Goals

The goals of this project are to recover, document, and activate Atlanta's overlooked histories of experimental media, video art, and broadcast-based practices from the 1960s through the 1990s, positioning the city as a critical site within the broader history of American media art. At its core, the project seeks to build an open-access, research-driven digital archive that maps the artists, institutions, exhibitions, and networks that shaped local new media arts ecosystems. Rather than functioning as a static repository, this archive is conceived as a living platform that supports ongoing discovery, reinterpretation, and public engagement. A central goal is to translate archival research into public-facing projects, including curated screening programs, digital exhibitions, and accessible scholarly writing that bridges academic and public audiences. The project also aims to generate sustained scholarly impact through peer-reviewed articles and, ultimately, a book-length study that challenges dominant coastal narrative of media art history by foregrounding Atlanta's role in experimental television practices and the electronic arts. 

vintage black and white image with students watching tv

Equally important is the project's pedagogical mission: to train students in archival research, digital humanities methods, and collaborative knowledge production while embedding them in real-world scholarly and curatorial processes. As the project matures, a key objective is to scale its scope and visibility by establishing partnerships with local as well as national cultural organizations such as Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), The Museum of the Moving Image, or Gray Area, enabling broader collaboration and long-term sustainability. 

Experience Gained

During the first year of the project, students will serve as the primary researchers, conducting archival work to recover and document Atlanta's experimental media history. Their responsibilities will include locating artists, institutions, and collections; identifying and documenting exhibitions, screenings, and artworks; and tracing networks of production and circulation. Students will carry out the initial investigative research, catalog and organize materials, generate standardized metadata, and build the foundational informational infrastructure for a public-facing digital archive and online exhibition platform. This phase emphasizes research literacy, archival ethics, and collaborative knowledge production, while laying the groundwork for long-term public access.

Over the subsequent years, students will deepen and refine this research while actively cultivating local and national relationships that extend the project's reach. Working from the original archival dataset, they will develop short-form publications – including critical essays, blog posts, and Wikipedia entries – that translate scholarly research for broad audiences. Students will also participate in curatorial and public-facing initiatives, drafting proposals for screening programs and exhibitions and engaging with potential collaborators such as theaters, galleries, festivals, and community venues. Through these activities, student gain experience in research dissemination, curatorial practice, and cultural advocacy, while transforming archival discovery into sustained public engagement and visibility. 

Majors and Interests Needed

  •  Art
  • Computer Science
  • Digital Animation
  • Interactive Design
  • Learning, Design, and Technology
  • Media and Entertainment

Team Advisor

Helena Shaskevich
Assistant Professor of Art History
Email: hshaske1@kennesaw.edu