Downtown Artist Talk - Blast Theory

Downtown Artist Talk with Blast Theory
Media * Performance * Gaming

Monday, November 22; 7 PM
Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University

London-based Blast Theory is renowned internationally as one of the most adventurous artist groups working at the intersection of performance, media, and computer gaming. Lead by Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick Tandavanitj, the group uses video, computers, performance, installation, mobile and online technologies to explore interactivity and the relationship between real and virtual space, with a particular focus on the social, and political aspects of technology. Matt Adams and Steve Benford will discuss their recent work, a multi-player game that fuses the worlds of on-line and off-line players.

Joining Blast Theory will be respondents from leading art, architecture, and gaming organizations in New York City. These respondents will address Blast Theory's work through the lenses of their own disciplines and expertise while simultaneously asking how Blast Theory's work could theoretically, philosophically, and critically relate to the current cultural and economic re-development of Lower Manhattan and New York City in general.

This Downtown Artist talk features Blast Theory director Matt Adams; Professor of Collaborative Computing and lead engineer of the Mixed Reality Lab, Steve Benford; and respondents Hugh Hardy (H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture), Maria-Christina Villasenor (Associate Curator, Guggenheim Museum) and Eric Zimmerman (Co-Founder of gameLab). Facilitated by Wayne Ashley, Curator of New Media and Public Programs at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

This presentation is organized by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and made possible by Renssalear Polytechnic Institute and Pace University.

[ www.lmcc.net/ddf ]
[ www.blasttheory.co.uk ]