TechnoCraft - Opening Reception

From Thursday, May 3, 2012 through Saturday, June 9, 2012 The Jamestown Arts Center will have on display in the main gallery TechnoCraft: Where High Tech Meets Handmade. This exhibition is presented by Hera Gallery and Education Foundation. Six months in development, TechnoCraft is a show of Rhode Island and New England artists who use components of technology to enhance the impact of their work. In some cases the technological aspects of the work is front and center. Some of the works blink, buzz, glow, flap, and spin. In other cases, the technology is hidden in the process of creating the work and a conversation with the artist may be needed to appreciate the ways in which new tools have been use. The exhibition is a lively and provocative experience that expands the boundaries of what is usually found hanging on gallery walls. These artists will make you think twice about what you’ve seen and bring you back for a second look.
In undertaking this project Hera Gallery has tapped into a surging interest in the interface of art and technology. The exhibition builds on such precedents as Make Magazine, Maker Fairs, Burning Man and scores of lesser, but equally sophisticated festivals, and the work of many cutting edge individual artists, designers and engineers. As a recent ad in a mainstream magazine said, “Join the Aduino Revolution!”

Work by the following artists is featured in TechnoCraft: Shawn Wallace, Luke Randall, Ben Knox Miller, Beth Galston, John Kotula, Mark Esper, Jenine Bressner, Laurie Carlson, Cheryl Sleboda, Suzi Ballenger, China Blue and James Rutter.
In addition to exhibiting their work in TechnoCraft, the following artists have played key roles in developing the project: John Kotula, is an artist member of Hera Gallery and an active member of Hera’s board of directors. In addition to making his own artwork, John is an arts educator and arts promoter. He has curated many shows at Hera Gallery, including, most recently, Ekphraises: Art into Poetry = Poetry into Art.
Suzi Ballenger is a weaver who works with a wide variety of non-traditional, repurposed and recycled materials. She is owner operator of Real Fibers Handwoven. http://www.realfibers.com/index.html She teaches weaving and her work is widely exhibited.
China Blue is an international artist who incorporates many levels of technology into her work. http://www.chinablueart.com/ A recent body of work is referred to as the Fire Fly Project has included a solo exhibit at The Newport Art Museum and an upcoming performance festival in Pawtucket. Cina Blue is the founder of The Engine Institute. http://theengineinstitute.org/
David Rutter is an engineer who directs the AS220Labds. http://as220.org/labs/pages/ The motto of the labs is “Where Art Meets Technology.” The Labs make available to the community the knowledge and equipment to produce art in a manner that would have seemed like science fiction even ten years ago: laser cutters, computer controlled routers, 3-D printers, micro computer programming, etc.


There will be an opening reception on Thursday, May 3, 2012 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. During the run of the show, gallery hours will be from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. More information is available at http://heragallery.org/ and http://jamestownartcenter.org/. The Jamestown Arts Center is located at 18 Valley Street,
Jamestown, RI 02835

TechnoCraft was originally planned for Hera Gallery’s Main Street location in Wakefield. However, when that location closed due to development of the property for other purposes, The Jamestown Art’s Center stepped in and made their large gallery available. The two organizations have become active partners in presenting this important event.

TechnoCraft has been supported by a grant from The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts: http://www.arts.ri.gov/.