There's a promising exhibit at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia wrapping up this weekend. I wrote about this a few months ago when the show opened, but now they've finally launched a cool website that shows off its stuff to us online art-goers.

The New Millennium: Exploring Art and Technology features the work of artists who are "actively embracing technology." In other words, this show is all about, and only about, artists who use new media to express their artistic vision. Just that mandate alone is enough to raise hackles. There's always been a line drawn in the sand over artists who use technology and those who don't. When you ask artists if they create digitally you'll be greeted with an enthusiastic YES! or a defiant NEVER!

The great debate; the continental artistic divide. I believe that in order for art to survive it must adapt to meet the conditions of its culture. And for here, now and the foreseeable future that's technological. (This is not to say that I endorse abandonment of the classical approaches to art, but I do believe that co-existence and mutual respect is the prize we should all have our eyes fixed upon.)

Exploring Art and Technology looks like a must for East Coast art fans, and those who can't do it in the flesh should visit the website. There are some very cool images you can check out cyberkinetically. There's some video art, interactive pieces, computer generated images etc.

One of the big complaints I have about visiting virtual museums or galleries is the static nature of the visit. The images just don't resonate on a pixelated screen. And why should they? They were created for the power of personal interaction. I think that's why this exhibit works so well over the net. It's digital, it's interactive and it's a lot of fun. The artists featured are some of the big names who create art via a technological medium. Sarah Jackson, Doug Porter, Bob Rogers and Julie LaPalme are just a sample.