A joint project of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the Goethe-Institut, ZKM (Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe), and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Crossfade is an online exhibit that seeks to present the computer network from interesting and experimental perspectives: as a musical instrument and as tool that enables musicians and music lovers to collaborate with each other. Available in both German and English, the exhibit provides visitors with a unique look at how the Internet has contributed to modern music and sound, both in its creation and dissemination. Mostly "commissioned media essays," the resources offered by SFMOMA span a wide range of subjects, including The Architecture of Sound, Early Network Music Bands in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ten Hours of Sounds from Japan, and Radio Free Linux. While only ten are available, each essay is fairly substantial, many including sounds clips, multimedia presentations, and/or in-depth text descriptions. Musicians and music lovers will surely find something unique, if not valuable. Users should note, though, that the site's design, while visually appealing, is not user-friendly in many instances.
Comments