Talk on Internet Art

The announcement below is courtesy of Erik Inglis:

One of this week’s two visiting speakers to the Philosophy Department is giving a talk on internet art. Professor Amie Thomasson of the Philosophy Department at the University of Miami, will be speaking this Thursday, February 26th, at 4:30 p.m. in King 343. The talk will last from 50-60 minutes, and will be followed by 30-45 minutes of discussion. Everyone is welcome.
Best,
Martin Thomson-Jones

Internet Art and the Natures of Art Kinds

Amie Thomasson
University of Miami

Abstract:
When does a work of art comes into existence, and under what conditions does it remain in existence? When is it damaged, or destroyed? What does and does not ‘count’ as part of a work of art? Answering these questions may seem a straightforward enough matter for works of traditional art forms, such as painting and sculpture, but difficulties become much more evident when we consider new forms of art, such as internet art. In this paper I use internet art as a case study. Looking at the novel art forms there, I will argue, gives us reason to think that human intentions and practices always play a crucial role in determining the boundaries and survival conditions of works of art.

More about Amie Thomasson

 

No dusty tomes here

Well, not for much longer, that is. The art library is in the midst of a “deep cleaning,” its first in over a decade. If you visit during the day, you will most likely meet the cleaners who are helping us out. What makes a cleaning deep?  So many things! For example, the blinds are getting wiped down for the first time ever, and every single book shelf is getting dusted and vacuumed. It’s a tough job, but the cleaners are doing a great job of it, and it’ll be nice to get all the dust from the recent projects (compact shelving two years ago, new lighting last summer, et al.) out of here. Think of it as a much-needed early spring cleaning.

 

Things are looking different here

If you’ve been an observant visitor to the Art Library this semester, you’ll have noticed some major changes. Possibly the most exciting is our new carpet! It may not have been Venturi and Scott Brown’s original plan to have dark red and blue carpeting in the Art Library, but it certainly works well with the doors and gives the Art Library some design and color that seems to evoke Mudd.

Most importantly, there have been some major changes in the organizational scheme of the Art Library. Barb Prior, the art Librarian, has pared down the Reference section to make sure that only the best books get to be front and center (surrounding the computer area). This has created some space for the brand new “Modern Architects Collection.” At the request of Prof. Harwood, we have pulled the books that deal with Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Mies Van der Rohe, Venturi, and Gilbert, and put them in this handy new section. So, next time you’re doing research and see that the location of the book you need is “Art Modernist Architects Coll,” please be aware that this means the book is on the shelves in the computer area, closest to the clock. These books are library use only, except in special cases.

Still in the works is a relocation of the Art Image Collection, and we’ll keep you posted as it happens.

Questions or comments on our moves and new looks? Let us know!

 

Design a poster and brochure for Left Forum 2009

Left Forum, which “convenes the largest gathering in North America of the US and international Left,” is looking for a design for its 2009 conference, happening April 17-19 in New York City. The Forum’s theme this year is “Turning Points,” and the winning design will be printed on the brochures and posters announcing the final details about the conference. Want to see your work featured in event posters, media ads, brochures, etc seen by over 20,000 people? Then please get in touch with Nigar.Hacizade (at) oberlin (dot) edu, who works for Left Forum. She is looking for “nothing too complicated, but something that gets the point across and looks neat.” To see last year’s design, go to http://leftforum.org/?q=2008.

 

Tuesday Tea Call for Papers

This is a great opportunity for senior art history majors that happens every spring. The below information is courtesy of Jason Trimmer:

Call for Papers: AMAM Tuesday Tea Lecture Series

Open To: All Oberlin College seniors

Date of Presentation: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 2:30pm

The Allen Memorial Art Museum is seeking submissions from Oberlin College seniors for a lecture to be presented during the last Tuesday Tea of the spring 2008 semester, May 12 at 2:30 pm. With this opportunity, the AMAM hopes to celebrate the achievements of a graduating Oberlin student.

Tuesday Teas are part of a popular adult lecture series that occurs on the second Tuesday of each month during the academic year. Past speakers have included AMAM staff, Oberlin College professors, outside scholars, and other art professionals. Tuesday Teas are held in the galleries and generally last about 30 minutes, followed by a question and answer period. Light refreshments are served in the East Gallery.

