***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
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   [Date]: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 01:02:50 -0500
   [From]: "Chris Drew" <cdrew#@orion.it.luc.edu>
     [To]: "Cultural Exchange via Internet" <forum1@hkw.kbx.de>
[Subject]: Re: [forum1] Re: The Shrinking Web and What to do about it.

-----Original Message-----
From: Juan Jose Diaz Infante <jdiazinfante@altamiracave.com>
To: Cultural Exchange via Internet <forum1@hkw.kbx.de>
Date: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 4:53 PM
Subject: [forum1] Re: The Shrinking Web and What to Do About it


> As far as I can see, there are really no financial or infrastructural
problems
> which prevent these artists of Chicago from benefitting from the Web.
> Similar is the case in India, too, where artists who have been working in
> the traditional manner are not willing to try out the new. In fact, some
of
> the older ones actually think it some kind of artistic compromise to
create
> using new technologies.



The artist very much must a compromise his art to invest so much time and
energy in the "new Technology" when his/her art is based on the eye, hand
and a pencil or paintbrush. The assumption that the computer framed image
can do something better than the older methods artists have used for
centuries is absurd. In fact - it does it less well than the skilled artist
because the skilled artist is much more in touch and in control of his
hand/eye and free to deviate at any point whereas the "new technology"
limits the artist to its softwares' Styles. Each software imposes a style on
the artist that can not be avoided. The style is greater than the
limitations of a pencil or paintbrush. I personally feel that computers as
creative instruments are still the equipment of the elite. Some of the
artists in our group have studied computer graphics but still prefer the
hand because to be an artist and raise a family and try to keep up computer
equipment and a connection to the Internet is not easy. It definely cuts
deep into their creative time to work to pay for all the elements of a
system.

The best artists I know carry a book around and draw at many odd moments and
places. Even to imagine a tiny notebook computer able to do this is to look
farther into the future and to expect the elite to master it first. Which
has more dextarity - a mouse or a pencil.

At least for the near future - I believe the Internet is best used to
promote artists' work. We can scan work in. We do not have to all become
computer artists nor do any of us have to - to survive as artists. Some
will. Others will find greater satisfaction in close touch with nature. Art
is so wide and inexpensive to persue that to tell us we should spend years
learning to use and spend money supporting hardware and software developers
is crasy to many artists - not because they do not want to learn new tricks
but because they are free thinking individuals that can take it - or leave
it. Part of being an artist is the ability to choose your mediums. The
Computer in not necessary to art! Art, however, is necessary to the
Internet.

The Internet is most valuable to promoting the artists work.

There is a big digital divide here in Chicago where classes in computer art
topics and other subjects can cost between $100-800 and software and
hardware $2-3000. Most of the artists I know can not come up with these
funds. That is why we are attempting to recycle equipment. Still, the
learning curve and time it takes to create a computer literate individual is
a major investment for any artist to seriously consider. I expect us to have
our effect only over a long time. We will have to lower the barriers and
build in opportunities for artists on our website.

Chris Drew       <mailto:umcac@art-teez.org>
Uptown Multi-Cultural Art Center
http://www.art-teez.org   We dress Chicago and the
Internet in t-shirt art.  Come get some! 773/561-7676