Contacts for Media:

Eric Mathews
University of Memphis
FedEx Institute of Technology
901-678-5105
emathews@memphis.edu

Moira Logan
University of Memphis
College of Communications and Fine Arts
901-678-2350
mlogan1@memphis.edu

James Clar, FedEx Institute of Technology Lantana Artist in Residence, has been selected as the Technology, Art, and Performance or TAP presenter for 2006.  His presentation will be held April 19th, 2006 at 7 p.m. in the Methodist Presentation Theatre at the FedEx Institute of Technology on the campus of the University of Memphis.  Clar’s presentation will focus on his work on the study of light and its properties to design information systems with ground level control.

Clar received his Masters from New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program studying visual systems. His work has been recognized by numerous publications, including being awarded the "Design Distinction Award" by I.D. Magazine 2004 for his thesis project at NYU. James has done work at Benetton's Fabrica design facility in Italy, where he was an artist-in-residence at Eyebeam Atelier in New York.  James has exhibited at numerous gallery spaces including New Museum of Contemporary Arts, Chelsea Art Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Milan Trienniale, and most recently displayed collaborative work for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York in February of 2006.

TAP is a cooperative project of The University of Memphis College of Communication and Fine Arts and the FedEx Institute of Technology.  It is designed to support the exploration of the intersection of art, science, and technology.  The focus is to recruit artists who open up new perspectives on the distinctive ways in which art and technology converge and complement one another.  Drawn from music, dance, theatre, visual art, and multi-media, TAP artists represent the frontiers of art in which technology is integral and illuminates its power when harnessed to an artistic vision.

Previous TAP presenters include Elliott Earls (2003-04), graphic designer and artist-in-residence at Cranbrook Academy, and Brenda Laurel (2004-05), Chair of the Graduate Media Design program at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. 

About the FedEx Institute of Technology.  The FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis is the South’s cross-cutting research laboratory system where Fortune 500 companies among many others are pooling people, technical resources, and research dollars to solve modern-day challenges with interdisciplinary research teams.  For more information visit www.fedex.memphis.edu.