Temple University’s Tyler School of Art will open its spring 2004 season with “Analog Click-Click,” an exhibit combining advances in digital technology with instruments more traditionally used to capture a scene. The exhibit, running through March 6, will feature eight artists working on an innovative mode of expression as electronics moves into the next era.
“I think it’s a great show to which Tyler students should be exposed as it covers a wide variety of mediums from printmaking to photography. At the same time, it’s a show that has merit to appeal to anyone visiting Temple Gallery,” explained Sam Fitch, curator of the gallery and assistant professor of digital imaging at the Tyler School of Art.
In a field that relies so heavily on traditional media such as painting or fibers, this exhibit dares its audience to look beyond the single medium and see how it can be incorporated into the digitized world of today.
As a budding adjunct at Tyler, Sam Fitch began teaching a few classes each semester focusing his energy on computers. A few years later, he became the Foundations Computer Coordinator, otherwise known as “the computer guy.”
“One challenge while teaching that class was to make the students aware that artists who work in what we think of as traditional art media sometimes also use a computer in some aspect of their work,” Fitch said.
Fitch received countless complaints from students specializing in an art field who claimed there was no use for computers in their work.
In response to the criticism, Fitch introduced the works of artists like Lia Cook, Carl Fudge and Mark Lueders. These artists have taken their works in fibers, painting and ceramics and found a way to use computers to enhance their creations. All three artists are featured in the gallery exhibit.
Other artists include Matt Haffner (photography), Douglas Boehm (illustration), E.J. Herczyk (printmaking), Margo Margolis (painting) and Cindy Poorbaugh (drawing/illustration).
Fitch stated that the exhibit has had a warm reception. People often look at the works of art and question the use of a computer, thereby generating interest in the artistic process.
“It’s great because I don’t want to curate a show of ‘pixel art.’ I’m not a fan of work that is obviously computer generated. I wanted to find a group of artists who use technology in an interesting way. I think I did that,” Fitch remarked.
“Analog Click-Click” was a challenge laid out for the group of eight artists and the exhibit is their contribution to a new form of art making.
Temple Gallery, located at 45 N. 2nd St. in Old City, will feature “Analog Click-Click” through March 6. The gallery is open Wed. to Sat. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
Pooja Shah can be reached at pshah004@temple.edu
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