Lewis LaCook
Since 2001
Works in Lorain, Ohio United States of America

ARTBASE (6)
PORTFOLIO (7)
BIO
Lewis LaCook makes things. He is a programmer/poet. He likes unstable objects. He doesn't eat enough. Send him all your money.
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DISCUSSION

Re: "digital poetry" vs net art


RUTH:It's just that I thought I got a whiff of a kind of purist, muscular, Greenbergian ethos (which I've never experienced in any of Lewis's work or writing). I'm glad I did too, as it catalyzed the sharpening of a few of my own blunt thoughts.

LL: Oh no, no greenberg...i mean, there's a purist ethos involved, but i'm definitely not advocating any dogmatic approach...simply saying i'm more attracted to works like that, and trying to examine the distinction ----and the wonderful blurrings of that distinction!
bliss
l

>
"digital poetry" vs net art
ruth catlow <ruth.catlow@furtherfield.org>

> > lewis wrote:
> >> me, i just want a net art that is truly an art fitted to its medium...i > > want a net art that literally requires the net work in order to manifest > > itself...
>

ruth wrote:

> > I think this gives the institutions and the structures of the net work > > far too much respect. Isn't this like saying that we only want art that > > requires the cubey white walls of a gallery? Why are you so eager to > > squash your squishy, expressive, human flesh sourced imaginations into > > the predetermined and rigid labyrinths of mathematically determined > > structures?

ivan wrote:

> My reading of lewis's statement is that he calls for network art that > fundamentallly uses the network. i.e. not network art that could just as > easily be displayed on a disconnected computer in a gallery. But pieces that > use the network in some way to become themselves. And this should not > necessarily mean the network of wires and routers and IP protocols but the > network of information or the network of human activity. There are of course > many works that do this already, so Im not saying much ... and, Im not > claiming value for this approach. But I think to equate this with wanting > art that fits in a white cube gallery is missing a point?

It's just that I thought I got a whiff of a kind of purist, muscular, Greenbergian ethos (which I've never experienced in any of Lewis's work or writing). I'm glad I did too, as it catalyzed the sharpening of a few of my own blunt thoughts.
As for:-

> Maybe there's a
> May68 type slogan here: The Network Is Not A Gallery

Hurrah! :-D

cheers
Ruth

furtherfield.org

DISCUSSION

Re: Re: "digital poetry" vs net art


yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bliss
l
(one doesn't have to literalize the network...these projects are collaborative and use the network in creative (and very human) ways....which is why i love them!

furtherfield <info@furtherfield.org> wrote:Hi Lewis,

In respect of current projects we are embarking on at furtherfield, we use the 'network' as part of the conceptual function but not as a means to an end, therefor it is part of the art (presentation) itself. For instance the FurtherStudio project is an online digital art residency. It uses software designed especially for the project, it can only be experienced via the net. The public visits and participates online, also creating their own versions of what they witness/view online, whilst being able to ask the artist(s), collaborators questions in chat mode. While the work (at the same time) can be seen being created online. Plus to spice it up, while this is happening - certain visiting artists will pilfer other artists work from the Internet & then redesigning and remake them (live) for all to see. A live performance that everyone can be part of, even though there are invited digital artists chosen for the online residency.

Then there is...
Skin/Strip Online is a collaboration between Completely Naked, curators of interactive live arts events, and Furtherfield.org. An interactive, digital photography installation in which the participating audience create expressive images of their own naked bodies, displaying them next to others in the context of an artwork. The general public are invited to express their naked identities in a work that explores social activity and communication and frees us from mediated ideas of the 'perfect' body. This project is a celebration of difference and expression. Furtherfield is collaborating with Completely Naked to stage Skin/Strip Online as an online event. Skin Strip exhibition events have already taken place at The Museum of the Unknown in London, UK and at the Centre of Contemporary Culture in Barcelona, Spain. The exhibitions clearly represented distinct expressions of cultural identity connected with their geographical locations and we anticipate a similar distinctness with Skin Strip Global.

