[Synapse elist] Introducing Kathy High and George Gessert

[Vicki Sowry]

Hello list!

The discussion to date has certainly raised some meaty (excuse the pun) and
complex issues. To the non-posters amongst you, please consider entering the
fray - remembering that short and sharp comments are just as valuable as
lengthier posts!

Whilst continuing the to and fro around vitalism, zoe, etc. I would now like
to introduce a second strand for discussion - specifically, issues relating
to the exhibition and distribution of bioart works.

Two people with considerable experience in this area will be leading the
discussion: Kathy High and George Gessert; please welcome them and prepare
to immerse yourselves in the peculiar challenges and dilemmas associated
with presenting living art works in public venues.

Best
Vicki

 
KATHY HIGH is a practicing artist, as well as an Associate Professor and
Head of the Department of Arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI),
NY, USA, which specialises in integrated electronic arts practices. Her
video works have been shown internationally, whilst her most recent
installation work, Embracing Animal <www.embracinganimal.com>  was exhibited
in Becoming Animal at MASS MoCA.  More recently, Kathy established the
BioArt Initiative, a collaboration between her department and the Center for
Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies at RPI
<www.arts.rpi.edu/bioart>. The initiative is concerned with promoting
exhibitions and artist residencies that encourage collaboration and dialogue
between art and biotechnology. In her personal practice, she is currently
working on a virtual animal ranch website about human-animal interactions,
communication and care.


GEORGE GESSERT
George Gessert was born in Milwaukee, USA. He holds an MA in painting
and serigraphy and has also studied at the Art Students' League in New York
and in the graduate program in horticulture at Oregon State University.
Since 1985 his work has focused on the overlap of art and genetics and been
shown at New Langton Arts and The Exploratorium (San Francisco); Smithsonian
Institution (Washington, DC); Science Museum (London); Le Lieu Unique
(France); 2nd Biennial of Electronic Arts Perth (Australia); Fundacio Espais
d'Art Contemporani and Museum of Contemporary Art (Spain); Centraal Museum
(Utrecht, Netherlands) and Zeche Zolleverein (Essen, Germany), amongst other
prestigious venues. He has been Editor of Art & Biology for Leonardo journal
since 1996 and his writings have earned him a Pushcart Prize (2005) and
inclusion in Best American Essays (2007).