Technology
The Challenge
Technology impacts our lives everyday. As technology continues to advance rapidly it provides many positive impacts on our society, but can also be a double edged sword. We are now constantly connected through the computers in our pockets, our smart homes and vehicles, and the “internet of things” that surrounds us. How has this impacted how we interact with the people around us? Does technology bring us together or pull us apart as a community?
Art of tech - Virtual Reality Exhibit
Before we added the art!
We’ve just launched our Art of Tech Virtual Reality exhibit in collaboration with Imurj and Creature Creator Studios! Click the button below to check it out (it takes a few minutes to load). On your computer, you can use your mouse and arrow keys to move around the space. When you get close enough to pictures, click “e” on your keyboard to zoom in - then you can click on the pop ups to read the artist descriptions (click “e” again to exit). If you have a VR headset you can use it to explore the space and we will be adding in artist descriptions soon! Send us thoughts and comments here. Please note, the gallery is currently not viewable on mobile devices or safari.
First Friday Virtual Event - June 5th 4-9 - Event canceled
When we formed Empathy Through Art it was our hope to create an organization that facilitates conversation and fosters empathy between different parts of our community. Over the past year we made significant progress, completing our Dementia and Alzheimer’s project hosting Art of Mind, Conversations Through Art, and Art-A-Thon.
It is our goal that we will eventually be equipped to facilitate conversations on topics as large as racial inequality and institutional bias. However, we are not there yet and our Art of Technology virtual event should not take precedent or compete with these more pressing and greater issues. Events inherently compete with other events that are happening at the same time.
Thus, we are canceling our event on Friday to stand in solidarity with the Black community against systemic racism and oppression. We support the protests and what they stand for.
Here is what you can expect from us over the course of the next few weeks:
1) Cancel our The Art of Tech First Friday Virtual Event
2) Pay all of our artists, musicians, and administrative volunteers for their time as if the event happened
3) Make our Virtual Gallery available on Monday, June 8th at 12pm so that people can enjoy it whenever best fits their schedule
4) We will reach out individually to our songwriting competition participants to inform them of the winners
Change is difficult. It rarely happens overnight. Instead, it takes all of our efforts together to make a difference. We ask everyone involved with Empathy Through Art, whether you are an artist, musician, participant, or observer, to take action – vote, protest, donate, have tough conversations, etc. Every action taken moves us collectively toward becoming a better community, society, and country.
Black lives matter.
We invite you to share with us any family friendly art, music, or other creative work you have that can help others understand racial inequality and institutional bias. We understand family friendly may be difficult for this topic, but we would like to be able to share with everyone, including families with children.
Thank you to everyone who has helped us prepare for the Art of Tech event. We’re proud of the work we’ve accomplished together. We will still share this work and explore this topic, but will do so in a way that allows everyone to view on their own time.
Join us June 5th from 4pm-9pm ONLINE for an immersive streaming experience, including the launch of our new VR art gallery and Art of Tech exhibit, live VR art creation, and live music performances streamed all evening. We have partnered up Imurj to create an exhibit tackling the impact technology has on interpersonal relationships, and community.
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Performance schedule
4-4:20 – Intro to Art of Tech exhibit; overview of new VR Gallery created by Stephen Waddell
4:20-5 – A sonification by Justin Kuhn depicting emotional reaction to film.
5-6 – Original 3D-painting live in VR with Rhett Hissam
6-7 -- Looping and music creation by Roger Mauldin
7-8 -- Musical performance by Kerry Long
8-9:30 -- Artist 2 DJs a Techno set. 2 is the artist moniker of an artist. With a varied taste in art and music as well as a pensive approach to life, they hope to create immersive and honest experiences through curated music and environments.
