The International Association of Mobile Digital Artists proudly presents its first Annual Online Exhibition: "The Unseen", a showcase of mobile digital works that push the boundaries of what we know and have seen in the past-visually and creatively.
the unseen
Best in Show: Timothy Schorre (USA) Walking
Timothy Schorre studied photography with Jerry McMillan at UCLA and intaglio printmaking with Dadi Wirz, both at Rice University in Texas and Atelier Garrigues in France. He received a Master of Architecture degree from Rice University, and attended the Oomoto School of Traditional Japanese Arts in Kameoka, Japan. With his wife Gail Schorre AIA, he is a partner at Morningside Architects in Houston, Texas. A practicing Zen student since 1996, he currently serves as Head of Practice at Houston Zen Center.
"My personal work is a kind of contemplative visual journalism, and is mainly drawing- based. Although I don't really consider myself a photographer or filmmaker, I tend to reach for cameras frequently. Today's tiny, ubiquitous and unpretentious devices have made possible direct and spontaneous moving pictures, another means for being-in- response, seeking intimacy with the magnificent visual world."
Honorable mention: Sherry Chen (Singapore) Morning Commuters
I am Sherrina Chen from Singapore and I started iPhone photography last year under the alias silentjukebox. The initial idea was to capture moments or stories I see happening around me; later, I saw what others were doing with their iPhone and I was hooked. I try to take photos that convey a story and then edit them using various iPhone apps to either bring out the feeling I had envisioned or to convert it into something totally different. I guess the ease and convenience of having a camera AND photo editing software(s) on the same device totally blew me away, not to mention the ability to share my works with many other brilliant mobile photographers. I think it's time many see just what one can do with a phone camera and learn to accept mobile photography as an art-form. Thanks iAMDA for organizing this meaningful event!
Honorable mention: Jonathan Grauel (USA) A Queue to Change
Jonathan Grauel's life has been shaped by his need to create. He transforms that need into unique visual narratives. He uses line, shape, and color to construct surreal spaces for the eye to journey.
Focusing on the places "man" travel, Jonathan portrays not just physical locations, like the coffee shops and restaurants he frequents, but also mental, emotional, and spiritual places. His work is a response to his surroundings and the relationships they contain.
Jonathan participates in numerous gallery events, one man shows, and group exhibits. His paintings have received multiple awards. In addition, he taught high school art, so has a keen interest in arts education. Jonathan has been a guest speaker in the classroom upon many occasions.
For many years, Jonathan's primary mediums were acrylics, oils and oil pastels. In 2008, an accident with a table saw left him without an index finger on his dominate hand. In addition, he is unable to bend his middle finger and has limited sensitivity in his thumb. After the accident his wife and friends surprised him with an iPhone. He soon discovered a new joy in "finger painting." Jonathan recently added an iPad to his artist toolbox and it has replaced his sketchbook as a constant companion. He enjoys the freedom of the digital medium and also continues to work with traditional media. Jonathan resides in Charlotte North Carolina.
Honorable mention: Gabriel Palacios (Mexico) What you see is what you are 48
Gabriel Palacios was born in Mexico City in 1972. He graduated with a degree in Communication Science. From 1989 until 2004 he worked developing systems for private and government organizations. In the latter, he worked as Innovative Manager of Electronic Services. He was co-awarded with the Innovative Prize granted by the Presidential Government in 2002 and 2004. He?s been working as independent consultant in information technology since 2005.He has always been interested in graphic creation. At the end of 2009, after 20 years of full time work in information technology, he decided to focus on making digital art using electronic mobile devices.Understanding the nature and cultural differences of his audience Gabriel attempts to develop a graphic discourse with abstract images and archetypical elements. During 2010 he started publishing his artwork through Flickr.com on daily basis. In just 15 months he has finished over 300 digital works which have been viewed by over 70,000 people.
Honorable mention: Cedric Phillipe (France) Plic Ploc
Cedric Philippe is a young fingerpainter (18) recently involved in the mobile artists community. He was born in Mulhouse, France, and is currently living in a small city called Saint Claude (Jura).
He has enjoyed drawing since the early age and frantically scribbled over any blank paper he could find with felt-pens. By the time, he stopped doodling, until he discovered the ipod touch. Then, as soon as he purchased a couple of painting apps like Colors and Brushes, he fell in love with fingerpainting. He quickly tremendously learned from the iphone-artists community. Mostly getting inspired by talented digital masters such as Matthew Watkins and Goro Fujita, his artwork is an open door to a weird and fantastic world.
His works were mainly exhibited in the US, but also in Russia, Herzegovina and France.
About the juror
The show was juried by visual artist, Michael James Miller. Miller's paintings, installations, and prints investigate the continuing relationship between art and technology. He is currently an Associate Professor of Visual Arts at The University of Illinois, Springfield.
He shares his selection process for the show:
I was honored to select work for the first ever iAMDA Juried Exhibition "Unseen". Since my own studio work investigates the impact of digital processes on contemporary culture, I was eager to see what artists were doing with this new visual platform. Certainly, the hand-held device is the latest in a series of revolutions that has empowered individuals to create anywhere, anytime, and immediately distribute to a wide audience. It seems that the photo studio, painter's easel, video camera, and sketchbook have collapsed into each other and now fit neatly inside the artist's pocket.
In choosing the works and awards for the show, I wanted to represent the breadth of artistic practice allowed by mobile devices. I was impressed with the quality of work in the pool, and the ability of participating artists to produce work that matched the appearance of "analog" processes. I was most engaged by those submissions that used the unique abilities of this new creative tool: mobility, spontaneity, and hybridity between hand-drawn and mechanical elements. These works highlighted a central question that all artists must address going forward, namely, what is the relationship between tradition and technology? I thank the iAMDA for inviting me to engage this compelling new field of visual inquiry and to expand my understanding of the question.
Sincerely, Mike Miller Associate Professor of Visual Arts University of Illinois at Springfield
More about the artists
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