Austin Museum of Digital Art facts for kids
| Established | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Location | Austin, Texas, United States |
| Type | Digital Art Museum |
The Austin Museum of Digital Art (AMODA) is a special museum in Austin, Texas. It was the first museum made just for showing digital art. AMODA started in 1997. It was founded by Harold Chaput, Samantha Krukowski, and Chris Rankin. The museum gets help and money from the Texas Commission on the Arts and the City of Austin.
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Discovering the Austin Museum of Digital Art
The Austin Museum of Digital Art, or AMODA, was the idea of two people. Harold Chaput was studying Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. Christopher Rankin had studied art history and worked in museums.
Rankin felt that the art scene in Austin needed something new. Chaput knew many artists and musicians who worked with technology. They were looking for ways to be creative. Chaput and Rankin wanted to help artists make and show new art. They also wanted people to talk about how technology is used in art today. They hoped to build a community of artists, musicians, and tech experts. Their goal was to create exciting digital art.
They teamed up with Samantha Krukowski from the University of Texas. The three quickly decided to focus on art made with computers. They called this "Digital Art." They also agreed that their new group should be a museum. This meant they would focus on the artistic side, not just what was popular. So, the Austin Museum of Digital Art began in November 1997.
Soon after, Rankin left AMODA because of his new job. Krukowski also left to become a professor. New people joined the team: Kyle Anderson, Jennifer Potter, Joel Stearns, Robert Turknett, and Samuel Trim. With Chaput, this group turned AMODA from an idea into a real art place. They started AMODA's programs. These included an education program (2000), the Digital Showcase (2001), art shows (2002), and performances (2003).
What is Digital Art?
AMODA says that Digital Art uses digital technology in three main ways. It can be part of the final art piece, used in how the art is made, or be the topic of the art.
Digital Art as a Product
Art can be called digital art if digital technology is the final product. This includes things like "web art" or "demo art." This is the most common way people think about digital art.
Digital Art as a Process
Art can also be digital art if technology helps make it. For example, drawings by Harold Cohen's AARON are digital art. A computer program made these works, even if the final art is ink on paper. Computer graphics in movies, digital music, and Cyberopera are also examples of digital art made through a process.
Digital Art as a Subject
Finally, art can be digital art if it talks about digital technology. Imagine a series of oil paintings showing someone in an online chat room. This could be digital art. Even if no digital tools were used to create or show the paintings, the topic is digital.
The main idea for all three types is this: the art could not exist without digital technology. These ideas show different parts of digital art. They cover how art is shown, how it's made, and its role in society. All these parts are important to the history of art.
AMODA's Programs
AMODA's programs were made to be easy to understand and enjoy. They were special because they attracted younger people more than other museums. AMODA's programs connected with the community. They brought in new art fans by showing digital art in new, high-quality ways.
AMODA's most popular programs were its Exhibition Series and the Digital Showcase.
The Digital Showcase
The AMODA Digital Showcase is a monthly event. It features an evening of digital art and music. Todd Simmons carefully guides the event. A space is filled with digital art installations. Also, four to six digital music performances happen throughout the evening.
The goal of the Digital Showcase is to show digital art in its natural setting. A regular art show takes art out of its usual place. It displays it for people to look at one by one. But the Digital Showcase lets the art and music mix together. This creates an immersive art experience. It means you feel completely surrounded by the art. The whole experience is bigger than just its separate parts. It is also very popular. Hundreds of people come to each event. The performances have even been written about around the world.
