The Matrix Artists’ Network: An Electronic Community

Fineart Forum and F.A.S.T. in general, do not have access to the system . International access is also very uneven. Access, which may be very cheap to individuals in academic institutions , can be very expensive outside the United States. Finally, although the medium can potentially be highly interactive, in fact most individuals receive more information than they send. The context of the interaction, lacking cues and nonverbal stimuli, often dampens the reaction of the receivers of the information. As the projects evolve, there is a tendency to view Fineart Forum and FA.S.T. as 'value added' components of the Leonardo journal. They provide a forum where part of Leonardo's audience can receive additional information and also submit information easily for re-diffusion . We would reiterate that Fineart Forum and F.A.S.T. are intended to be experimental publications. All readers are invited to contact us with ideas for collaboration or uses for Fineart Forum and F.A.S.T. Interested individuals can contact us at isast@garnet.berkeley.edu (Internet) or ISAST@UCBGARNET (Bitnet) or by post at ISAST, Box 75, 1442A Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA 94709, U.S.A. The Matrix Artists' Network: An Electronic Community Je!JMann The synthesis of computer and telecommunications technologies has created a new medium for human communication, one that opposes the one-way flow of information pervasive in our mass-media culture. This medium is decentralised and accessible and encourages collaboration, collective thought and the formation of. _ human relationships. It is an electronic geography where community is defined by common interest. This sense of community provided the impetus for the creation of Matrix, a computer communications facility for artists. The seminal event that led to the creation of Matrix occurred in 1981, when a group of Canadian artists began experimenting with a new technology called Telidon videotex [1]. Using a PDP 11/03 computer on loan from Bell Canada, this group of artists created thousands ofvideotex pages. The videotex monitor became a familiar sight in Toronto's Queen Street art scene, often seen at the Video Cabaret, a theatre and performance group exploring human and political issues. Matrix was originally conceived and implemented to provide free public access to these videotex artworks. The group incorporated as a non-profit artist-run centre in 1983 under the name Toronto Community Videotex, reflecting the importance placed by the group on personal access and community empowerment. The producers ofvideotex techjetfMann (artist. programmer. administrator), c/o Inter/Access, #OOl-1179A King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6K 3C5 Canada. E-mail: mann@irn