio-first (playing music, recording, doing the dj thing, etc.) but I also write and make shit. I think my best work combines these art forms. - How did you come across Bitcoin and nostr? How have those technologies influenced you, your life and your art?
KN6ZZV: I found Nostr in October of 2024, so I’m still very noob here. I am officially Nostr-only now, however. So there’s that. - The proposal you made for the contest is as unique as it gets. Where did you get the idea to create such a multi-faceted piece of art? Have you created something similar before or is this endeavour a brand new challenge and a horizon for you?
KN6ZZV: Yeah. I have some experience with this. The real trick is incorporating music into the design. I just hope that the reward folks can win by deciphering the encrypted work will draw some attention to Open Source Culture. - How did you come across the Open Source Culture initiative and the contest? Have you been involved in any public domain / Creative Commons type initiatives before?
KN6ZZV: I found this contest through a note created by @rustypuppy on Nostr. I’ve released a few tracks (music tracks) into the public domain. I’ve also published some scripts for short plays using a creative commons license. - Name a book, a movie, an album, a song – any piece of art that you think is criminally underrated, but should be seen, heard or experienced by everyone at least once in their life?
KN6ZZV: Let’s see. Several albums come to mind. Check out “Of the Last Human Being” by Sleepy Time Gorilla Museum, or “The Pros and Cons of Hitchiking” by Roger Waters. - KN6ZZV, you are also known as Micah C. Miracle – tell us the background behind those names.
KN6ZZV: KN6ZZV is my amateur radio call sign. I got my technician class radio license last year and I operate a base station out of my garage on 2 meter and 70 cm radio bands. Micah C. Miracle is my stripper name. It’s becoming outdated though. I probably need a new handle altogether. Who knows, maybe I’ll make separate npubs for each of my personas. - Last but not least, please feel free to let the audience know where to find you and your work online (or in the physical world).
KN6ZZV: Look for me, @KN6ZZV on Nostr. All my new projects will be showcased there this year. Tune in to the Coastal Underground on Tuesdays from 4-6pm, pacific on https://www.humboldthotair.org/. You can also check out last week’s show here: https://spinitron.com/Humboldt-Hot-Air/show/268238/The-Coastal-Underground
As promised, the man delivered his piece named “Timeout” by the end of April, which was then uploaded onto the Satoshee website and is consequently available in the public domain. You can download the files (.mp4, .mp3 and/or .jpg) from the store for free or Pay What You Want (and 50% of what you pay will go into the Open Source Culture Fund):
KN6ZZV – Timeout
The whole animation is also available on the SATOSH.EE channel on YouTube:
He also sent a message along with the 3 files:
The animation (in the .mp4 file) was created from approximately 115 pics (lasting less than 20 seconds) that were taken in quick succession as I physically shuffled paper objects around a blank page of an open sketchbook. The art itself was created from a few colored construction paper scraps, the ink of a black sharpie pen, some scotch tape and a few choice subjects from my kids long neglected crayon set.
The music was recorded in my home studio. I play the drums, bass, synthesizer and guitar on this short piece. I also recorded the sounds of a household timer being wound and ringing out…
But let’s be honest, the most important part of this project isn’t really about the art at all. It’s about the real money (paid in BTC) that a successful sleuth can earn by uncovering the hidden message inside of it!
As promised, half of the BTC I receive for the completion of this work will be shared with the first person to crack the encryption and unlock the secrets found herein!**
That’s hella sats! 56,322 to be exact… and they’re all up for grabs.
Here’s the catch: This opportunity is only good for 21 days. May 21st, 2025 is the official deadline for submitting your answers and winning the prize, so don’t wait too long!
*Heads up: Everything needed to solve the encryption is within the video alone. Still, any code-breakers working on a solve may appreciate the supplementary files included here (.mp3 and .jpg), as they may also hold clues to this quirky puzzle.
**If you think you’ve figured it out, reach out to me, @KN6ZZV, directly on Nostr. Tag me along with your answers and I’ll let you know if you’ve won.
Finally, you should know that over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be giving out clues to listeners live on the air! Tune-in to The Coastal Underground, Tuesdays from 4-6pm Pacific time, streaming @ http://www.humboldthotair.org. You can also follow me on Nostr for updates and helpful hints!
I hope to see you there.
KN6ZZV
Micah C. Miracle
For more information regarding the Open Source Culture initiative, please have a look at the Open Source Culture page: https://satosh.ee/open-source-culture/
Last but not least, a few words from Kontext, SATOSH.EE CEO and Open Source Culture initializer:
On behalf of SATOSH.EE and the whole copyright-free, Open Source movement, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to KN6ZZV, all other participants, everybody who voted for their favorites and shared information about the contest, and of course, the sponsor of this contest – Seedor.io – for making this all a big success and a great learning experience. I look forward to hosting more contests like this, commissioning new works of art and media to be released into the public domain as well as sharing more works which are already in the public domain or published under Creative Commons Attribution licenses, here on the Satoshee website and on Open Source Culture nostr. I also hope this and subsequent works commissioned and/or published by Satoshee will become an inspiration for others to create and release their creative works into the public domain, as well as give artists plenty of material to remix/re-use/re-imagine in one way or the other. Onward!
Harder Kink AKA Kontext
Founder & CEO, Satoshee Strategy
Block height 895,318
Cool art, sounds like a cool dude. I’m hoping to decode this and get some satoshee’s!