TechnoGateway

TechnoGateway is an inaugural exploration of new media and technology based and inspired artwork created by Gateway artists.  The work in this exhibition utilizes new equipment including tablets, touch screens, and computers equipped with software.  This new equipment was obtained by Gateway during the development of our newest program, Bridging the Spectrum.  Bridging the Spectrum was established in 2017 to meet the needs of an emerging population with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  The program provides psycho-social training and self-expression through new media, technology, and writing, in addition to two- and three-dimensional art.

Technology is integral to daily life.  It serves as the primary mode and mechanism of communication and connection within society.  Gateway artists are equal and enthusiastic participants in the decade long cultural shift towards integrated personal technology.  For instance, artists regularly use personal smart phones, as well as Gateway supplied tablets and touch screens in the studios.

“The internet is open” states Artistic Director Stephen DeFronzo. “Artists at Gateway blog and write.  They create graphic novels, zines, and comics. Additionally, some artists participate in Digital Storytelling courses, working in the labs at Brookline Interactive Group (BIG) with computers and sound equipment.  They write stories, then record them, and overlay the audio with a video component.  Since 2016 the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services has expanded funding access to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  This in turn led to an influx of artists at Gateway with an increased interest in digital media.  Thus, Gateway responded by developing services to meet the unique needs of these new artists, and the results have been exciting.”

This exhibition, “TechnoGateway,” presents us with an opportunity to assess the work produced with a new media focus.  Viewers will see how much the digital world has affected the artwork being created in the Gateway studios.

SEPTEMBER 10 – NOVEMBER 9, 2019

Official Press Release – Click Here

Artscope Magazine Review – Click Here

 


Reception Photos

The Opening reception for TechnoGateway was held Thursday, September 19th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.  The event had approximately 40 attendees, including artists, family members, community members, Gateway Advisory Committee members, and a representative from Art New England!  Emily Bass introduced herself while admiring a diptych of Mily Cyrus by artist Charles Hurvitz.  She later shared that she “smiled all night over Charles’ piece – his work is delightful!  It’s so funny, I rarely am so viscerally moved by artworks but this piece had me smiling and laughing and telling all my friends for days after viewing.  It was so refreshing to have such a beautiful interaction with a piece of art.”

“It was wonderful to see different new media and digital work featured in the Gateway gallery” shares Justine Portmann Katz, Gateway Marketing Specialist. “The public responded with such enthusiasm to the incorporation of technology in the studios.”

Refreshments for the event were generously donated by Trader Joe’s in Coolidge Corner.

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