Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.) emerged in 1966 as a pioneering not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering collaborations between artists, engineers, and scientists. Founded by engineers Billy Klüver and Fred Waldhauer alongside artists Robert Rauschenberg and Robert Whitman, E.A.T. aimed to promote the integration of cutting-edge technology with artistic expression. The organization's foundation was rooted in the belief that such interdisciplinary collaborations could enhance creative processes and lead to innovative artworks that reflect the possibilities of their time (Mysite).
E.A.T.'s formation was inspired by earlier collaborations between Klüver and Rauschenberg, notably their involvement in Jean Tinguely's "Homage to New York" in 1960. This set the stage for the organization's defining event, "9 Evenings: Theatre & Engineering" in 1966, where artists and engineers teamed up to produce groundbreaking performances that combined art with emerging technologies. This event not only marked the official launch of E.A.T. but also symbolized the burgeoning art and technology movement, which sought to bridge the gap between two seemingly disparate fields (Mysite).
Throughout its active years, especially from 1966 to 1975, E.A.T. engaged in a variety of projects that sought to apply technology in artistic and socially meaningful ways. This included efforts to use information technologies to facilitate direct communication between artists, engineers, and scientists, bypassing the need for a central facilitator. This was exemplified by the EATEX directory project, which aimed at creating a decentralized communication network. Despite facing logistical challenges, the project underscored E.A.T.'s commitment to exploring the use of emerging technologies in fostering creative and collaborative environments (Wikipedia).
One notable project under E.A.T.'s banner was "Projects Outside Art," following Expo '70. The initiative called for proposals that leveraged technology and scientific knowledge to address environmental and social issues. Although only one of the proposed projects, "Children and Communication," was fully realized due to budget constraints, it demonstrated E.A.T.'s vision for applying artistic and technological innovation towards societal betterment. The project set up a telex network allowing children at two remote sites to communicate, emphasizing interaction over pedagogy and prefiguring the sensory environment of the information age (Wikipedia).
E.A.T. also ventured into creating transnational networks through projects like "Utopia Q&A, 1981," which utilized telecommunications technology to foster direct, non-hierarchical exchanges across global nodes. This project, alongside others, showcased E.A.T.'s utopian vision for a world where technology and art coalesce to transcend traditional boundaries and foster a more interconnected and empathetic global community (Wikipedia).
Through its myriad activities and projects, E.A.T. not only contributed significantly to the art and technology movement but also left an indelible mark on the development of interactive and multimedia art forms. The organization's legacy continues to inspire artists, engineers, and scientists, encouraging them to explore the rich possibilities at the intersection of their fields.