| Upgrade! São Paulo
is a monthly gathering of artists, curators and the public that fosters dialogue
and creates opportunities for collaboration within the new media community. Each
meeting consists of one or two hour-long presentations interspersed with questions
and comments from the audience. The events are informal and free. Founded by Martha C C Gabriel
in March 2007, Upgrade! São Paulo is a local node within the
global Upgrade! International (UI) network. Martha participated presenting at the Upgrade!Boston
in August/2006, and then was introduced to UI by Jo-Anne Green.
Upgrade!
International Mission Statement: Upgrade!
is an international, emerging network of autonomous nodes united by art, technology,
and a commitment to bridging cultural divides. Its decentralized, non-hierarchical
structure ensures that Upgrade! (i) operates according to local interests and
their available resources; and (ii) reflects current creative engagement with
cutting edge technologies. While individual nodes present new media projects,
engage in informal critique, and foster dialogue and collaboration between individual
artists, Upgrade! International functions as an online, global network that gathers
annually in different cities to meet one another, showcase local art, and work
on the agenda for the following year.
Current Nodes: Amsterdam (The Netherlands),
Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro), Berlin (Germany), Boston (United
States), Brussels (Belgium), Chicago (United States), Lisbon (Portugal), Johannesburg
(South Africa), Istanbul (Turkey), Montreal (Canada), Munich (Germany),
New York (United States), Oklahoma City (United States), Paris
(France), Salvador (Brazil), São Paulo (Brazil), Scotland (United Kingdom), Seattle
(United States), (Second Life), Seoul (South Korea), Skopje (Macedonia),
Sofia (Bulgaria), Jerusalem-Tel Aviv (Israel), Vancouver (Canada),
and Wellington (New Zealand).
Future Nodes: Vienna, London,
Toronto, Zagreb.
Organizations: Eyebeam, Turbulence.org, New
Media Scotland, Art Centre Nabi, The Western Front, The Society
for Arts and Technology (SAT), InterSpace, i-camp, DCA, CCA, No-Org.net,
Art Interactive, NOMAD/santralistanbul, program angels/lothringer13,
Open-Node.com, t-u-b-e, C-M.TV, Lisboa 20, AT. joburg, University
of the Witwatersrand, Ars Longa, 911 Media Arts Center, Ars Virtua
/ BitFactory (Second Life).
Upgrade! Background:
Since April 1999, a group of new media artists and curators have gathered in New
York City. The first meeting took place at a bar in the east village with Tim
Whidden & Mark River [MTAA], Mark Napier and founder Yael Kanarek. Upgrade!
New York partnered with Eyebeam in March 2000.
— Martha Carrer Cruz Gabriel, March 2007 |
