Leonardo Electronic Almanac

INTRODUCTION© 1999 ISAST LEONARDO, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 245–247, 1999 245 Leonardo Electronic Almanac Leonardo Electronic Almanac (LEA) is a comprehensive, hypermedia web journal (http://mitpress.mit.edu/LEA/) published by Leonardo/ISAST and the MIT Press that focuses on new media art forms [1]. LEA’s monthly issues explore the work of contemporary artists, scientists, developers of new media resources and other practitioners working at the intersection of art, science and technology. Since 1993 LEA has presented adventurous, creative work in a wide variety of disciplines, providing a forum for those who are interested in the use of new media and science in contemporary artistic expression . LEA serves the rapidly increasing, electronically connected, contemporary arts-andresearch community, much as Leonardo has been serving the international art-and-technology community since 1968. Taking advantage of the expanded resources for communication and interaction that are available via the Internet, LEA provides a venue for timely presentation of in-depth information. Direct and interactive intersection with groups and individuals around the world allows LEA to serve as a catalyst for vital, international and interdisciplinary exchange. LEA EXPANSION AND ACCESS This year LEA’s role is expanding, and its mode of presentation and access have changed. While some of LEA is still available for free to all Web visitors, much of it is now available via password only to subscribers of Leonardo/ISAST publications [2,3]. Leonardo subscribers can access via password not only LEA’s monthly web journal, but also the LEA Archives , which contain past issues of LEA, archived content from the other Leonardo/ ISAST web sites [4] and links to PDF versions of the print journals Leonardo and Leonardo Music Journal [5]. Late in 1999, the full body of Leonardo and Leonardo Music Journal texts, from 1968 to the present [6], will be available on-line and linked to the LEA Archives. The LEA web site will then combine up-to-the-minute discussions of contemporary technologybased media—made possible each month through the LEA web journal—with a growing historical archive of writings by and about pioneering artists working with science and technology. The Archives will be an unprecedented resource for researchers and students, expanding upon Leonardo founding editor Frank Malina’s original vision of a vehicle for communication among artists and others interested in the arts. LEA CONTENT The resources and materials published in the monthly LEA issues are contributed by artists , scientists, educators and developers of new technological resources in the media arts. Contributors use text, hypertext, still and moving images and sound to communicate about their activities. LEA includes the following main content areas: • Featured Profiles: profiles of media arts facilities and new media artists • Featured Articles: theoretical and technical perspectives and special topic discussions • LEA Gallery: new media artworks by international artists • Leonardo Digital Reviews: reviews of publications, events and exhibitions • Announcements: new media art events • Opportunities: announcements of new media employment and educational opportunities • LEA Archives. A L M A N A C L E O N A R D O E L E C T R O N I C 246 Introduction: Leonardo Electronic Almanac L E O N A R D O E L E C T R O N I C A L M A N A C Featured Profiles LEA publishes detailed profiles of the work of artists, researchers, group art projects, performance groups, media arts facilities and educational institutions and programs around the world. Artists and researchers present descriptions of their individual or group projects and exhibition work, with biographical and other pertinent information. Educational institutions, media arts facilities, research facilities and other organizations involved in development or production present detailed descriptions of their activities, goals and resources. Institutional and organizational profiles generally include mission statements and descriptions of curricula, research or upcoming events, as appropriate. (See the LEA Abstracts section in this issue of Leonardo for summaries of selected Featured Profiles.) Featured Articles Artists, researchers, scientists, philosophers, technology developers, educators and others working in related fields present theoretical and technical perspectives, with details about their works, technological resources and applications. LEA also invites authors from different disciplines to provide interdisciplinary perspectives on specific special topics. Current...