Dear Marc, Luci, Ruth, Saul, Simon et al,

Having observed todays flurry of emails I couldn't resist putting my own oar
in!

I think its a shame that the subject of NODE.London was introduced in a
slightly negative defensive way, as so far from my experience it seems to
have been a very positive thing with a whole range of people jumping in from
every direction.

Perhaps the lack of discussion so far on the new media curating list about
it which led Marc to bring it up as a topic was more due to the fact that
the main event - the March season - hasn't actually happened yet, so it
seems a shame to have pre-empted that with what felt like a bit of a
defensive stance and I'm really not sure why it was necessary.
[These days there are SO many new media projects happening all over the
world that it is impossible to give airplay to everything all the time, and
am not sure why we should expect a focus on London anyway - just because it
is a european capital city?]

I was at the Arts council meeting which Marc and Ruth were at among others.
Rachel Baker called it, and I think it was one of a number held to generate
thoughts from London based new media artists. The idea of a season or
umbrella came up then - but the (open source type) model for it was
something that emerged later.

I think it was Simon that said that if some people appeared reticent to get
involved that it was perhaps more a recognition that it was time for some
'old hands' to stand back and let some newer faces in, and I agree with him
- what has emerged is a genuine umbrella with the established and the new
side by side (and as Marc pointed out in a more recent posting given equal
weight). As a relatively old (though finding it hard to come to terms with
that concept) hand, I know I have been aware of a desire not to be a 'usual
suspect' (there used to be fewer of us on the ground so we were trotted out
at very regular intervals) and so rather than use it as an opportunity for
my own work (tho that may sneak in somewhere) it felt more appropriate to
use it as a focal point to create an opportunity for the next
generation....(having said that the event I am facilitating, FRAMED, will
have work from several generations - from 20 somethings to almost 60
somethings - and from students to very established -including mainstream-
artists). 

Without Node.London as a motivational date to work towards I would have been
most unlikely with my pathetically overloaded work schedule to have had the
mad idea to take on organising an event like this..... but it was too good
an opportunity to resist.....
Having Node.London as a focal point has also helped in small but important
ways to get support and sponsorships at a local/modest level which might
have been less forthcoming without the umbrella of an official season as
such.
I have not been able between Slade and my own work commitments to make a
contribution to any of the VO groups (I could see how much work this must
have been through the sheer volume of emails - many of which, like many on
this nmc list I barely I had time to open let alone skim read - sorry!)
I did realise this early on enough to be upfront about it to tim and luci
....so I am hugely grateful to them and for all the people who have managed
to contribute so much time to working on this. Hence me making this small
effort to pop my head above the parapet by sending this before heading for
bed!
 
I think Node.London has been a great opportunity! It has mobilised lots of
people to find the energy and make the time to make something happen during
March......

....but the true discussion and evaluation I think should take place once
the event is up and running, and after, when the dust has settled, with some
distance. 


Susan


--
FRAMED 23/24/25 March 2006
Slade Research Centre, Woburn Square
Part of NODE.London
Celebrating 10 years of the Slade Centre for Electronic Media

http://www.scemfa.org
http://www.nodel.org

Supported by Arts Council England