[FISEA’93] Curator Statement: Brian Szott — The Art Factor: International Exhibition of Electronic Art

Curator Statement

october 29 to december 16, 1993

More than a year ago, planners for FISEA 93 aptly chose The Art Factor as the theme for this symposium. It is an appropriate theme because, for the first time, this event is being hosted by an art college – a place where new art forms are being discussed and can emerge. Moreover, it is appropriate because it is my belief that now is the time to emphasize the artistic over the technological aspect of this relatively young art form. Only if practitioners of electronic art have an understanding of both the history of art and contemporary aesthetics – with all its richness and diversity – will their art achieve its greatest potential as being the leading art form in the next century.

The Art Factor: International Exhibition of Electronic Art surveys the broad range of applications in electronic art today. While far from conclusive — largescale installations and environmental pieces could not be included, for example — this exhibition establishes a solid foundation for the viewer. Like the technology in which it is based, computer generated art is sure to grow rapidly. Modern art has had a love/hate relationship with technology, at one moment embracing it as a panacea and the next rejecting it as a cause for all that is wrong in society. Nevertheless, the computer and its related technologies will take their place among the fundamental tools for making art.

More than 120 applications were received for this exhibition with 46 artists finally invited to participate. I’d like to thank the jurors Jim Dozier, independent curator and Judith Yourman, visual artist and Assistant Professor of Electronic Media, St. Olaf College, for their hard work in selecting this outstanding group of participants. Additional thanks go to Lisa Daehlin, gallery assistant; Anastasia Faunce, public relations; Bradford Smith, media center; Lars Mason, building services; and to the exhibition crew. Finally, I am grateful to the artists themselves for their cooperation and good humor throughout the entire process. My deepest gratitude goes to Roman Verostko for inviting me to participate in this project. It has been a rewarding experience indeed.

The FISEA’93 Art Exhibition contained works by:

Abe
Acevedo
Arntson
Badger
Bessa
Bradley
Breiger
Brill
Cash
Chmelewski
Dale
Davies
Davison
Dehlinger
Dickson
Dimon
Farber
Fenster
Flax
Fraga
George
Gleeson
Holzer
Husom
Kac
Krause
Merrill
Mosher
Muhleck
Munzner
Murphy
Rose
Seaman
Shapiro
Sherman
Smith
Sun
Tonkin
Traube
Tremblay
Truckenbrod
Vicente
Walker
Weintraub
Wilson
Zahalka

  • Brian Szott, chair, exhibition, is director of MCAD Gallery at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He received his Masters Degree in Museology with an emphasis in twentieth century painting and sculpture from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. USA. Exhibitions he bas organized include Picture This! Contemporary Childrens Book Illustrators from Minnesota; Chicagoland, Recent Work by Tom Arndt; and The Art Factor: International Exhibition of Electronic Art, as part of the Fourth International Symposium on Electronic Art, FISEA’93. In addition to his duties as gallery director, Szott oversees the College’s continuing studies program.