Chain Reaction

While looking for an article for this weeks blog entry I went to Networked Performance as well as Rhizome and started exploring their sites for an article. I realized that both sites had information about a four day festival that Upgrade! International curates each year. This years theme is called "Chain Reaction".

I found it interesting that the theme really illustrates Upgrade! network. Chain Reaction is a place for all new media to be explored in a new and interesting form of a city-wide digital art and networked cultural festival. They have several exhibitions, screenings, and live local and streamed performances as well as other programs, lectures and workshops that explore facests in the field of digital art. This meeting is going to bring together artists, curators, and art producers from all over the world.

Chain Reaction illustrates and portrays Upgrade! International due to its creativity that gradually grew into a international group that influenced each other continually through permanent communication. Through the gathering of all the artists, curators, and art producers in Macedonia it will cause a positive chain reaction within the attendees and art in general. It explores the issues of international cultural development and growth worldwide and locally in the world of digital networks. Expectations for this event are high and Upgrade! wants it to be a catalyst for dialog, future collaborations and understanding of new cultures.

"The artistic program shows current tendencies in the use of hardware and software development for artistic means. The artists presented here are the emergent creative force on the international new media art scene. Some of the works have been part of other exhibitions and festivals, and others have been created exclusively for this event. One of the dominant principles that have emerged in this collection of works is the blurring of the boundaries between art, cultures, technology and physical surroundings. This blurring is not about fading out; it is about illuminating and distributing new kinds of practices. It is about multiple modes of participating, navigating and deconstructing."

The Chain Reaction festival seems like a place where all of these brilliant artists are able to come together and expand their knowledge of new media art and meet others who will enlighten them. I really like the idea of being able to come together with new people, it is a great opportunity for new inspiration, which could lead to a great piece of new art. Meeting people from all over the world is also a great way to make long lasting connections with different cultures and people that could help you out in the future with in an art career. I also find Upgrade! International to be an interesting corporation. They seem to have started out on a small creative spark that grew into an international phenomenon.

~ B ~