Anne Morgan Spalter
Encyclopedia
Anne Morgan Spalter is a new media
artist working from Anne Spalter Studios in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
, USA. Spalter is also the author of the widely used text The Computer in the Visual Arts (Addison-Wesley 1999). Her art, writing, and teaching all reflect her long-standing goal of integrating art and technology.
, Providence, Rhode Island, in the late 1980s. Recognizing its unique power to integrate different disciplines, Spalter created an independent major that culminated in a multimedia novel. She also graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics and in Visual Art. After three years in New York, Spalter returned to Rhode Island to pursue an MFA at the Rhode Island School of Design
(RISD).
Spalter initiated and taught the first new media fine arts courses at both RISD and Brown. Finding a lack of teaching aids she wrote the textbook, “The Computer in the Visual Arts.” James Faure Walker, artist, author and founder of the British magazine ArtScribe
, describes the book, on its jacket, as: “...the first comprehensive work to combine technical and theoretical aspects of the emerging field of computer art and design.” Alvy Ray Smith
was an advisor. Reviews in MIT's Technology Review and other publications provide further details.
“The Computer in the Visual Arts” has been used in courses at schools from the University of Washington
to Bowling Green State University to Pratt Institute
. It has also been used at schools outside the US such as Kings College London.
and Sabanci University
, Istanbul. It is on the Victoria and Albert "Computer Art Reading list."
As an educator and artist in this emerging field, Spalter has served on editorial boards of publications such as CG Educational Materials Source (CGEMS), and presented in lectures, including the inaugural series for the Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing
.
In Brown University’s Department of Computer Science, Spalter worked with Thomas J. Watson, Jr. University Professor of Technology and Education and Professor of Computer Science Andries van Dam
as Artist in Residence and as a Visual Computing Researcher. She has initiated and published on research projects ranging from color theory and its applications to better color selection tools to a large-scale educational effort to raise visual literacy to the same status as reading and writing in core curricula. In 2007, Spalter left her position at Brown to create art full-time. She also intensified her martial arts training, receiving a black belt in Sullivan's American Kenpo in 2010 http://annespalter.com/biocv.html.
Spalter’s art works explore the concept of the “modern landscape” through both the subject matter and the processes used to create the work. She draws on her own travels and digital photographic database to create both traditional works and new media still and moving pieces. She is particularly interested in combining traditional strategies with computation processes possible only with the computer.
Her work has been exhibited in the US and abroad and is held by museums such as the Albright-Knox (Buffalo, NY) and the Victoria & Albert Museum (London, UK). She is also in collections such as the Bobbie Foshay collection and the Dick and Pamela Kramlich collection. She is represented by the Stephan Stoyanov/Luxe Gallery in New York City, Catherine Rubin in Paris, and Candita Clayton in Rhode Island.
Her husband, Michael Spalter, shares a passion for new media art and is the author of the new media blog Spalter Digital Art Collection. In the 1990s, the two began collecting early art works in the field. They now have the world’s largest private collection of early works in this genre and have lent pieces to the MoMA
in New York as well as museums internationally . A show curated from the Anne and Michael Spalter collection was held in 2011 at the deCordova Museum
in Lincoln, MA.
New media
New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
artist working from Anne Spalter Studios in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
, USA. Spalter is also the author of the widely used text The Computer in the Visual Arts (Addison-Wesley 1999). Her art, writing, and teaching all reflect her long-standing goal of integrating art and technology.
Life and work
Spalter first used a computer as an undergraduate at Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, Providence, Rhode Island, in the late 1980s. Recognizing its unique power to integrate different disciplines, Spalter created an independent major that culminated in a multimedia novel. She also graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics and in Visual Art. After three years in New York, Spalter returned to Rhode Island to pursue an MFA at the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
(RISD).
Spalter initiated and taught the first new media fine arts courses at both RISD and Brown. Finding a lack of teaching aids she wrote the textbook, “The Computer in the Visual Arts.” James Faure Walker, artist, author and founder of the British magazine ArtScribe
Artscribe
Artscribe , titled Artscribe International from 1985, is a defunct British contemporary art magazine. It was notable for its commitment in the late 1970s and early 1980s to abstract art, and for giving popular art critic Matthew Collings his first break into contemporary art.-Founding and early...
, describes the book, on its jacket, as: “...the first comprehensive work to combine technical and theoretical aspects of the emerging field of computer art and design.” Alvy Ray Smith
Alvy Ray Smith
Alvy Ray Smith III is an American engineer and noted pioneer in computer graphics. He is a co-founder of the animation studio Pixar.- Life and career :...
was an advisor. Reviews in MIT's Technology Review and other publications provide further details.
“The Computer in the Visual Arts” has been used in courses at schools from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
to Bowling Green State University to Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
. It has also been used at schools outside the US such as Kings College London.
and Sabanci University
Sabanci University
Sabancı University is a private research institution located in Istanbul, Turkey. Founded in 1996. SU is a small and highly focused university with 2861 undergraduates and 624 graduates, maintaining a strong emphasis on social and natural sciences...
