The Distance Between Words by Joel Swanson

New Collection

Join New Collection as we celebrate the opening of Joel Swanson's exhibition, The Distance Between Words. The show opens on October 1st!

The Vault

New Collection presents Joel Swanson: The Distance Between WordsOctober 1, 2022 - February 28, 2023Opening Reception: Saturday, October 1, 2022, 2-7 pmThe Vault, 3758 Osage St. Bldg. #102, Denver, CO 80221In 2020, New Collection invited Joel Swanson to produce a series of experimental works in response to a 1929 edition of Webster&#x27;s dictionary. The content within the dictionary&#x27;s pages acted as a catalyst for the artworks showcased in The Distance Between Words. Dictionaries are linguistic time capsules that reflect the standards and norms of language from a specific era. The advent of online dictionaries has made print dictionaries obsolete, but historical dictionaries still feel special as they offer glimpses into how language was used in the past. The works in this exhibition derive from this source as they explore the physical, durational, and semantic distance found within the text. Behind Swanson&#x27;s inquiries are processes that unfold in various forms: large format digital prints, digital animations, a sound-based work, and a large-scale neon installation. Swanson&#x27;s practice is driven by a desire to make the familiar unfamiliar and the ordinary extraordinary as he works to reveal the power dynamics embedded within language structures. His systematic, obsessive, and at times absurd examination of this dictionary uncovers and highlights language&#x27;s profound influence on how we see our world.About Joel SwansonSwanson is an Associate Professor in the ATLAS Institute and the Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics &amp; Society at the University of Colorado Boulder where he works and teaches at the intersection of language and technology. He received his Masters of Fine Art at the University of California, San Diego with a focus in Computing and the Arts.Swanson’s artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally at institutions including The Banff Centre for the Arts, The Broad Museum in Lansing, The Power Plant in Toronto, the 57th Venice Biennale at the European Cultural Center, the Glucksman Museum in Cork Ireland, the North Miami Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. He is a Black Cube Fellow and his work is included in the Electronic Literature Organization’s 4th Anthology. He is represented by <a href="https://www.davidbsmithgallery.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">David B. Smith Gallery</a> in Denver. To view more of Joel’s work visit <a href="http://joelericswanson.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">joelericswanson.com</a>.A﻿bout New CollectionNew Collection is a project-based arts initiative focused on cultivating innovation by supporting artists as they experiment. The works in The Distance Between Words were conceived and produced through New’s COLAB Program. Learn more about New Collection by visiting <a href="https://www.newcollection.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">newcollection.com</a> or on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/newcollectionhq/?hl=en" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">@newcollectionhq</a>.Press Inquiries:Amber Cobb : amber@newcollection.comMario Zoots : mario@newcollection.com

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The Distance Between Words by Joel Swanson

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The Distance Between Words by Joel Swanson

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