Papers should focus on a single work of art in the permanent collection (preferably one currently on display) or a special exhibition. A one-page abstract should be submitted (in person or via email), along with a resume and letter of interest, to Jason Trimmer, Curator of Education, at the address below by Tuesday, March 3, 2009, no later than 5:00pm. An Art History or Studio major is not required, but the student’s academic background and familiarity with his or her subject will be taken into consideration.

Abstracts will be juried by AMAM curatorial staff and the selection announced by March 17, 2008.

For more information or questions, contact:
Jason Trimmer
Curator of Education
Allen Memorial Art Museum
jason.trimmer@oberlin.edu

 

Senior Studio Exhibition Catalogue Interest Meeting

Dear Senior Art History majors,

We are interested in putting together an exhibition catalog of the Senior Studio exhibitions and will be holding a general interest meeting for art history majors who want to participate next Wednesday February 18th at 8pm in Classroom 1. For each show, the exhibition catalog will include an artist statement, images of the work, and a brief (500 word) review of the show written by one of our very own art historians (that’s you!). And for those of you who didn’t get a chance to see the catalog Ali and Julia put together last year, it is in the art library. The call number is N6530.O3 S46 2008. Since the number of Senior Studio thesis shows is limited, preference will be given to Seniors.

Hope to see you Wednesday!

Best,
Martha, Alyssa, and Matt

 

“How to be a Canadian” travels to Oberlin this Wednesday

On Wednesday, February 18, the CINE 323 Micro-cinema will be featuring “How to be a Canadian,” a 70 minute collection of shorts co-curated by Astria Suparak and visiting Cinema Studies professor Brett Kashmere. The show originally premiered at Eyebeam in 2004, and consists of videos by Jeremy Bailey, Daniel Barrow, Dorion Berg, Shary Boyle, Peaches and Kara Blake, Jubal Brown, Paige Gratland, Brett Kashmere, Jake Kennedy, Jim Munroe, Jon Sasaki, Tom Sherman. Everyone in attendance will receive a Canadian-to-American dictionary, and more details about the pieces can be found at Astria’s website here.

 

esc: artist series talk this Tuesday

Visiting Professor Arzu Özkal’s visiting artists lecture series will be hosting its first guest of the spring semester this Tuesday. Julie Perini will be giving a talk entitled “An investigation of our immediate surroundings as well as larger social structures” at 7:30 PM on Februrary 17 at 128 Forest St.

Here’s more info from Prof. Özkal:

Julie Perini is an artist working in time-based media including video, performance, film, mail, and installation. Her work has exhibited widely in the US and abroad. She is a recipient of the 2007 New York Foundation for the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship in Cross-Disciplinary/Performative work. Julie holds an MFA from the University at Buffalo’s Department of Media Study and a BS in Communication from Cornell University. Julie has taught college courses, community workshops, and high school programs on video and digital media production, film history, and performance art. Currently, she lives in Portland, OR and teaches in the Intermedia Department at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. There will be snacks, beverages and stimulating conversations.
Hope to see you all there.

For more information and directions to the studio, please see contrary.info/esc

 

Cynthia Hahn Lecture

This courtesy of Erik Inglis:

Dear Art Students and Faculty,

I wanted to let you know about a lecture that may interest you. Cynthia Hahn, a medieval art historian from Hunter College in New York, will be speaking on relics and reliquaries this Thursday at 7:30 in classroom I of the Art Building. Her talk is titled “Strange Beauty: Relics, Reliquaries and Viewers.”

 

W.J.T. Mitchell Lecture this Thursday

From Prof. Bonnie Cheng:

This year’s Jesse Floyd Mack lecturer is W. J. T. Mitchell, Gaylord Donnelley Distinguished Service Professor of English and Art History at the University of Chicago and editor of Critical Inquiry. Professor Mitchell’s work is primarily focused on the interplay of vision and language in art, literature, and media. The subjects of his articles range from general problems in the theory of representation to specific issues in cultural politics and political culture. Among his most recent prize-winning books are Picture Theory (Chicago, 1994), The Last Dinosaur Book (Chicago, 1998), and What Do Pictures Want? (Chicago, 2005), which was awarded the MLA’s 2006 James Russell Lowell Prize in Language and Literature. He is currently working  on two projects, Medium Theory, Cloning Terror: The War of Images, September 11 to Abu Ghraib, and Critical Terms in Media Studies (with Mark Hansen). His lecture, “The Future of the Image,” will take place on Thursday, February 12 at 4:30 in Craig Auditorium.