, Istanbul. It is on the Victoria and Albert "Computer Art Reading list."
As an educator and artist in this emerging field, Spalter has served on editorial boards of publications such as CG Educational Materials Source (CGEMS), and presented in lectures, including the inaugural series for the Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing
Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing
The Harvard Initiative in Innovative Computing was an interdisciplinary research and development center at Harvard, which ended in 2009....
.
In Brown University’s Department of Computer Science, Spalter worked with Thomas J. Watson, Jr. University Professor of Technology and Education and Professor of Computer Science Andries van Dam
Andries van Dam
Andries "Andy" van Dam is a Dutch-born American professor of computer science and former Vice-President for Research at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Together with Ted Nelson he contributed to the first hypertext system, HES in the late 1960s. He co-authored Computer Graphics:...
as Artist in Residence and as a Visual Computing Researcher. She has initiated and published on research projects ranging from color theory and its applications to better color selection tools to a large-scale educational effort to raise visual literacy to the same status as reading and writing in core curricula. In 2007, Spalter left her position at Brown to create art full-time. She also intensified her martial arts training, receiving a black belt in Sullivan's American Kenpo in 2010 http://annespalter.com/biocv.html.
Spalter’s art works explore the concept of the “modern landscape” through both the subject matter and the processes used to create the work. She draws on her own travels and digital photographic database to create both traditional works and new media still and moving pieces. She is particularly interested in combining traditional strategies with computation processes possible only with the computer.
Her work has been exhibited in the US and abroad and is held by museums such as the Albright-Knox (Buffalo, NY) and the Victoria & Albert Museum (London, UK). She is also in collections such as the Bobbie Foshay collection and the Dick and Pamela Kramlich collection. She is represented by the Stephan Stoyanov/Luxe Gallery in New York City, Catherine Rubin in Paris, and Candita Clayton in Rhode Island.
Her husband, Michael Spalter, shares a passion for new media art and is the author of the new media blog Spalter Digital Art Collection. In the 1990s, the two began collecting early art works in the field. They now have the world’s largest private collection of early works in this genre and have lent pieces to the MoMA
Moma
Moma may refer to:* Moma , an owlet moth genus* Moma Airport, a Russian public airport* Moma District, Nampula, Mozambique* Moma River, a right tributary of the Indigirka River* Google Moma, the Google corporate intranet...
in New York as well as museums internationally . A show curated from the Anne and Michael Spalter collection was held in 2011 at the deCordova Museum
DeCordova Museum
The DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is a sculpture park and art museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts focused on modern and contemporary art, and holds a collection focused on work in all media, especially works by artists with connections to New England...
in Lincoln, MA.
Art shows and press
- Solo Show at Stephan Stoyanov/Luxe Gallery, New York, NY. November 2011.
- ISEA (International Society of Electronic Art) 2011, panel presentation on art work, Istanbul, Turkey, September 2011.
- Stephan Stoyanov/Luxe Gallery, New York, NY, still images and digital video drawing #9 Dream in group show, “Places”, July 2011
- The Big Screen Plaza, digital video drawings from Internal Energies series screened on 30-foot LCD screen in New York City, July 2011. Part of Leaders in Software Art (LISA) http://softwareandart.com/?p=619
- Candita Clayton Studios, Providence, RI, still and moving images in group show, June 2011.http://www.canditaclaytonstudio.com/featured_artists.htm
- ROMA: The Road to Contemporary Art, still and video works, Rome, Italy, May 2011.http://www.romaradioartfair.it/2011/05/06/roma-the-road-to-contemporary-art-anne-morgan-spalter-stephan-stoyanovluxe-gallery-in-new-york-city/
- Stephan Stoyanov/Luxe Gallery, New York, NY, selected drawings and three digital video works in group show, “The Heart of a Woman,” February 2011.
- Candita Clayton Studios, Providence, RI, group and solo show, December 2010 and January 2011.http://www.canditaclaytonstudio.com/featured_artists.htm
- The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, Symposium panelist, "Who's Afraid of New Media?", February 2010.http://www.bostoncyberarts.net/xn/detail/2102549:Event:7707?xg_source=activity
- The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK, Conference, Decoding the Digital, Hochhauser Auditorium, Sackler Center, lecture, "Creating, Critiquing, Collecting," February, 2010. http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/decode/events
- The Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, Visiting Artist lecture and critiques, Pioneers of Early Computer Art, Digital Nature wintersession course, January 2010.
- WestSide Arts, Providence, RI, three pieces in group show, November 2010.
- Alpha Gallery, Boston, MA, 2008. Charcoal drawing in group show.
External Links
- Website: http://annespalter.com
- Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/annespalterstudios
- Michael Spalter’s Blog, Spalter Digital Art Collection: http://spalterdigitalartcollection.blogspot.com/