Digital Studies Profs Blend Tech and Art to Reflect Modern Life
August 22, 2019
- Author
- Jay Pfeifer
Two Digital Studies professors are for their digital art, which encourages viewers to interact withand reflect onan interconnected world.
Joelle Dietrick, assistant professor of digital studies, and Owen Mundy, visiting assistant professor of digital studies, are husband and wife and artistic collaborators.
Their joint show, will be on view in the Van Every/Smith Galleries from Aug. 26 to Sept. 25.
The Observer writes, This isnt art you buy to hang over your sofa.
Dietrick and Mundys most recent works are closer to video games than to images.
For example, their piece, The Speed of Thinking recalls 1980s arcade classic Tetris.
It allows players to plunk colorful, virtual steel boxes onto a cargo ship, writes Paige Leggett for the Observer. Each one lands with a thud. The boxes just keep comingand with increasing velocity. They threaten to sink the ship before it even leaves port. The player slowly realizes the game doesnt end until it crashes (as its designed to do), and the player finds out he or she didnt prevent sea levels from rising
Dietrick and Mundy hope their art encourages viewers to think about the global supply chains that surround themand how they fit in this new world.
Were hoping our art will make people pause and think: Are the systems were using really the best available?
The opening reception is scheduled from 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 4. Dietrick and Mundy also will host a panel discussion during Common Hour on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
