Detrus mentioned Processing and openFrameworks. Basically programming languages for visual artists.

Also Maker Faire for artsy DIY and hardware stuff: http://makerfaire.com/

Zer01, a Bay Area art/technology network: http://zero1.org/

I volunteer for those last two, send me a message if you're in the Bay Area and want to chat! I'm definitely a techie software engineer, but I'm fascinated by art, good design, and grand ideas about anything =)