Database of Virtual Art

Once upon a time this blog was called "Learning About Digital Media" and I had planned to locate and discuss websites where you could find information about the history of digital media, computer art, and the people who were part of that history. I still think that one of the better sites to do that is Zakros.com although the last time I looked it was a bit more difficult to find the learning and history parts. The 'teaching' link on Randall Packer's bio page leads to his class notes from five different universities - most of these notes have live links, or a later version of similar material. The website for his book Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality is still online [although now at a new URL - July 29/09]. The book contains many important essays from the history of digital art: the website complements the text and includes many of the essays as well as audio and video material.

Both of the above sites illustrate what I believe is one of the strengths of the Internet - access to complete materials, or at least just enough material to entice you into investigating further. As I've looked for websites to introduce on this blog, I've found that I've strayed from my original intent as I've found, and been delighted by, sites that make a real effort to inform, entice, and provide complete information. The following site does this fairly well, and its interface has improved a bit since I first found it over a year ago.

"The Database of Virtual Art documents the rapidly evolving field of digital installation art." Most of the text that I saw was in German, but with a bit of experimentation I found my way around the site. There didn't seem to be a 'browse artists' feature but I found a list of last names only under the Database/Search tab. Recent works under each 'Search ... ' section have a bit more information but you need to know your artists to find them, or you can browse to find someone you like. I saw [Lev]Manovich, [Roy] Ascott, [Jack] Ox, and [Char] Davies, who I recognized by their last names. The content includes images and video with differing download quality.

I originally found the site via the Feb. 2, 2005 blog on networked_performance from Turbulence.

2006 Tony Awards - New York Times

The New York Times has a wonderful web site. Not only can you read most of their articles with a simple free member signup, but they have excellent slide shows, many with audio.

Today, the Tony Awards were announced and the NYT Tony Awards page has articles about each of the nominated shows, some with slide/audio files.

I didn't look at all of the shows but "The Jersey Boys"caught my eye. No slide show and the review is not exactly favourable but the play was nominated for Best Musical and seven other awards.
Related web sites: Frankie Valli on Wikipedia; Jersey Boys Blog

"Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life" was nominated for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. Although the review doesn't have a link to it, the Tony Awards page includes an audio slide show narrated by Ms Rivera.

"The Threepenny Opera" has an audio show narrated by the lighting designer, got a terrible review, and was nominated for Best Revival of a Musical. So there!

Hasted Hunt Gallery :: HOME

I found the Hasted Hunt Gallery :: HOME webpage while reading an article in Art Knowledge News about the Erwin Olaf exhibit at the Gallery.

Under the 'Artists' link, the online Gallery offers a slideshow of a dozen or more images for each artist. While the images are clear, no enlarged version is offered for view. The 'Press' link has short descriptive essays/reviews about each artist.

Neil's Garage

I'm sure there are many better, more informed, blogs about Neil Young's Living With War. I'm making this entry because it's the least I can do - add one more voice of support.

As far as web sites go, Neil's Garage is set up very well. The album starts as soon as you enter the site and continues through the songs in order. The New York Times reported that "Mr. Young wants the album heard as a whole." That way, the listener has to progress through the complete work as Neil Young presents it. I must say that hearing the album as a whole builds an emotional connection to the work, with sadness being the predominant feeling, rather than anger.

The one drawback to finding the music through Neil's Garage is that if you click one of the other links, you lose the continuity of the album, and have to start at the beginning. So bring up two versions of the site if you want to read the lyrics as you listen.

The Living With War blog has other links, and lots of comments, especially to the April 28, 2007, entry. Clearly, there is a problem with that blog's dating system or maybe it's intentional, since the misdating keeps the 'Listen to the Album' entry at the top of the blog.

[January 17, 2007 - Deleted part of post leading to a dead URL. The album didn't start playing as soon as I went to Neil's Garage, but I found it (or parts of it,or videos of some of the songs) after clicking around a bit. As usual the NYT article is available only if you've done the free registration process.]