Design & Technology · 2007 archive
ArtFaceOff
An online art community built around portfolios, galleries, curators and voting.
Explore the WorkThe original platform
Steven developed ArtFaceOff as an online art community combining artist portfolios, galleries, curator connections and voting-based contests. The project grew from his interest in making the audience an active participant in art. His principles statement, dated March 19, 2007, describes a community in which artists, curators and viewers help shape what receives attention.
Interface and audience
The voting screenshot shows the historic interface with two example artworks. It documents the platform’s voting design. The audience graphic describes roles for artists, visitors and curators. These surviving files preserve the site’s visual history.
An art community shaped by its participants
Artists could present their work, visitors could respond through voting, and curators could introduce audiences to work that matched their interests. The paired-artwork interface made comparison a direct part of participation; the tournament graphic gave that process a recognizable public format.
Steven’s ten principles argued for equal opportunities to present work, recognition of the curator’s individual eye and stronger support systems for artists. Technology was a way to connect those groups and let many people contribute to the discussion of art. The original logo, audience graphic and voting screen show how that idea became an interface.
One Democratic Movement to inspire a new art world
Steven Ochs · March 19, 2007 · Original ArtFaceOff principles statement
The community of Art Face Off is dedicated to changing the visual arts for the future. We are a highly active democracy, empowering individuals to make the art world more potent. As a community we are dedicated to these principles:
1. United we are stronger. We unite the new art world to bring our industry to the forefront of public consciousness. We are cohesive team building a stronger community - to allow our art to connect with more and more people, to empower future artists, and to elevate the arts to play a greater role in our world cultures.
2. We reject the status quo. The stereotype of the starving artist is dead, starting today. We insist that the artist is just as important as the plumber, the politician, or the police officer. In the past, cultures have been judged by their elevated artistic culture. Today’s society will prove its advancement as it accepts art as an equally viable profession and the artist as a representative of who we are as a culture.
3. We must build support systems together. Even though the artist profession is as old as human culture itself, we have failed to create strong systems to support our artists. Our community is devoted to creating these financial systems through collaboration and the introduction of cutting edge technology to strengthen old markets and pioneer new ones.
4. We reclaim the intimacy of art for ourselves. We don’t need to be told who are the greatest artists by a few monarchical art leaders. We believe as a global community of curators, artists, and art lovers we can choose who are the best artists in the world. Art is personal and should be accessible to everyone. Art should be presented to us and we as a community will decide.
5. Every artist’s expression is important. Each and every artist can express something valuable through art. Art Face Off is dedicated to giving everyone who has something to share with the world a equal opportunity for presentation regardless of race, religion, religious creed, political opinion, colour or ethnic, national or social origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, physical disability or mental disability of that person or class of persons.
6. Every curator’s vision is unique. We believe the curatorial eye should be recognized as an substantial part of the world of art. We strive to help people find curators who can introduce art that matches their taste. This is an important part of the growth of the industry and push to advance curators status.
7. Every person can be an art critic. Every individual's reaction to a piece of art is unique and valuable. We believe that every one should have the chance to express their feelings about art through democracy and interaction.
8. We should learn from each other, we should inspire each other. We actively promote the use of Art Face Off tools to share information so we can grow as a community.
9. One artist should respect another.
10. Ars Longa Vita Brevis
Art Face Off
Steven Ochs