Exciting Art + Technology for Miami Art Week

“What Is Left of Reality” by Pierre Zandrowicz, 2021. Part of FilmGate Miami 2022. Image courtesy FilmGate Miami.

The tech world is turning the heat up a notch for this year’s Miami Art Week. There will be work presented by the MUD Foundation and FilmGate. Over the past several years, art and technology have converged into exciting new formats for artists to explore. This year, Miami is host to two digital art and virtual reality events with organizations that focus on keeping the technology in the hands of the artists, while making the work accessible to the public.

Image credit FilmGate

Now in their 9th year, FilmGate aims to expand minds and offer immersive and multi-level experiences using the most up-to-date technology in film and media production. Through the support of emerging and established artists, FilmGate uses new technology to cultivate talent and promote innovation from Miami’s developing film and media industry by conducting workshops and monthly film screenings. Miami is a mashup of numerous cultures and influences, which have unavoidably contributed to the formation of its unique personality, and FilmGate ensures that inclusion and diversity are vital components of the film organization.

Have you ever wanted to be a time-traveler photographer, and visit Stiltsville houses in different time periods? Or be an eel, and travel through oceans and waterways? What about being one of six people, connected through the metaverse, and entering an ancient Buddhist temple?

If you answered “yes” to any of the following or even felt a slight bit of curiosity… then FilmGate’s Interactive Media Festival is where you need to be during Miami Art Week.

FilmGate will be presented in several locations this year:

• Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, 1101 Biscayne Blvd, downtown Miami
• Downtown Media Center, 168 SW 1st St, 4th Floor
• SE Financial Center, 200 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown Miami
• Fontainebleau Hotel, 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
• O Cinema South Beach, Old City Hall, 1130 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach

The theme of the 9th Annual FilmGate Interactive Festival is SOLAR PUNK- a science fiction literary genre and an art movement. They will be shedding light on locations such as Florida, Asia, Germany, France, and Canada. Those from the area will be able to interact with international performances right here in Florida.

Utilizing extended reality (XR) storytelling as its platform, the 9th FilmGate Interactive Media Festival is a one-of-a-kind event lasting over eight days. It will allow viewers to explore the best in local and worldwide mind-bending stories and concepts.

Diliana Alexander, co-founder/FilmGate and Festival producer, notes that “It has been our goal to focus our programming and partnerships on the issues of our region, issues that truly resonate globally: climate change, immigration, accessibility, and equality. We search for originality, innovation, and boldness, as we shape new roads for humanity. As we approach a possible united virtual space at an increasing rate, aka ‘the metaverse’, we explore the multiverses and 3D spaces that are paving the roads to the future.”

Expect to see many components in this festival such as 25 interactive installations, dome experiences, performances, panels, networking opportunities and parties.

Join in on the fun for all age level experience about the environment.

What: VR & ER Festival, Miami Art Week, 9th FilmGate Interactive Media Festival
Where: Various location around Downtown Miami & Miami Beach
When: November 28th-December 5th
Tickets: https://www.filmgate.miami/09

While FilmGate focuses presents a new vision for film and media, MUD Foundation provides an exploration into the world of internet, XR, and virtual reality.

MUD Foundation is known for extending its support to creative and educational projects that enable the internet, data, XR, and art to come together. With a focus on digital literacy, critical media, immersive technology, and internet culture, the MUD Foundation exhibition program is a physical (as well as digital) program that showcases artists and art projects that employ technology as a medium. Through exhibitions, lectures, and site-specific art activations, their goal is to expand the community of artists and art+tech aficionados.

Their recent projects are created and displayed on the website Onland.io and on location in North Miami.

Onland.io, the metaverse created by the MUD Foundation, will publicly launch with artworks by multiple participating artists including Leo Castaneda, Jose Hernandez, and Yucef Merhi from the previous exhibition MUD 2.0.

This year, during Miami Art Week, MUD Foundation will be presenting the physical exhibition Media Under Dystopia 3.0: WASD. This exhibition positions viewers as active participants in the artworks and invites them to explore the artistic metaverse. The exhibit will be on display starting November 28.

Ariel Baron-Robbins, Vuk Cosic, Vladan Joler, Antonio Mendez, Rafael Rodriguez Gárciga, and Alba Triana are among the regional and international artists participating in Project WASD.

A look into the MUD Foundation Metaverse. Image credit MUD Foundation.

Participating virtual reality artist Antonio Mendez also known as performance name Queef Latina of the MUD 3.0 project says, “I am looking forward to several happenings around the city, especially in downtown Miami and in Little Haiti. I’m excited to hear feedback on my project from the LGBTQ+ community, and how they can see the technology work as a safe space away from unsafe environments.”

Artist Ariel Baron-Robbins is looking forward to the unexpected outcomes that may arise particularly from her Loop Art Critique. She explains, “I am contributing to a project on Onland.io. It is a metaverse campus called Loop Art Critique which provides a place for artists to discuss and get feedback on their artworks from their peers before exhibiting them in two virtual reality galleries: The Salon and The Salon de Refuses. It’s a conceptual piece and a show within a show.”

Artist Alba Triana imagines that art and technology are the tools that will allow humanity to achieve a deeper self-understanding. This will be an event like no other. Technology and the arts are creating an experience like never before.

What: MUD Foundation 3:0: WASD
Where: Onland.io and at MUD Foundation
When: November 28th-December 5th
Tickets: Free at https://mud.foundation/

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