Arts & Tech: The Best of Friends

We had a great discussion about art and technology this week and we thought we would share it. Our lives are undergoing numerous small and significant changes that are impacting how we relate to each other and the world. This applies to not only to our own interactions, but the business world too. We may not like it, but it's here.

The value of art and creativity in a society where networked devices control our lives is becoming increasingly significant. Art is blooming at the heart of the technology world in the internet and a very cool, inventive art scene is unfolding. Beyond YouTube, Flicker and Facebook, there are a number of other high-tech meets art venues bubbling into a distinctive brand of digital culture.

Smart tablets are becoming increasingly abundant in the classroom. Corporations and universities are creating and delivering videos as training tools. Several start-ups are dedicated solely to education technology, creating apps that teachers and students can use. Companies compete with electronic visual art advertisements to catch your eye. Textbook publishers have moved quickly into the growing digital market by creating interactive electronic books with videos and multimedia features that can be updated regularly. A very unique kind of geek-meets-art culture is growing rapidly in our society right now.

Ten years ago, when it came to discussions of creative processes, the question concerning the value for others was highly debated. Not any more. The pressure on the arts to justify their worth to society has given way and creative industries are growing at a faster rate than the national economy. Some higher learning institutions have even made computer programming a mandatory core skill for fine art students. The proliferation of networked devices in everyday use, including laptops, smart phones, tablets and televisions is expected to reach 50 billion devices by 2050. I'm very sure we'll continue to see more creative art related jobs increase as technology continues to evolve.

Historically, art and technology have continually intersected from the old masters who were rumored to have used the technology of their time in the production of their masterpieces. Contemporary artists have often straddled the line between the cyber and the palpable. Today the blend of art and technology is almost seamless. That line between fine art and technology is no longer blurred- it's gone. Art is increasing used as a vehicle for intersecting interests and media and the use of technology to deploy many different types of art validates this notion.

For more information about our exhibitions, class schedules, events or volunteer opportunities, please visit us at www.AnkenyArtCenter.com, stop by and visit our gallery at 1520 SW Ordnance Road, Ankeny. Our gallery hours are: Tu-Fr: 9a-1p, Th: 4p-7p, Sa: 9a-noon and you can reach us by phone at 515-965-0940 or email at: ankenyarts@ankenyartcenter.com. Like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AnkenyArtCenter