May 03, 2006
Rx Gallery and Rhizome.org Present
The GIFShow
The GIFShow opens (FREE) TONIGHT, 6-10pm, with live music & visuals by Eats Tapes & Nate Boyce; Rx Gallery - 132 Eddy Street @ Mason; 415-756-8825
The GIFShow takes the pulse of what some net surfers call 'GIF Luv,' a recent frenzy of file-sharing and creative muscle-flexing associated with GIFs (Graphic Interchange Format files). Curated by Marisa Olson in a West Coast Rhizome.org collaboration with Rx, the show presents GIFs and GIF-based videos, prints, readymades, and sculptures by GIF Stars Cory Arcangel, Peter Baldes, Michael Bell-Smith, Jimpunk, Olia Lialina, Abe Linkoln, Guthrie Lonergan, Lovid, Tom Moody, Paper Rad, Paul Slocum, and Matt Smear (aka 893/umeancompetitor). GIFs have a rich cultural life on the internet and each bears specific stylistic markers. From Myspace graphics to advertising images to porn banners, and beyond, GIFs overcome resolution and bandwidth challenges in their pervasive population of the net. Animated GIFs, in particular, have evolved from a largely cinematic, cell-based form of art practice, and have more recently been incorporated in music videos and employed as stimulating narrative devices on blogs. From the flashy to the minimal, the sonic to the silent, the artists in The GIFShow demonstrate the diversity of forms to be found in GIFs, and many of them comment on the broader social life of these image files. The opening is sure to be just as lively, with music by Eats Tapes and visuals by Nate Boyce. Spread the luv!--Rhizome News.
Posted by jo at May 3, 2006 10:44 AM