There's a CD-ROM publication accompanying the show, which, I presume will be available from the CCA in Glasgow sometime.
Chad McCail's inclusion in the show is actually as a result of his collaboration with myself so he himself is not exhibiting as a "digital artist" in his own right. This is a little unclear in the press release but is clear on the CD-ROM - as is the fact that Jon and Alison work in collaboration. But the presence of Chad, David and Katy touches on an aspect of the show which the press release doesn't cover, which is the crossover between "traditional/non-digital" art practices (in the case of all three that being drawing) and digital media. I think that's an interesting feature of the current scene in Scotland - other examples could include Mandy McIntosh, Anne-Marie Copestake or Torsten Lauschmann's "Slenderwhiteman". Perhaps there should be a distinction made between "digital artists" and "artists who work with digital media" however? I imagine most people aren't that bothered by such labels ... couldn't we just all be 'artists'? In regard to integration with the office environment: alongside the work I am doing with Chad I am doing a separate project working with the Scottish Executive staff exploring the relationships between corporate management + organisation systems and software systems (there is quite a long and interesting history concerning their parallels and influence on one another). As for the use of terms such as "best" and "leading" practitioners, I can think of plenty other artists in Scotland not included in this show who these terms could be applied to! Any such selection is inevitably a partial one and will leave out people who are as deserving as those who are included. I don't think Francis approached this as a "best of" show, I think he primarily wanted to show a range of artists who represented both a diversity in their own styles and in the way in which their work demonstrates the use of different digital platforms (ie. online multimedia, digital animation, software art, etc.) and/or which consciously relates to aspects of the "digital economy" (ie. Open Source, and critiques of e-commerce). From my point of view this show represents one possible combination of such artists, I am sure there are others. I think you're right to question the "Scottishness" of the show - there is perhaps something a little contradictory about a show which on the one hand seeks to endorse the "culture" of the internet (which surely includes a loosening or downgrading of nationalisms) yet which falls back on a geographic/national framing? best wishes, Si. On Friday, November 28, 2003, at 04:48 pm, Beverley Hood wrote: Hmmm...good to see this info about the show but would be interested to get more in depth info about it if possible (is there an exhibition/catalogue text Francis?). I'm curious to know more about the artworks and how they are being presented or integrated within the offices. On the line-up, not meaning any disrespect to any of the artists involved, but for a show that claims to show "diversity of artists working in Scotland today, who embrace the net and digital technologies" as far as I know 3 of the 7 artists presented actually live in London. Of the remaining 4, I've never seen any net/digital work by Chad McCail or Katy Dove. Perhaps I've just missed it (?) and perhaps this is actually referring to Katy's animation/video work whereas my criteria for digital is more rigid (or pedantic?). Anyway, I'm cranky with a hangover after a very fun alt-w launch last night at Stills, but would like to hear more... Bev ----- Original Message ----- From: "Malcolm Dickson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Ambit" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 3:57 PM Subject: <ambit> Agile Process event for your information - anybody agree/disagree? M CCA present the best of Scottish Contemporary Art to the Scottish Executive in Brussels 'Agile Process: A New Economy for Digital Arts in Scotland' UNTIL APRIL 2004 Rond Point Schuman 6, 1040 Brussels - 8th floor Glasgow's CCA have joined up with the Scottish Executive, Scotland Europa and Blue Toucan to deliver a unique and innovative digital art concept. The exhibition is housed in the main public areas of the Scottish Executive EU Office and Scotland Europa in Scotland House. It runs from the end of November 2003 to April 2004. The main idea of the exhibition is to introduce Scotland's leading contemporary digital artists and their work to high profile businesses, with a view to explaining to them of the benefit of contemporary digital art to the general economy. Building such strong relationships should ultimately result in the creative industries working both collaboratively and productively with private businesses in the future. Francis McKee, the curator of the exhibition, is convinced that digital art and internet-based work is definitely the way ahead for Scottish artists, he explains: "For artists and entrepreneurs, the internet and digital technology offers challenges that will best be met by a flexible approach to audiences and customers. Agile Process in Brussels presents a series of artworks and texts that collectively offer an entry point to these issues. The artists exhibiting as part of this exhibition reflect the breadth and diversity of artists living in Scotland today, who embrace the net and digital technologies." Artists exhibiting will display some of their new work. They include: David Connearn, Katy Dove, Chad McCail, Dan Norton, Jon Thompson, Alison Craighead and Simon Yuill. ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS * Scotland Europa, with offices in Glasgow and Brussels, provides intelligence, policy analysis and strategic funding information about the European Union and its relevance to your organisation. For more details see the Scottish Executive website: www.scotlandeuropa.com. * Francis McKee has worked previously as an historian of medicine for the Wellcome Trust and as Head of Programme at CCA. Now a research fellow at Glasgow School of Art and Head of Digital Arts and New Media at CCA, he combines these jobs with freelance writing for artists such as Christine Borland, Douglas Gordon, Joao Penalva, Kathy Prendergast and Catherine Yass. His essays and online projects can be found online at: <www.francismckee.com>. * Blue Toucan is an enterprise that has been synonymous with innovation, quality, style and success since its inception in 2001. They specialise in project management with a flair for the different, and the cutting edge of the company's founder, Alison McRae, initials each venture taken. More information can be found online at: www.bluetoucan.com <http://www.bluetoucan.com>. Glasgow's thriving Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) is the leading contemporary arts venue in central Scotland. Six flexible arts spaces presenting the very best in contemporary visual art, performance, film, music, club nights and more, bringing national and international talent to the city of Glasgow. Entrance to the galleries if free of charge. For full events listings see: www.cca-glasgow.com. ------------------------------------------------- a m b i t : networking media arts in scotland post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] archive: http://www.mediascot.org/ambit info: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and write "info ambit" in the message body ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- a m b i t : networking media arts in scotland post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] archive: http://www.mediascot.org/ambit info: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and write "info ambit" in the message body ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- a m b i t : networking media arts in scotland post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] archive: http://www.mediascot.org/ambit info: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and write "info ambit" in the message body -------------------------------------------------
