FAQ
What is E.A.T._Works?
E.A.T._Works is a cultural production studio that matches artists with technologists. We are building community and tools to support artistic experimentation, and new models for making and appreciating art.
Why does it exist?
E.A.T._Works is powered by the belief that artists are visionary thinkers who help us see things differently. Through the creative use and misuse of technology, they help us imagine alternative possibilities and challenge prevailing notions about how things could or should be. Our commitment to matchmaking between artists and technologists is motivated by a desire to support the innovative ideas coming from artist’s studios and to explore their broader transformative potential.
Where does the name come from?
EAT_Works takes its name and inspiration from Experiments in Art and Technology (EAT), founded in the 1960s by artists Robert Rauschenberg and Robert Whitman together with Bell Labs engineers Billy Klüver and Fred Waldhauer. EAT was one of the first initiatives to attempt to create bridges between art and tech and one of the main ways they did this was by matchmaking between artists and engineers.
Where are we? What is Betaworks?
Betaworks invests, accelerates, and builds companies and projects. The Betaworks team has a deep interest and commitment to art and creativity and has incubated or invested in companies like GIPHY, Dots, Tumblr, and Infinite Objects that are made for and by artists and designers.
What do you mean by matchmaking?
Our hope is to connect artists with companies or individuals who have skills or resources that match the artists’ interests and needs. Sometimes this is done informally through conversations and relationship-building that (hopefully) leads to organic collaboration. Other times this is done through partnerships or work-for-hire. Since we can only produce a limited number of projects in-house, we want to build a culture of generosity in our community that fosters informal, organic peer-to-peer mentorship and collaboration to help advance a greater number of ideas than what we ourselves can support.
What projects have you released so far?
“Every Icon” by John F. Simon Jr. was the first NFT offering from E.A.T__WORKS, presented in December 2021 in collaboration with divergence and Fingerprints DAO. Simon wrote a program that explores every combination of black and white squares in a 32x32 grid, discovering a near-infinite number of images along the way. There are currently several new art projects in development with artists like David Salle, LoVid, and more we can’t announce just yet. In addition, we are prototyping a new model for resource and project matchmaking in our Season 1: Works-in-Progress work stream. The 15 participating artists include: Lawrence Lek, Claudia Hart, Lauren Lee McCarthy, Peter Burr, Rosa Menkman, Auriea Harvey, Huntrezz Janos, Damjanski, IX Shells, LoViD, Sofia Crespo, Xin Liu, Manny 404, Never Before Heard Sounds and John F. Simon Jr.
What does it mean to be a member of E.A.T._Works?
E.A.T._Works membership is about participating in a community of like-minded artists, technologists, curators, collectors, cultural stewards, and curious folks. Members are invited to contribute experiments and resources for future matchmaking seasons. You can join by invitation or request. Anyone who is a member can extend an invitation, and anyone can join our discord to request a membership. New membership passes are released on a regular basis.
Members can:
- Submit artistic experiments
- Contribute technical or other project resources
- Attend virtual and live events, including artist studio visits and the Salon series
- Help shape future programming
- Receive recognition and thank you gifts for participating
Who are the Season 1 artists? How did they get chosen?
The 15 participating artists include: Lawrence Lek, Claudia Hart, Lauren Lee McCarthy, Peter Burr, Rosa Menkman, Auriea Harvey, Huntrezz Janos, Damjanski, IX Shells, LoViD, Sofia Crespo, Xin Liu, Manny 404, Never Before Heard Sounds and John F. Simon Jr.
They were chosen by the curatorial team working with E.A.T._Works which includes Kelani Nichole, along with Julia Kaganskiy and Regina Harsanyi. Future seasons may be curated by guest curators to allow for a multiplicity of perspectives.
How do I get involved?
Become a member! You can join by invitation or request. Anyone who is a member can extend an invitation, and anyone can join our discord to request a membership. New membership passes are released on a regular basis. Members can submit artistic experiments, contribute technical or other project resources, attend virtual and live events, including artist studio visits and the Salon series, and help shape future programming.
Does E.A.T_Works sell art?
E.A.T._Works is not a dealer or a gallery. However, we do sell artworks from projects that we have produced (ex. Every Icon by John F. Simon Jr.). We also have a number of works available for purchase from Season 1 artists. Buying art is one of the best ways of providing direct support for an artist and their practice.