Fan Art Meets Fine Art at I am 8-bit

Posted 3/2/07 3:12 pm ET by Jason Cipriano in Art, Culture, Games

While your local mall rats are busy pawing their greasy fingers over Emo 1-UP Mushroom sweatbands and run-of-the-mill "retro gaming" T-shirts, feel free to turn your nose up and stroll on over to the I am 8-bit exhibit as a cultured alternative. I am 8-bit, originally displayed in 2005, serves up the more refined examples of gaming culture through a collaborative display of paintings, sculptures,and interactive art inspired by the classic games that have deeply impacted gaming pop culture over the past few decades.

A recent Game Informer interview with curator Jon Gibson reveals what to look forward to at I am 8-bit�s exhibit in its third year, with mention of a work that�ll match the awe of the giant 8-foot NES controller from the premiere show. ...

[Painting above titled Soda Popinski by artist Jeff McMillan]

Gibson also yields some interesting views on gaming as an art form,
as informed by concept art developed for games that is never seen by
the larger public:

Well, anyone who knows me in the industry is well aware that I
love concept art from games � especially looking at modern stuff. Shadow of the Colossus, God of War, Psychonauts
� all these games have amazing concept art that stands separate for the
awesomeness of the games themselves. It�s ironic that a handful of the
artists in the show actually conceive all that art�There is
consistently great art out there in the game industry, and paying
tribute to that is an important step, I think, to other industries like
film and music taking gaming seriously as an art form. Most people just
think games make themselves.

Plug that information into your brain sockets folks -- games are
art! So if you�re in the So-Cal area, be sure to check out the exhibit
at Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight in Los Angeles, opening April 17
through May 12, 2007. Can�t round up enough clams to get a ticket out
there? Then take a sneak peak at last year�s exhibit in episode 6 of The G-Hole.