Press release

From NodelWiki

[edit] Press release, as sent out from 2 March

[edit] NODE.London Spring '08 season of media arts

March-April 2008, Across London

Let 100 technology-laced art events bloom!

London's network of Media Artists are about to unveil a city-wide showcase of exciting, switched-on, high-tech arts activities - budding with electrifying exhibitions, digital discussions, participatory performances, networked musical events and hands-on workshops.

The season includes:

• FILMMOBILE's videophone film festival;
• HurryUpPlease It's TIME - Alex Haw and Dr Mo's installation tracking the movement of drinkers in London bars;
• BodyDataSpace's discussion on interdisciplinary interactive arts;
• Dans Sans Joux dance performance adapted from Hiroshi Teshigahara's mysterious 1960s cult movie Suna no Onna (“Woman in the Dunes”);
• netaudio '08 - London's foremost festival dedicated to the sounds of the Internet.
• Londoners can get involved in the 'Brentford Biopsy': Christian Nold's participatory project to map local experience and stories;
• practical physical computing workshops, with Arduino or Monome
• a whole conference programme from 'Disclosures': a series of events exploring Open Source software and visual art;
• the Dana Centre's 'Takeaway' festival exploring the D-I-Y philosophy in relation to media, design and technology
• and if you're still not sure, head to the ICA for Richard Colson's book launch of The Fundamentals of Digital Art to find out what is all about!

The evolving website http://nodel.org details an expanding programme of events starting on 11th March. You can find out what's going on - from open knowledge and oral history, to internet radio and Web 2.0 - or add your own project to the calendar. NODE.London is open to any person or group who wants to help discuss, disseminate and develop media art and related activity around London and beyond.

Node.London Spring '08 follows a hugely successful season held in 2006.

Press enquiries: David Upton on 07957 597904

Notes for Editors (sent to journalists with the press release)

NODE.L (Networked, Open, Distributed, Events. London) is a voluntary network of people, organisations and projects sharing and developing the infrastructure for media arts and related activities in London and beyond. NODE.L is uniquely organised from the ground up - all activities are organised via open meetings, both online and face to face. Each individual project in this season of events is initiated independently; the NODE.L group clusters and networks all these activities, and facilitates the further involvement of a larger community.

NODE.L is a group of people exploring and developing media art. Media art is a rapidly evolving form of highly contemporary art practice, with unconventional and innovative distribution and display channels, rewriting the way art occupies both time and space. We want to encourage artists to create it, and all art-lovers to experience it.

NODE.L's web site is http://nodel.org. The NODE.London Spring '08 programme will contain information about upcoming projects. If you would like to receive a copy, please email Anna Colin (email)

Spring '08 is a follow on to the very successful Node London season in 2006, with an estimated 30,000 visitors to 150 separate events in more than 40 locations.

Q&A brief (not sent to journalists, but used in answer to questions by whoever answers media queries about this release)

q: Who or what is behind Node London?

a: A group of volunteers united by a mailing list who meet regularly. Anyone is welcome to join the mailing list (see [1]). Although some of us contribute more frequently than others, there is no hierarchy or leadership: just a group of people who are fascinated by media art and want to share their interests.

q: Who is funding you?

a: At the moment we are all volunteers and such expenses as we have are self-funded, though we are actively seeking funding from several sources for an ongoing programme that will help build up and share media art around London.

q: How are you connected to the individual exhibitions, events, workshops, etc?

a: As Node London, our main involvement is to share our fascination with new media events and help bring in new and wider audiences. As individuals, some of us are more directly involved with some events. But the decision to hold the Spring '08 programme has in turn encouraged people to create events.

q: Do you set up/ commission/ pay for events?

a: No. Node London has no funds for this (and we haven't applied for them).

q: So what exactly does Node London do?

a: We bring people together, which in turn creates new opportunities for media art and artists. We raise the profile of media art around London by providing structures around which artists, galleries and other media art areas can organise events.

q: What exactly is media art?

a: Media art crosses traditional boundaries and encourages collaboration and openness. It's about the cutting edge of digital creativity, exploring its impact on a range of issues from social practice to technological innovation, aesthetic environment or political activity. It's also about having a great time!

q: Does Node London support any particular school of art, political viewpoint, or social position?

a: No. Individual members of the group have their own views, which differ widely, but we aren't a 'school' or a 'movement'. We are united simply by the an interest in the possibilities opened up by art and technology.

q: is the 2008 season similar to the 2006 season? a: largely, and we believe it will be as successful and arouse as much interest. Media art is now more accepted and acceptable. In 2006 we applied for and got funding, which we felt was necessary to allowing us to support and encourage projects. In 2008 we are deliberately limiting our role to that of catalyst, coordinator and umbrella organisation. All Spring '08 projects are independently funded and run.