The Upgrade! International, September 23-24 at Eyebeam

Dear all,

The Upgrade! is a network of international monthly meetings in the field of art and technology. Since 1999, The Upgrade! exists as forums for artists, designers, critics, curators and educators who form the
communities in different cities to discuss and share knowledge.

The Upgrade! International is the first gathering that brings together the organizers from the U.S. and abroad for a weekend of sharing work, ideas and discussions surrounding the evolving network and arts community. All events listed are open to the public free of charge.

http://www.theupgrade.net

Please join us next week to meet a highly-motivated group of artists/curators who organize the gatherings in different cities around the world (soon in Toronto, Istanbul and Sofia). The gatherings
are often associated with art & technology centers. By default this emerging network sustains open communication lines between these nodes. We're meeting to develop a vision as a global network to highlight the creative work done in the field.

SHOW
•September 16-24, 2005
Documentation of works by 131 artists who participate at Upgrades! around the world. Representing: Boston, Chicago, Montreal, Munich, New York, Oklahoma City, Scotland, Seoul, Tel Aviv, Vancouver.

GATHER
•Friday, September 23: 7:30-9:00 pm
Sala-Manca Group performs "Elephants on Metula's Nights" and discusses their practice at our monthly gathering. The Sala-Manca Group is comprised of Lea Mauas and Diego Rotman, Argentine-Israeli
artists who have been creating work in performance, video, installation and new media since 2000. Sala-manca's works deal with the poetics of translation, Yiddish culture, the tensions between low-tech
and high-tech aesthetics, as well as social and political issues.

SHARE
•Saturday, September 24: 12:00-7:00 pm
How does each Upgrade form its presence and community? What is the potential of the network? Join artists, curators and organizers for two panels, lecture and party.

12:00 pm: Introduction and welcome.

12:10 pm: The New York Upgrade! story with media artist Yael Kanarek and Director of Education at Eyebeam Liz Slagus.

12:45 pm: Artist-Run Upgrades! with Tiffany Holmes, Chicago; Tamiko Thiel, Munich; Adam Brown, Oklahoma City; Mushon Zer-Aviv and Sala-Manca Group, Tel Aviv; Kate Armstrong, Vancouver. Moderated by Yael Kanarek.

2:45-3:15 pm: Break

3:15 pm: Art + Tech Organizations Upgrades! with Jo-Anne Green and Catherine D'Ignazio, Boston; Cezanne Charles and Robb Mitchell, Scotland; Suhjung Hur, Seoul; Tobias C. Van Veen, Montreal. Moderated by Liz Slagus.

5:15 pm: "NETWORKS, AGENCY, PROPERTY and POLICY: Practical thoughts on the emergence of new global cultural formations" — closing talk by leading scholar of media arts Michael Century.

6:00 pm: After-party with music by artist/DJ Tobias C. Van Veen.

+ + +

The Upgrade! is an international network of monthly meetings in the field of art and technology.

EYEBEAM
540 w 21st Street between 10th & 11th Avenues
Hours: Tues-Sat, 12:00-6:00pm
Bookstore: Tues-Sat, 12:00-6:00pm
Admission: All events are free to the public unless otherwise noted
http://www.eyebeam.org, [email protected]

Eyebeam supports the creation, presentation and analysis of new forms of innovative cultural production. Founded in 1996, Eyebeam is dedicated to exposing broad and diverse audiences to new technologies and media arts, while simultaneously establishing and demonstrating new media as a significant genre.

Eyebeam's programs are made possible through the generous support of Atlantic Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Time Warner Youth Media and Arts Fund, Alienware, the Jerome Foundation, the Helena Rubinstein Foundation, the Greenwall Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the David S. Howe Foundation, the Lerer Family Charitable Foundation, the Sony Corporation, Alias Systems, Inc. and the Milton and Sally Avery Foundation.