Hello All,
WARNING: rambling stream of consciousness may contain nutritious nuggets.
There's been a lot of loose talk about "digital ownership" recently. I
just want it on the record:
There's only one category of digital data that can be owned: unencrypted
data or source code that can be compiled to run on a variety of
platforms. Even this must not be dependent on processing via
applications programs or remote processing controlled by a third party.
These must be sufficiently well-documented that the "owner" can
understand and intervene. By their nature, digital patterns that are
subject to ownership are able to be conveniently copied, modified,
transmitted and combined.
Any other form of claimed digital ownership - examples: "this is YOUR
copy of Windows", "this is YOUR Twitter profile", "this is YOUR iPhone",
or even, one fears, "This is YOUR bank balance" are not genuine
ownership - they're a form of conditional lease - and you have to be
aware that a third party can deny you or others, access to or use of
what you thought was your digital property.
So does it follow that "digital art" which is NOT free (as in "at
liberty") in this manner is NOT "digital" in any meaningful sense? Sure,
it happens to be manifested in the datasphere - but that doesn't make it
digital in a way that interests me.
This brings me on to wonder whether this sense of "digital" and the
conventional sense of "art" are inherently non-compatible. Something
can't be truly digital if it isn't free (as in: "at liberty"), and it
can't be conventional art unless it isn't free (as in "for money").
It seems to me that many "free digital practices" start to fall into the
same sphere as graffiti (now subject to redefinition as "street art").
Can we say that, essentially, what's going on is this?
1. Graffiti is cool and free. (As in: "gratis" and "uncurated".)
2. Digital art is cool and free. (as in: "open" and "distributed".)
3. The conventional art world wants to be cool and digital.... and
non-free. (As in "curated", "controlled", "profitable".)
And another (related) thing:
aharon - "come do some work here while we get cred and you, err, maybe a
thanks!"?
Absolutely! This sort of proposition is becoming more and more
prevalent. This is why at Access Space we're increasingly interested in
how we can support artists, hackers and makers to earn real cash money
from their activities.
As a space our budgets are stretched to the point of non-existence - we
simply can't afford to commission artists, hackers and makers - but we
can point them in the direction of monetising some aspect of their
practice. And unlike many other spaces, ALL of our core team have run,
are running their own enterprises (both cooperatives and conventional
businesses) "on the side".
I'm starting to see "enterprise incubator" as the only genuinely
empowering deal to accompany calls to participate in hack days or other
spaces. Note, incidentally, that I don't advocate for profit activity as
the sole axis of artists' creativity. I believe that artists only need
monetise "some aspect" of their practice in order to make it
sustainable. I'm still gung-ho for the open, sharing gift economy of the
arts - just not at the expense of artists, hackers and makers living in
penury.
All the best,
James
=====
On 03/06/14 00:39, mez breeze wrote:
"You never know how much to ask for. Discussions about money are taboo
because we pretend that passion and creativity alone should pay the
bills. Some of the best events have "no budget", and sometimes only
the worst events can make a career as an artist look painfully
sustainable..." - http://www.whopaysartists.com/
On Tue, Jun 3, 2014 at 4:35 AM, dave miller <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
"to create new work and to share
free to
audiences anywhere in the world."
Maybe the most original idea would be digital art that isn't free.
On 2 June 2014 19:01, ahanon <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Hiyas,
Suddenly came across the Invite bellow.. Its at the Tate
Modern's turbine
hall.. Anyone here involved? Is this something to do with a
tilt by Tate
towards some digital linked art?
Also, perhaps more interestingly, I bumped recently into a few
outfits
that seem to offer spaces for innovative stuff - does it sound
a bit like
a rephrase of "come do some work here while we get cred and
you, err,
maybe a thanks!"? -
or is it a case of a bit over sensitive reading?
Cheers!
aharon
xx
------------
> It is now just under two weeks until the launch of The Space!
>
> We would love for you to join us for our launch reception.
If you have
not already
sent an RSVP, please let us know if you are able to attend.
>
> 6.00 pm Friday 13 June
> Turbine Hall at Tate Modern, London
> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>
> I hope to see you there!
> Ruth Mackenzie
>
> GET YOUR PLACE
>
>
>
> ABOUT
>
> The Space is a new online agency to commission artists from
the worlds
of creative
and digital industries, arts, and culture to create new work
and to share
free to
audiences anywhere in the world.
>
> The Space is set up by a pioneering partnership between the
BBC and Arts
Council
England. And it is working with festivals, galleries, arts
centres and others
round the UK and internationally.
>
> The Space will launch with an Open Call to invite new voices
to pitch
their ideas.
The most original ideas will be commissioned by The Space.
>
> The Space will be officially launched on the 13 June 2014
with the most
ambitious
Art Hack ever staged in the celebrated space of the Turbine
Hall at Tate
Modern.
>
> Taking place over 24 hours, the brief for attendees is simple:
>
> HACKATHON BRIEF
>
> Take any data and turn it into a work of art
>
> GET YOUR PLACE
>
>
>
>
> IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
>
>
> WWW.THESPACE.ORG <http://WWW.THESPACE.ORG>
>
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