ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD CONVERGED IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY

Traveling across the globe from cities such as Berlin, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Seoul and Salvador, artists came together in Oklahoma City to present art and ideas to each other and the community in the second annual meeting of Upgrade! International. The Upgrade! International: DIY Oklahoma City symposium, was held November 30 – December 3, 2006, was an opportunity for local and international artists to exchange ideas about the developing field of new-media arts.

Open to the public, the four day symposium featured exhibitions, workshops, presentations, lectures, screenings and performances by new-media artists. Topics such as Water Testing and Art, Making Art Interactive and Social Mapping as a Medium of Self-Expression was explored in lectures and workshops. Interactive installations offered participants a chance to explore an abstract universe, hear experimental audio works or experience the pulse of other participants through a created environment. A variety of short film and experimental video works were screened at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s Noble Theatre as well as in a Do-It-Yourself Drive-In Theatre setting.

Three downtown locations hosted the symposiums events and exhibitions, with participants moving between venues, giving them an opportunity to experience more of Oklahoma City. Untitled [ArtSpace] at 1 Northeast 3rd, Individual Artists of Oklahoma at 811 N. Broadway and The Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s Noble Theatre at 415 Couch Dr. provided a diversity of spaces for the array of activities.

A global network of international artists, The Upgrade! is united by art, technology and a commitment to bridging cultural divides. The Upgrade! International: DIY Oklahoma City symposium was presented by Untitled [ArtSpace], Individual Artists of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, The University of Oklahoma School of Art, The University of Central Oklahoma School of Art, The Oklahoma City Museum of Art Film Program, Upgrade! International Oklahoma City and with additional support from Kirkpatrick Foundation, Allied Arts and Oklahoma Arts Council.

Related Links –
http://www.1ne3.org/
http://www.iaogallery.org/