Had my VIVA yesterday, for my dissertation. It was awesome – amazing feedback, a great discussion, some provocative comments. My examiners really engaged with the text in ways that any doctoral student would be thrilled by. I’ll write about it some time, but am too busy celebrating right now. Anyhow, no revisions: I’m a doctor.
Woot.
I saw the advert for Michael Moore’s new film today (Capitalism: A love story), and decided to write him a letter. It follows. Any thoughts from my readers are welcome in the comments, as well as via email.
Hi Mike:
Long time fan, first time writer.
As my wife and I were sitting and watching the latest from the Supreme Court’s non-activist judges the other day, we were enraged, again, by the idea that “corporations are people, too” – a historical mistake with dire consequences. But then Nicole – the smarter of us -Â wondered aloud, “If they are people, why has the state never tried them for murder?” Sure, companies whose irresponsible actions have ended people’s lives have been sued by individuals for monetary compensation, and there have even been occasional consequences for individuals within various companies on such occasions. But if corporations are people under law, and commit these crimes as a corporation (aka person), should not the corporation be subject to the same rulings as people are? What would it mean for a corporation – as a thing; or rather, a person – to serve 10 years in jail? A life sentence? To get the death penalty? Why can’t we incarcerate one? Has it ever been tried (forgive the pun)? I’d love to see it. I’ve love to help it happen.
How might I, or we, try such a thing?
Keep up the good work! Warmly,
Nathaniel Stern
http://nathanielstern.com
Your annual pirate joke:
What has 8 hands and 8 feet?
8 Pirates!
Eve Sussman & Rufus Corporation, along with the Edward Winkleman Gallery, have produced a large edition of an ongoing video art work that comes complete with a player and screen. As if this isn’t enough of a breakthrough in the commercial art gallery realm (and one Jessica and I have been admittedly contemplating for our Distill Life series for some time; we can attest to the fact that, as noted by Winkleman, it indeed is a lot of work and research – not to mention cash), the players can also go online to download latter parts of the artists’ ongoing series.
… Sussman selected the ARCHOS 5 player for this Compound Edition for its high-fidelity audio and video and internet capability. This last fact will allow collectors of this Compound Edition to continue along the White on White journey in the near future. As episodes of White on White become available fans of the work can collect them and have them streamed to their Archos player – thereby owning a limited edition film-in-progress and simultaneously becoming a co-producer of the final film noir.
It’s a big risk, but one that seems to be paying off already. Bravo to the artists and gallery for what looks to be a beautiful work – a wonderful hybrid of conceptual, new media, and object-based art.
OMG I have a blog.
But I’ve been makin art and teachin instead. I do not tweet, but the book of faces tends to let some know my state (er, state-us). You can find me there. Still, will have pics of the kid and maybe some of the new work with Jessica up in a couple of weeks. We put most of the work together (finally!) only yesterday, and it’s totally awesome, if I do say so myself. Maybe I will put photos on the book of faces, even, as some keep suggesting I do so. Lots of shows coming up!
Some things:
laters
More information: http://digiwaukee.net/upgrade
Upgrade! Milwaukee presents Nadav Assor and Maria Bolivar!
Sunday July 12, 7 – 9 PM
MOCT, 240 E Pittsburgh Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53204
Please come to the second Upgrade! Milwaukee, featuring Nadav Assor (Israel) and Maria Bolivar (Venezuela)!
Nadav Assor, Tunneling (performance)
On Nadav Assor (who was the founder of Upgrade! Tel Aviv):
“I am greatly interested in theories and explorations of urban architectural, emotional and ideological sub-structures. One tactic I use in exposing and reshaping the structures around me is digitization, in the sense of reduction to a primal, reconfigurable matter. The transformed digital matter is recast into its original context, physically manipulated in an ongoing live process that ranges from the absurd to the violent. The outcome often presents various transgressions or inversions of the technological, socio-political structures that served as a starting point. Many of the mechanisms inherent in my work require palpable, physical effort or struggle to manipulate, thus exposing the constant friction between body and media. I do not want my devices to ‘run smoothly’.
My work has been shown in Berlin, Chicago, and in many Israeli venues, including several showings at the Israeli Center for Digital Art, the C.Sides International electronic media festival, the Laptopia festival, the Center for Contemporary Art in Tel-Aviv, The Haifa and Bat Yam Museums and more. I have received a 2006 Leumi (the Israeli national bank) award for excellence in the arts.
I am currently pursuing my MFA with full fellowship in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.”
Maria Bolivar @ UWM
Maria Bolivar was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She was significantly influenced by her father, Cesar Bolivar, who is a well-known film director in Latin America. After attending the most important design academy in Venezuela: El Instituto de Diseño de Caracas, Maria spent three years as a professional designer. Due to the violence and her involvement in the 2002 National Strike in Venezuela, Maria was forced to come to Milwaukee where she received her BFA in communication design from the Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) in 2006. Maria is currently pursuing a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee with an intermedia focus.
Hope to see you there!
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Upgrade! Milwaukee is a regular gathering of digital creatives – artists, musicians, performers, writers, curators and the public – that fosters dialogue and creates opportunities for collaboration within the local new media community. It features 1-3 guest speakers at each event, held at a rotating venue: informal, free, and open to all. We welcome suggestions for speakers, panels or gatherings. Upgrade! Milwaukee will continue to grow as a local node within the global Upgrade! International (UI) network.
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Upgrade! is an international, emerging network of autonomous nodes united by art, technology, and a commitment to bridging cultural divides. Its decentralized, non-hierarchical structure ensures that Upgrade! (i) operates according to local interests and their available resources; and (ii) reflects current creative engagement with cutting edge technologies. While individual nodes present new media projects, engage in informal critique, and foster dialogue and collaboration between individual artists, Upgrade! International functions as an online, global network that gathers in different cities to meet one another, showcase local art, and work on the agenda for the following year. There are currently over 30 nodes in UI, across North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Second Life.