LA FREEWAVES : Comprehensive Encyclopedia

LA Freewaves is a Los Angeles based nonprofit organization that advocates for and exhibits uncensored independent new media from around the world. Media art works include experimental video and film (narrative, documentary, art, animation, etc.), DVDs, websites, installations, and video billboards. LA Freewaves supports multicultural spaces by providing Los Angeles venues and the Freewaves website for international and local artists. The group sees itself as a media arts magnet and is currently building one of the largest online archives of streaming new media art works. Freewaves also provides information on new media resources on its website.

As festivals go, it tends to exhibit works that are generally not taken in by Hollywood, big business, networks or cable television. Works in the festival are frequently eccentric and unconventional, favoring content and concepts over aesthetic gimmicks, representing voices not normally heard from in more mainstream festivals. Both well known (Bill Viola, William Basinski, Yes Men, Brad Neely, CrimethInc., Jennifer Steinkamp) and emerging media artists have shown works in Freewaves programs.

Anne Bray, Founder and Director

LA Freewaves was founded in 1989 by Anne Bray. Bray serves as Executive Director and Secretary and has been working in the field of media arts since the mid '70s as an administrator, artist and art teacher. With representatives of other communities, she founded LA Freewaves and has administered the program since it was launched at the American Film Institute's National Video Festival in 1989.

1 Freewaves Festivals
2 References

Freewaves Festivals

Too Much Freedom? (2006)

Too Much Freedom? Freewaves' 2006 Media Arts Festival

LA Freewaves 10th Celebration of Experimental Media Arts

The festival poses the question of freedom and attempts to answer that question by showcasing work that examines freedom and its conundrums, unpacking assumptions about artistic invention, political intelligence, ethical dilemmas and personal desires.

The festival will present experimental media art from around the world at venues in Los Angeles in November 2006 and through the Freewaves web site. Works from the festival will also appear on public television, video billboards and be video-streamed on the Internet.

How Can You Resist? (2004)

LA Freewaves 9th Celebration of Experimental Media Arts

More than 150 works of video, film and digital media were chosen addressing the question "How Can You Resist?." Programs in the 2004 festival traversed sexuality, economics, politics, consumerism and media.

TV or NOT TV? (2002)

LA Freewaves 8th Celebration of Experimental Media Arts

The 2002 festival presented over 300 works in panel discussions, performance events, exhibitions, outdoor community screenings and television broadcasts that dealt with the line between daily life and televised reality. Again, the goal was to present alternative views to what many of the participating artists see as corporate-filtered entertainment and monopolized news reporting.

Air Raids (2000)

LA Freewaves 7th Celebration of Experimental Media Arts

Air Raids was a citywide festival of experimental, documentary and new media works by artists, activists and media makers. In 2000, this festival featured an opening at MOCA, thematic video bus tours, "TV or Not TV" a 10-year LA media arts retrospective that aired on KCET, online exhibitions, as well as 50 additional screenings and installations at over 30 Southern California venues.

First Celebration of Independent Video (1989)

Launched at the American Film Institute's National Video Festival, this festival marked the birth of LA Freewaves. In cooperation with 35 Los Angeles media and arts organizations, various artistic events were presented at 30 sites while 4 "Road Shows" traveled throughout Los Angeles.