Chelsea Galleries

I was intrigued by David Fried’s piece with the balls communicating. While I felt aesthetically it was a little corporate art-y, I loved the mysterious alchemical process by which the balls moved. I loved that the artist developed a concept and then found a technology to make it work. In some cases with new media, the technology is the art, but in others, the concept can be invented almost separately from a medium, and then substantiated through technology\

Although some people in class complained that the method of R. Luke Dubois’ work “Hindsight is Always 20/20” was disingenuous and created an expected result, I thought it seemed an incredibly innovative and interesting as a historical document. It showed how computer sciences could be applied to history in an interdisciplinary way to offer a unique perspective. The information presented through his systematic breakdown of state of the union addresses was consistent with my understanding of ideological shifts in American politics. It presented history for a computer generation: non-narrative, data-based, multi-disciplinary, and requiring of a critical thought process.

Michael Zansky’s pieces showed a facet of new media art that is homegrown and low-tech. Entering the gallery felt to me like entering a renaissance cabinet of curiosities, in which disparate objects are juxtaposed to create a sense of wonder and enchantment. Images that recalled the cosmos were combined with precious little objects in a way that emulated the combinations of nature and artifact which occurred in these proto-museums, but the inclusion of whimsical yet somehow terrifying pop-culture tchochkes brought the whole thing up to date. The constant maniacal rotations of the still lives and the distortion of the lenses brought on sensory bewilderment like a bad trip. I loved this art and found the artist’s method inspiring

I also loved Doug Aitken’s video work “Migrations” at 303 gallery, but I couldn’t tell if it was just because of the beautiful cinematography of cute animals. I loved how he used these kind of iconic noir Americana images of anonymous motel rooms. While the animals are just in there doing their natural behavior in an unnatural environment, our imagination creates a narrative and psychology for the creatures based on our association of this cinematic locale with moral transgression and existential crisis.

My favorite piece at eyebeam was the squares of wallpaper that followed your movements. It reminded me of the haunted house portraits whose eyes watch you cross the room, but more subtly ominous. Who knew that some tasteful wallpaper minimally hung could be so scary? The exhibit at eyebeam showcased a broad spectrum of new media themes, from interactivity, to technological innovation, to grassroots organizing. It helped me gain a better understanding of what new media art entails.