FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

{CTS} creative thriftshop in conjunction with Dam, Stuhltrager Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of SNIFF, a group show featuring a collaborative project by Brooklyn-based new media artists Karolina Sobecka and James George. The show will run from April 2nd to April 23rd, with a closing reception scheduled for May 1st.

Karolina and James artistically teamed up to create their “virtual” dog SNIFF. SNIFF is a holographic, interactive, fully functional virtual pet whose image will be beamed from the gallery’s front windows. Karolina created the project, while James developed the projects software. Just like any pet, SNIFFinteracts with passersby, growling, barking, chasing, fetching and rolling over. SNIFF responds to the movements of the viewers’ actions, responding by interpreting gestures and movements. The intention with SNIFF is to create an interactive experience for viewers, which simultaneously creates an alternate physical reality while also creating a playful space that encourages viewers to interact with one another.

Leah Stuhltrager, director of Dam, Stuhltrager Gallery, says this project feels especially personal to her as it will be created in the exact spot where her pet redbone coonhound - Salvatore Pupperone or “Sal” - lives and hangs out when they’re stateside. Williamsburg residents will be reminded of the familiar site of her dog in the front windows upon seeing the image of SNIFF. Leah’s currently in Berlin with Sal and this exhibit coincides with her return to the gallery space.

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Essay by Liliy Olive

about the artist: Karolina Sobecka is a digital artist living and working in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a PHD in Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS) from the University of Washington, and has participated in new media panels, lectures, festivals and exhibitions worldwide (including Japan Media Arts Festival exhibition (Tokyo, Japan), Conflux City Festival (New York, NY), Decode: Digital Design Festival (London, UK)). Karolina uses her experimental images to interact with viewer’s sense of physical reality, often choosing projection as the medium of choice. The artist feels “It enables the creation of a blend of virtual and real, subjective and objective, permanent and ephemeral that calls to mind the term ‘magical reality’.” Karolina’s interest in giving her work meaning outside of the context of art results in stories and results that unfold and are created and crafted thru interactions with stranger’s actions. The sense of play and platforms her projects bring result in situations where people can relate to each other and take viewers through various perceptions of reality.

about the artist: James George is a Brooklyn, NY-based experimental digital media artist who works within the mediums of computer graphics, digital video, and electronics. James uses his computer science background (received his B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Washington in 2009) to create software systems that respond and interact to the presence of people. James has studied Human Computer Interaction, Computer Vision, Experimental Video, and Computer Graphics, and utilizes his research to create emotive artistic experiments that are often a synergy of his software systems and collaborative concepting. James’ partners with artists from diverse backgrounds, collaborating to create experimental film, live video for dance performance and interactive installations. His projects have been included at The Conflux Festival (Brooklyn, NY), Emergence: Art & Artificial Life (Irvine, CA), 6th Annual Directors Lounge Film Festival (Berlin, Germany), International Computer Music Conference (New York, NY) and more.

about the gallery: The EAST/WEST Project is built on the concept that a program will have as much to gain as individuals from being completely immersed in different cultures. The EAST/WEST Project is a 501(c) international artist residency and exhibition program that travels to different communities around the world recognized for their emerging art scene. The project encourages cultural exchange by establishing short term (about six months) project spaces for international artists to build long term relationships to share, develop and progress contemporary ideas.