MARY WASHINGTON COLLEGE TO OFFER ONLINE ART EXHIBITION

Fredericksburg, Va. -- Computer users around the world will be able to visit, via the Internet, artist Steve Griffin's exhibition displayed in Mary Washington College's duPont Gallery beginning Sept. 29.

Through the World Wide Web, art lovers who own computers will not only be able to click on their screens images of Griffin's work, but they also can listen to comments made by visitors to the gallery, sign the guestbook with their comments on the exhibit, and ask questions of the artist, who is an associate professor of art at Mary Washington College. Video of the Sept. 29 opening reception will also be available after Oct. 2.

The virtual exhibition is the idea of Ernest Ackermann, professor of computer science, and art history Professor Joseph Dreiss, who is also the director of the college's Computer Imaging and Multimedia Lab.

The computer debut will be the first MWC art exhibition on the Internet. "This is pretty innovative," Dreiss said. "It's part of the technological initiative of the college. It mixes technology with art."

Computer users whose machines are equipped for sound will be able to hear an interview with Griffin explaining the retrospective exhibition, which spans the years from 1968 to the present. Descriptions will also be written beneath the images of the paintings, collages, photographs and other artworks in the exhibit.

Griffin, who teaches photography and art classes, has produced color slides of each work in the exhibition. Professor Dreiss and his assistant Sharon Palmatory have been copying the images into the computer in a process called "scanning," which produces digitized images useable by the computer. Consultations with Griffin help Dreiss and Palmatory to adjust the colors in the images, and Ackermann is placing it on the Web.

Ackermann teaches a course on using the Internet and has written a computer textbook, "Learning to Use the Internet." Dreiss is teaching a multimedia course for art history and computer science majors, showing them how to prepare a virtual exhibit of the works of other artists. "Students are very enthusiastic about it," he said.

Dreiss feels an alliance between computers and the arts is very natural. "There's a perception of the computer field being very technical. It can be, but more liberal arts people are getting involved."

The Computer Imaging and Multimedia Lab, two years in development, owns an array of sophisticated equipment, including laser disc players, slide scanners, digital videocards, film recorders, and other hardware. Music, images, and videos can be digitized and transferred into the computer.

Ackermann said he hopes the virtual exhibition will publicize the location of MWC's art galleries and encourage people to come see the real thing.

Computer users can access the exhibition by using the following URL or location with their World Wide Web browser:
http://www.mwc.edu/sgexhibit.html
For additional information about the online exhibition, call Ernest Ackermann at 654-1320.

> Contact: Margaret L. Mock 540/654-1055

Steve Griffin Retrospective - Virtual Exhibit
Mary Washington College Galleries
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
URL:http://people.umw.edu/~ernie/sg/virtexhibit-pressrelease.html

For more information, email Ernie Ackerman at ernie@mwc.edu

Return to Home Page for Steve Griffin Retrospective Virtual Exhibit URL: http://people.umw.edu/~ernie/sg/virtual.html

Last Update: Wednesday, September 27, 1995