The thrust of the Telfair Museums’ Pulse: Art and Technology Festival, which begins its third annual run on Jan. 20, is to showcase new and “edgier” uses of technology in music, and art, and their creative cousins. It’s a combination of performances, exhibitions and installations that make artistic statements through not–quite–conventional means.
The nine–day festival, at the Jepson Center (with a few exceptions, noted) brings in the sort of stuff that hipsters and conossiuers of the advanced have been ogling and appreciating in New York, London and the other artistic centers of the world.
Best of all, admission to everything — including the workshops and lectures — is free.
You can check out the massive, fully-descriptive schedule at telfair.org; along with the performer interviews you'll find elsewhere on connectsavannah.com, here are a few highlights to get you going:
Exhibitions
Making the Invisible Visible: Selected Projects by Zachary Lieberman: Through Feb. 6. An exhibition of interactive installations and a documentation of projects by the aclaimed new media artist.
Andrew Scott, Digital Explorations in Sculpture: Through Feb. 7. Savannah-based sculptor employs a variety of digital and traditional fabrication methods to produce a body of work where art serves as a bridge for collective cultural ideals
Selected Works by BjÖrn SchÜlke, 2003-2010: Through Feb. 21. Equally-influenced by modern abstraction and instruments of scientific measurement, sculptor SchÜlke's works playfully transform live spatial energy into active responses. By entering the installation site, the audience becomes part of the ‘system' as the works - some free standing, others suspended - monitor or react to the human element. SchÜlke lectures in person at 6 p.m. Jan. 27.
Artists' Projects
Through Feb. 21 at the Jepson Center TAG Gallery and Morrison Gallery
ZooBurst by Craig Kapp: A book seen on screen will allow users to swipe their hands to turn the pages. In addition, the artist will display a physical book that contains a special ZooBurst augmented reality marker. Visitors will be able to pick the book up and hold to the camera in order to see images in palm of their hand.
Water Nymphs' Circus by Kelley McClung: Micro projections collaged from found footage of post-World War II Florida mermaid shows are strategically placed in vintage apothecary bottles.
Estrella Intersects the Plane by Matthew Richard: An algorithmic kinetic light painting. A custom analysis runs on a small computer that controls LEDs and motors. As the motors move, the position of the LEDs and the angle at which they strike the surface is altered, resulting in a hypnotic, meditative, calming image that draws viewers in.
Film: Strandbeesten: Screening at 6 p.m. Jan. 24. A documentary by Alexander Schlichter on the work of visionary Dutch sculptor Theo Jansen. Jansen has been working for 16 years to create sculptures that move on their own in eerily lifelike ways.
Technology Expo/Family Day: At 2 p.m. Jan. 29. Demonstrations by Ranjit Bhatnagar, Adam Matta and Timothy Jackson. Local schools' robotics teams will demonstrate their creations under the coordination of Georgia Tech-Savannah.
Performances
Bora Yoon and Luke DuBois: At 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, Telfair Academy rotunda.
The Medeology Collective: At 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28. Allessandro Imperato, James Gladman and Kelley MClung return to the Jepson Center for a site-specific video event, Exquisite Corpse.
Adam Matta: At 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28
The Wiitles: At 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29. The return of a Pulse favorite. A new and expanded lineup for a concert incorporating Wiimotes, iPhones and violin.
For a full schedule and additional info: telfair.org
