Press release: Calling America blog live 3/11 - 3/17

PRESS RELEASE

CALLING AMERICA - http://flawedart.net/callingamerica

Calling America is a citizen's journalism project that explores, through a series of programs, the possibilities of sociable media platforms and common communications technologies in the practice of participatory journalism and documentary.

Program 1: March on the Pentagon

The first installment of Calling America takes place amidst the backdrop of the March on the Pentagon, March 17, 2007. A diverse group of activists from across the country were asked to keep a daily journal beginning one week prior to the march and ending the day of the march. Each participant will record, via telephone, a daily journal entry in which they reflect on their geographic, mental, spiritual and political journeys to Washington D.C. Participant's journal entries are recorded live and archived to the Calling America blog throughout the week. The project's aim is to provide an intimate look into the personal and political lives of a group of individuals brought together, at a critical point in history, to engage in direct democratic action.

Visit the blog (live from 3/11 - 3/17/2007)

www.flawedart.net/callingamerica/blog.html

Calling America has been developed for Multimediale, an art, politics and new media festival taking place at Provisions Library, Washington DC, April 19 - 22, 2007.

ABOUT MULTIMEDIALE - http://www.multimedialedc.org

MULTIMEDIALE considers the process in which the artist engages new media to affect or offer social and political change. Society is a global network of immediate communication in which artists proactively participate by using experimental media strategies. They explore new possibilities and reach outside the boundaries of their specific local situation and discipline. Using art as a vehicle for dialogue and criticism, they affect public opinion by building models and conceptual frames to offer social change or alternatives.

MULTIMEDIALE offers multiple ways of approaching art that goes far beyond traditional ways of thinking about media. It stimulates artists to create new work and explore new spaces for art making (= the city and its virtual appearance), hence the theme: CAPTURING THE CAPITAL!

MULTIMEDIALE seeks to energize the Washington DC community with new ideas about art, society and politics.

Organized by Randall Packer and Niels Van Tomme, curated by Niels Van Tomme.




mark cooley
assistant professor
art & visual technology
george mason university
http://www.flawedart.net