Discovering The New World Of Cyber Art

By Dennis Stewart


When it comes to art and artists, there are a number of different types. In some cases, an artist focuses on painting, in others photography. Whereas, there are also artists whom create amazing art with a number of online tools. When this is the case it is often referred to as cyber art.

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 still in existence, the non-profit now focuses on showing digital art and other projects on a year round basis. The organizers still host a website in which the last effects of the festival can be viewed. Whereas, the popular CyberArts Gallery is still housed in a building which used to be the Axiom Center for New and Experimental Media in the south Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain which is easily accessible via the Orange line on the MBTA, the city's mass transit system.

While visiting the gallery can be fun, the non-profit also maintains an online presence of past Boston CyberArts festivals. The online galleries include online exhibits, archived art work and remains free of charge to interested parties. As a result, while the festival is no longer in operation, artists are still invited to submit work of this nature on an ongoing basis.

Originally located in Boston, Massachusetts, the office once featured a central headquarters in which artists could locate information on events and attend galas and opening night parties. For, at the time, Boston was a hotbed for digital artists and technology. Most likely due to the award winning art school and MIT both of which were in the immediate vicinity of the home office.

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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