Sunday, June 10, 2018

Understanding The Definition Of Cyber Art

By Dennis Stewart


Artists can often work in one or multiple genres and media formats. For many, the computer and internet have opened up opportunities never before present in the art world. When it comes to cyber art, the artist typically works with computer based applications to create paintings, enhance photographs or use various applications and tools to create video performance or poetry.

The term is relatively new in the art world, though has been present in the field of technology since the early 1990s. For, with the advent of desktop and laptop computers and tablets, making computerized art has become quite popular. In most cases, these artists work with creating online art work or uploading and editing photographs or videos.

The most well known event involving this type of art was the Boston CyberArts Festival which was the only event of its kind. In the early 1990s, a non-profit group started the festival which ran through 2011. During that time, digital art and video were at the forefront of technology. For, long before YouTube and other video sharing sites, performance and digital artists were providing work to the festival.

As recently as 2007, 22,000 people were in attendance at the festival. A festival which was held once every other year in Boston, Massachusetts. During that time, artists from all over the world held galas and openings and shared work with those whom enjoyed digital art and video. It is most likely thanks to MIT and an award winning art school that the festivals were so successful.

While the non-profit organization still exist, it now focuses on promoting arts and technology on a year round basis. The last effects of the festival can be found at the CyberArts Gallery which is located at what used to be the Axiom Center for New and Experimental Media. Located in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood and close to the MBTA Orange line, the gallery holds events and accepts visitors on a regular basis.

For those whom can not make it to the gallery, there is also a website on which the non-profit posts a number of past and present artwork and shows. The gallery hosts online exhibits, archived work and is free to browse. While the festival is no longer in operation, artists are still invited to submit work on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

Originally located in Boston, Massachusetts, with a centralized office where artists could find information on events while attending opening night parties, the office has since moved. Whether due to MIT or the local art school, the festival ran successfully from the early 1990s to 2011. After which, the organization closed up shop and moved to Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood just south of the city which is a convenient location on the Orange line of the Boston MBTA mass transportation system.

While this is the case, the office rarely hosts events. Instead, most art openings and galas are now hosted at local art galleries, art schools, museums, public spaces and universities. Whereas, from the the earliest days of the internet to present, organizers have been known to host virtual events which individuals can view online free of charge. At the same time, there are often donation cups available at the live events which those in attendance can contribute if so desired.




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