Museum of Art Introduces Digital Vision
On Jan. 28, the Grinnell College Museum of Art (GCMoA) opens a new exhibition, Digital Vision. For the artists in this exhibition, digital technology has changed their art in both subtle and overt ways. By featuring, manipulating, interrogating and building upon digital images and technologies, the artists create new works acknowledging that the digital and analog worlds coexist.
Digital Vision began with the work of Matthew Kluber, professor of art at Grinnell College since 2003. In planning a new exhibition of his work, Kluber suggested putting his pieces into conversation with other artists who have embraced digital technology as their work evolved. At his suggestion Bill Albertini, Kate Petley, John Pomara, John F. Simon Jr., Anne Spalter and Jody Zellen were all invited to participate.
Lesley Wright, former GCMoA director, says, “Digital Vision features art that offers a range of new possibilities. By combining practices like painting, sculpture and photography with digital printing, virtual reality and artificial intelligence, these seven artists take their work and our experience in unexpected directions.”
The seven artists draw inspiration from the digital and from technology; the images on the screen and the screen itself, digital animations and the code behind them, and even the physical devices as objects. These artists are adept as digital creators, and the resulting artworks are exciting and intriguing, raising 21st-century questions and compelling our aesthetic and conceptual attention.
Susan Baley, GCMoA director, says, “the seven artists included in Digital Vision present viewers with a parallel between creativity and science in a way that challenges our perceptions. Many works explore the intersection of the physical and virtual worlds, and thus blur boundaries between art forms in exciting new ways.”
Digital Vision brings together artists whose work examines technology in order to provide insights about what technology means to us as humans. For all of them, their art careers began before digital technology was available to them in their creative practice. Today, digital technology has dramatically altered how they make art. In viewing this exhibition, you can take a step back and see the digital impact anew.
The exhibition will remain on view through April 9. All the artists will visit the museum and speak between February and early April. A full schedule of events, in person and online, can be found at www.grinnell.edu/museum.
Information for Visitors
Location: Grinnell College Museum of Art, Bucksbaum Center for the Arts, 1108 Park St., Grinnell. Information about the exhibition and programming is available at grinnell.edu/museum, or call 641-269-4660.
The museum is open to the public and always free. Hours are 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; noon–5 p.m. Saturday. All visitors must wear a mask.
Minors under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult. Grinnell College is not responsible for minors on campus or at college-sponsored events.
Grinnell College welcomes the participation of people with disabilities. Information about parking and accessibility is available on the college's website: grinnell.edu. Accommodation requests may be made to conference operations at 641-269-3235 or calendar@grinnell.edu.