Untitled Document

Smithsonian

"Since its founding in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution has been devoted to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The materials submitted ... enrich the Smithsonian's growing permanent collection on the Information Age, one of the most important kind in the world. This collection serves the critical historical purpose by helping the Smithsonian Institution record the information technology revolution and the impact it has upon our lives. As part of the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Collection, ... [the] Digital Atelier is a national treasure and a major addition to our documentation of the role technology plays in shaping our world."

- Daniel S. Morrow, Executive Director, The Computerworld Smithsonian Awards

Unique Editions™ is a group of five independent artists from across the country dedicated to promoting digital art. Bonny Lhotka from Boulder, Karin Schminke from Seattle, Helen Golden from Palo Alto and the late Judi Moncrieff from Portland, Oregon, met in 1994 at "Beyond the Digital Print", a workshop Dorothy Simpson Krause coordinated at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston where she teaches. They combine their expertise in traditional studio media and techniques with digital imaging to produce original fine arts and editions. As they create and exhibit their art and speak and write on related issues, they influence, define and interpret the significance and influence of the new technologies on the art of our time.

[The] Digital Atelier is now part of America's Informational Technology history. Congratulations. I'm delighted that your work has been recognized by the Computerworld Smithsonian Awards, and pleased that Adobe Systems' products were able to play a supporting role. Being featured in a permanent collection of the Smithsonian is an honor with few achieve. Your selection signifies that your program is an outstanding example of hour information technology can address real problems affecting real people, in the real world.

John E. Warnock
CEO and Chairman
Adobe Systems Incorporated

In July 1997, the artists of Unique Editions demonstrated the applications of digital and traditional artists tools and allowed museum visitors and area artists access to the latest digital imaging hardware and software at Digital Atelier: a printmaking studio for the 21st century they established at the National Museum of American Art of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The artists made presentations on integrating computers into the art making and printmaking process and worked with visitors to wishing to experience digital imaging. In addition to the artist's workstations, computers with imaging software, cameras, scanners and printers were available for public use. Several hundred visitors came through the Atelier each day and even more were able to follow the project through video cam shots on the web site at http://www.nmaa.si.edu/atelier (now archived at the Smithsonian History Museum). Media coverage was extensive including MSNBC, Maryland Public Broadcasting, CNN and major articles in Publish, Photo Electronic Imaging (PEI), Electronic Publishing, Digital Imaging, Print & Graphics, Art New England and The Big Picture.

Mary Ann Kearns, an independent curator of digital art and Director of 911 Gallery, a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation, served as project coordinator and Charles Trainor, from Artistic License in Newton, as systems engineer.