A conference opening today at Duke explores the ways in which the digital is transforming the humanities. It's called the CHAT Festival, short for Collaborations: Humanities, Art and Technology. Festival director Victoria Szabo says it will include exhibits in which art and technology come together in ways that challenge traditional distinctions.
Victoria Szabo: On the opening night we're having a big projection on the outside of the Nasher Museum. One of the pieces, "A China of Many Senses" is an algorithmic art piece that also uses architectural metaphors. It'll be projected on two faces of the Nasher. And then on the other side of the building there will be an interactive piece that patrons can walk by and actually change the way that the image appears.
There will also be discussion panels and art walks. Szabo says the goal is to promote collaboration across disciplines and universities - the festival is a joint effort between Duke, UNC and NC State.