{blog 2}

As a medium, digital art has four different characteristics which make it an art medium: Interactive aspects, participation, dynamic qualities and customization.  There are many forms of digital art as well, ranging from installations to film and video to sound and music.  Installations are the most interesting to me because of the architectural quality that many of them have.  Installations tend to either immerse people in with the work or create a whole new environment around the viewer.  the architectural exploration is what allows this form of digital art to be so affective and powerful because real architecture can do that as well.  when experiencing an installation such as the collaboration of Gilbert, Thorington and Walczak called Adrift, one can get the feeling of encountering something more than just digital art but a variety of multimedia including video, text and sound, all which combine together to create a cyber space, or "architecture in the virtual realm."  

Another reason why i think digital architectural installations are interesting to look at and to analyze is because it seems so similar to how actual buildings and spaces can have an affect on people.  when i walk into an established place like a museum, i get the feeling that there are priceless pieces of art within just from the mood, the sophisticated surroundings and atmosphere of the space in general.  when visiting a digital installation, i think the artists are trying to capture a similar influence: to create a mood parallel to the meaning of their work and an atmosphere that reflects the mood.