Forks @ A Dinner Party

The 2008 article by Kevin Bewersdorf, titled Sprit Surfing, analyzes the divine relationship between the Web and its user. He begins by recounting an experience in which he has a moment of clarity regarding a piece of net art; but not while he was at a computer. Even though he was nowhere near the actual piece, its meaning suddenly dawned on him while sitting in traffic on Interstate 35. This moment reestablished Bewersdorf’s excitement about art, and prompted him to form relationships with other enthusiasts. Through collaboration with these parties, Bewersdorf developed a philosophy surrounding the art and experience of surfing and its manifestation @ SpritSurfers.net.

Every new philosophical idea must have a solid foundation, where the author can explain his most basic concept. Bewersdorf grounds his philosophy in “framing,” as it interacts with INFOmonks and INFObrats. He compares Joseph Cornell’s “collected tidbits” to the choices that a net artist would make in regards to formatting. “Is the box 8" x 7" and made of white wood? Is the for the images 500 pixels by 400 pixels with a 4 pixel border of #FF0099? Should the wooden spool sit above the rubber ball? Should the animated gif sit above the midi file?” After this is established, Bewersdorf defines the INFObrat: the quintessential consumer, using the web for their own gain (shopping, paying bills, email, etc.). The INFOmonks, however, treat the web as a spiritual realm: glorifying the web by creating beautiful gardens behind the shopping mall.

These INFOmonks are aided in their quest by Boons and Wakes. The boon is that moment of pure inspiration, only achieved by “surfing the wave” long enough to hit the “eureka moment.” It could be literally anything, found at any time, as long as it has captured the spirit of the artist. Naturally, the wake follows. It is described as the relationship your boon creates with any past, present, or future experience. This wake can be contemplated in its entirety to shape the eventual materialization of your work.

As the Internet can be seen as one enormous search for the next object of interest, a Net artist is able to exploit the expression “finding is making.” This means that by simply finding, and drawing attention to something, the artist has actually created something new. However, “A jewel set into a poor setting degrades the jewel and does not do justice to its beauty…It is the framing of the finding that rewards us with the greatest bounty.”

All of these factors combined is what makes Spiritsurfers.net the interesting spectacle of art that it is. It is possibly the only medium that the INFOmonk can use to spread the beauty of the INFOspirit.