Even though we do not literalize the use of network function, it cannot exist without net art or network fundementals...
marc
> RUTH:It's just that I thought I got a whiff of a kind of purist, muscular, Greenbergian ethos (which I've never experienced in any of Lewis's work or writing). I'm glad I did too, as it catalyzed the sharpening of a few of my own blunt thoughts.
>
> LL: Oh no, no greenberg...i mean, there's a purist ethos involved, but i'm definitely not advocating any dogmatic approach...simply saying i'm more attracted to works like that, and trying to examine the distinction ----and the wonderful blurrings of that distinction!
> bliss
> l
>
>
>
>
> >
> "digital poetry" vs net art
> ruth catlow <ruth.catlow@furtherfield.org>
>
>
>
>
> > > lewis wrote:
> > >> me, i just want a net art that is truly an art fitted to its medium...i > > want a net art that literally requires the net work in order to manifest > > itself...
> >
>
> ruth wrote:
>
>
> > > I think this gives the institutions and the structures of the net work > > far too much respect. Isn't this like saying that we only want art that > > requires the cubey white walls of a gallery? Why are you so eager to > > squash your squishy, expressive, human flesh sourced imaginations into > > the predetermined and rigid labyrinths of mathematically determined > > structures?
>
>
> ivan wrote:
>
>
> > My reading of lewis's statement is that he calls for network art that > fundamentallly uses the network. i.e. not network art that could just as > easily be displayed on a disconnected computer in a gallery. But pieces that > use the network in some way to become themselves. And this should not > necessarily mean the network of wires and routers and IP protocols but the > network of information or the network of human activity. There are of course > many works that do this already, so Im not saying much ... and, Im not > claiming value for this approach. But I think to equate this with wanting > art that fits in a white cube gallery is missing a point?
>
>
> It's just that I thought I got a whiff of a kind of purist, muscular, Greenbergian ethos (which I've never experienced in any of Lewis's work or writing). I'm glad I did too, as it catalyzed the sharpening of a few of my own blunt thoughts.
> As for:-
>
>
> > Maybe there's a
> > May68 type slogan here: The Network Is Not A Gallery
>
>
> Hurrah! :-D
>
>
> cheers
> Ruth
>
>
> furtherfield.org
>
>
> + KNORRRRRRR
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>

Anningan (in progress) http://www.lewislacook.com/Anningan/AnningansDoor.html
http://www.lewislacook.com/
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/385/lewis_lacook.html
meditation, net art, poeisis: blog http://lewislacook.blogspot.com/

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DISCUSSION

Re: "digital poetry" vs net art


thank you, this is EXACTLY what i meant! (& yes, this
art already exists!)
bliss
l

--- Ivan Pope <ivan@ivanpope.com> wrote:
>
>
> > From: ruth catlow <ruth.catlow@furtherfield.org>
>
> >
> > lewis lacook wrote:
> >> me, i just want a net art that is truly an art
> fitted to its medium...i
> > want a net art that literally requires the net
> work in order to manifest
> > itself...
> >
> > I think this gives the institutions and the
> structures of the net work
> > far too much respect. Isn't this like saying that
> we only want art that
> > requires the cubey white walls of a gallery? Why
> are you so eager to
> > squash your squishy, expressive, human flesh
> sourced imaginations into
> > the predetermined and rigid labyrinths of
> mathematically determined
> > structures?
> My reading of lewis's statement is that he calls for
> network art that
> fundamentallly uses the network. i.e. not network
> art that could just as
> easily be displayed on a disconnected computer in a
> gallery. But pieces that
> use the network in some way to become themselves.
> And this should not
> necessarily mean the network of wires and routers
> and IP protocols but the
> network of information or the network of human
> activity. There are of course
> many works that do this already, so Im not saying
> much ... and, Im not
> claiming value for this approach. But I think to
> equate this with wanting
> art that fits in a white cube gallery is missing a
> point? Maybe there's a
> May68 type slogan here: The Network Is Not A Gallery
> Cheers, Ivan
>

=====

Anningan (in progress) http://www.lewislacook.com/Anningan/AnningansDoor.html
http://www.lewislacook.com/
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/385/lewis_lacook.html
meditation, net art, poeisis: blog http://lewislacook.blogspot.com/

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DISCUSSION

Re: Re: "digital poetry" vs net art


>
Re: "digital poetry" vs net art
"Wally Keeler" <poetburo@sympatico.ca> dit:

You are a Unit of Verse in the Unitverse

indeed i am, wally...and a small one, at that! (thank god!)
bliss
l

DISCUSSION

digital come-uppance


well, i'll keep my head down from now on, and not
presume to have any opinions at all....thank you
bliss
l

=====

Anningan (in progress) http://www.lewislacook.com/Anningan/AnningansDoor.html
http://www.lewislacook.com/
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/385/lewis_lacook.html
meditation, net art, poeisis: blog http://lewislacook.blogspot.com/

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos
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