[NetBehaviour] *** SPAM *** Distant, a new Net Art work by Marc Garrett.

[marc garrett]

Hi Annie,

Thank you - It feels good to be back :-)

It's funny, I've been getting a few emails in response to the work and 
statement and most of it is quite promising...

 >ps For those interested I will try to write a small text about 
economie0 next weekend.

Always keen to know & always engaged!

marc
> Please keep us informed Marc,
> I am glad you decided to return
>
> Yours
> Annie
>
> ps For those interested I will try to write a small text about
> economie0 next weekend.
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 3:40 PM, marc garrett
> <marc.garrett at furtherfield.org> wrote:
>   
>> Distant, a new Net Art work by Marc Garrett.
>>
>>  Distant:
>>  http://www.furtherfield.org/mgarrett/distant/
>>
>>  Statement about why I am Making Net Art Once More:
>>
>>  I have been going through some changes regarding what type of personal,
>>  individual artwork that I wish to explore these days. Even though I am
>>  involved in various high-tech projects which are mainly collaborations,
>>  that are related to larger projects. I wish to return to making Net Art,
>>  reconnect to what has always been my favourite form of creativity and
>>  expression.
>>
>>  The reasons that I have decided to do this is, because I feel that it is
>>  time for me to re-explore what Net Art can really be now, as part of my
>>  varied practice. Times have changed, Net Art is dead as far as many
>>  others have been concerned, who originally made useful careers in
>>  writing about it and becoming 'heroic' artists from it. I intend to
>>  rebuild my own practice on an Art that was killed by its own culture.
>>  Those who loved it also decided to kill it even though other Net Artists
>>  around at that time were still making it, less considered in regard to
>>  the repercussions of what it meant to them and culture as a whole. For
>>  me, history is really not enough to define a creative culture as
>>  magnificent and dynamic as Net Art. It may be fine for those who were
>>  represented at that time, but surely there are even moments of doubt, a
>>  lingering spectre that says that it all went wrong. I feel that those
>>  few who were selected to be part of the (ironic) 'Heroic Period', have
>>  limited their own expansion. I know that many who have made Net Art in
>>  the past do not wish to be left behind, lost in the history books, as
>>  ghosts and may find this interesting themselves, as well as a budding
>>  contemporary generation of new Net Artists.
>>
>>  Rather than be part of a past mythology, I wish to be part of current
>>  reality. I am of course very aware of the contemporary technologies that
>>  control the Internet via corporate means, and how the rabid thirst of
>>  those who wish to be technologically determined, by this mannerist
>>  behaviour, are more interested in being led by others who are not
>>  interested in Art, and rather are more interested in being in positions
>>  of power over Media Art culture, via creative industry imposed
>>  protocols. To me, on the whole it says more about spectacle and how
>>  money is dictating people's intentions and causing diversions from
>>  seeing what is of value culturally. As far as I am concerned, it is more
>>  important to make Art.
>>
>>  Perhaps Net Art was destined to die, may be it had to die so that others
>>  could explore their own perceptions, reasons and creative voices without
>>  the pressure of having to conform to dictates that proposed ideas which
>>  in reality meant nothing to many Net Artists out there, other than to
>>  those who instigated such power-related gestures in the first place.
>>
>>  So, even though I am not expecting any great come back of a new Net Art
>>  consciousness from my own future ventures in reclaiming a practice that
>>  I believe was killed before its time, mistakenly. I am asking those who
>>  had decided to moved away from making Net Art (some of course moved on
>>  naturally) to respect my decision in embarking in something that was and
>>  is still an expression that I feel offers the world, contemporary
>>  experiences and ideas, that are still unique which can be given a second
>>  chance by actively and consciously engaging in the now.
>>
>>  For me, because there is no longer the hype about a new Internet and
>>  because it is a time of trouble in respect of economy depressions around
>>  the world, as well as many people only exploring technology for the sake
>>  of it, and because we need to be more ecological in our practices. We
>>  also need to come to terms in re-evaluating why we are doing what we do
>>  now, and how can we reclaim our creative histories and voices in a way
>>  that has more meaning, rather than through processes of mechanistic and
>>  personality driven motives alone. I want to build something that does
>>  not just reflect me being a slave to technology, corporate control and
>>  traditional Art world agendas. The Art will have its own voice on its
>>  own terms
>>
>>  The latest work 'Distant' is not trying to be clever via the technology,
>>  it is Art. An object, a contemporary piece that is well aware that it is
>>  no longer in fashion. Therefore, it is authentic.
>>
>>  marc garrett
>>
>>
>>  Other Related News:
>>  On the 29th of this month, Ruth Catlow and myself are going on an
>>  artists residency at Banff, Canada. Through the whole of the month
>>  during March, we will both be collaborating to make new Net Art
>>  together. It will include open source and it will involve much coding.
>>  As we explore the possibilities of using contemporary resources that can
>>  be used for our Net Art practice, we will set up a portal or blog that
>>  displays our research as it happens. As well as the Art that we both
>>  create.
>>
>>  We are, of course interested to hear from those who are also re-engaging
>>  in the making of Net Art, using free software, free media, open source
>>  materials as well as their own ideas about it. It is an exciting time
>>  for us, what is there to lose but gaining the pleasure of doing what we
>>  really want to do:-)
>>
>>
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>>     
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