On Sun, 19 Jan 1997, Stompbox wrote…How do you define online arts?

Interesting question Miles, and one which I will take to the list, and
not apologize.

Are you asking about the nature of the medium and wanting to explore its
methods, constructs, implications and general nature? What defines a
web-page? a web-site? or what defines a communication best suited to the
http protocol and its related technologies?

Or are you talking about fine arts on the web? Sites like adaweb,
diacenter and others are making serious investments in exploring the web
as a medium in an artists and museums scope?

(snip)

The online arts situation is just as complicated as the offline arts
situation. Perhaps it's even more complicated, since power in the
artworld rests within the value of rare objects and the web operates 180
degrees from that set of values.

Like everything else in the new order, it will come down to money, and
right now there is very little money to support the production of art
for the web (obviously, it can't be collected). Thus, there is very
little interest, or motive, for the "serious" artworld to view the web
as anything more than a handy way to see something you might want to see
in person before you plunk down hard cash, such as the auction websites.

There has been a bit of activity from "new artists," but so far there
hasn't been much in the way of specific web artwork. Most of this art
activity has been repurposing images of analog work (e.g., most of the
work could have been made without the web). And there are a few
pioneering artists who are exceptions to these generalizations.

Certainly, one of the major issues in web art is that of primary
concept, as opposed to careering off of accepted aesthetics. Much
advanced web art, from the standpoint of concept, tends to be
re-purposed installation art. Most "advanced art" themes tend to evolve
from late 1970's quasi-Marxist pomo themes such as body art and social
alienation due to media infuences.

I'd look for the breakthroughs in web art to come through places like
Mark Tribe's RHIZOME site at www.rhizome.org and Remo Campopiano's
Artnetweb at www.artnetweb.com. RHIZOME has a highly active listserve
and Artnetweb has an online email 'zine which posts recent developments.
Another good online source is a new list named CONSCIOUSNESS-REFRAMED by
Joseph Nechvatal (jnech@imaginet.fr) which runs out of Paris.

I am also working on a project which will merge art and commerce. I'll
post to the list whenever I get the darn thing ready.