Digital Fringe Postponed
more definite text in this font
suggestions, additions requested
The exhibitions that are part of Animated Exeter display models and illustrations from an analogue approach to animation. The digital fringe has less effect this year as there is a delay on internet resources.
At Spacex there is a prominent role for a film projector at the centre of one of the gallery spaces. The screen is in a corner so the projector could be seen as the main focus. There are several other screens and projectors from digital sources but these are all hidden away. Several of the artists represented are also on the Animate website. Unfortunately this only shows stills rather than streams of actual shorts. The program explains that "the definition of the term 'animation' has widened considerably and now includes a surprising variety of approaches and computer software packages which allow artists to work spontaneously with digital imagery and set still images in motion."
The current scope of "animation" is suggested by a search on the word in Google Video. Apart from lectures there is now a wide selection, some of it obviously an early effort. Some of the short films use aspects of animation or at least similar software to compose digital items together.
There are some locally created digital works available online. Last year Paul Gillard taught some short courses at the Phoenix. During the year he has developed a site for podcasting and has made on title available as Flash so it can be seen directly on the web. It is a music video based on the track 'Touch' by Public Symphony. It could be compared with work on the 'demoscene' as archived at scene.org. Ruairi Fullam, who organised Sundown at Budleigh Salterton last year, was asked for a short review of the 'touch' video.
"Paul's choice of palettes and effects can't be faulted, however to the
seasoned cgi / demoscene enthusiast a lack of synchronization and effect re-use would be a primary criticism. Despite this, the production makes
up for itself by being an enjoyable and intriguing watch with some
smooth soft neon coffee-swirl effects topped with an excellent chill-out
soundtrack by up and coming Public Symphony. The production also
features some tasteful plasma effects, Poser-esque CGI figures, and
delicately tuned movements and zooms at varying speeds that fit well
without feeling disorientating at all. A recommended production, only
improved possibly with a keener eye on synchronization which could
really add some beautiful abstract symbolism, in the same vein as Tesla
by Sunflower (http://pouet.net/prod.php?which=33). Recommended."
Tesla is about 9 megs to download as a zip file. It will run on most Windows style PCs. As Paul gillard is used to a Mac there may be a delay till a location is found to show it. Last year the internet café Life Bytes was able to display a variety of material from Scene.org but their new premises will not be ready for a few weeks.
At the Royal Albert Memorial Museum there is an exhibit starting with book illustration including 'The Snowman'. There are also classes on how to create a 'flip book' and also a Computer with scanner so some of the flip books may also end up as files. 'The Snowman' will be shown at Exeter Cathedral, accompanied by the Devon Youth Orchestra without microphones, amplification or anything pre-recorded.
At the Phoenix the exhibit 'Shaped By Water' explores the creative process behind 'How Mermaids Breathe' by Joan Ashworth. The final result is shown on a fairly large plasma screen linked to a DVD player. It was eventually produced in a 3D computer system but it is the sketches and models that make up most of the exhibit. There is nothing on show to explain how the digital part of the process was achieved.
The Phoenix now has web access for members of the Media Centre. There is some wi-fi and this may spread further. As more local material is available online there could be some connections with local venues.
more on web aspects of games day and careers day
In previous years there has been film presentations of early work created on computer. ' Lillian Schwartz: A Beautiful Virus Inside the Machine' was followed last year by "A New Canvas", collecting several pioneers. Both were curated by Greg Kurcewicz.
guess explanation, there is no more, that was the limit of that kind of film
my opinion, scene.org can be compared in style. not all the demos are worth keeping though. they will gradually get better and also the techniques will interest other artists
Sundown 2006 likely to be October in Budleigh Salterton again.
Both the Picture House and the Odeon were showing 'Chicken Little', outside the festival. This is the first computer generated animation from Walt Disney.
