The Sims Spawns Art Exhibition

by: Randy - posted: 3/23/2007 12:50:00 AM

Starving artists everywhere are looking to get their hands on $36,000 in total prizes in "The Sims: In the Hands of Artists" competition.  Sponsored by Ford, EA is teaming up with Parsons The New School for Design (New York), Academy of Art University (San Francisco), and Otis College of Art and Design (Los Angeles) to create The Sims-inspired exhibits.  Entrants will use machinima, paintings, illustrations, sculpture, fashion designs, cinematography, and interactive displays in order to make the big diamonds over their heads turn green.  With the global success that is The Sims, this level of interactivity between video games and art culture is long overdue.

EA PARTNERS WITH TOP ART SCHOOLS TO PUT “THE SIMS: IN THE HANDS OF ARTISTS”

Multimedia Art Program and Competition Celebrates the Artistry of The Sims and Inspires Students to Compete for $36,000 in total prizes

 

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

 

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. –March 21, 2007–Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that the company is teaming up with three art and design schools, Parsons The New School for Design in New York, Academy of Art University in San Francisco and Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles to produce art competitions and exhibitions that will celebrate the art of The Sims. The Sims-inspired artwork provided by the students will include a range of media including: machinima (animated films that use the engine from the video game), paintings, illustrations, sculptural work, fashion designs, cinematography, and interactive displays.  The exhibits will be sponsored by Ford Motor Company.

 

The art on display will be selected from work submitted by students at the three respective schools and juried by representatives from the schools and EA.  The Machinima and traditional art will be judged in separate categories with $12,000 of prize money awarded at each school for winning entries.

“The Sims games celebrate creativity—encouraging players to create their own world as they play through the game.  We’ve seen fans make everything from their dream home, to story-driven movies using The Sims as their medium.  Putting a creative tool like The Sims in the hands of emerging artists opens up a whole new world of possibilities—we can’t wait to see what the students come up with,” said Nancy Smith, GM of The Sims Division at Electronic Arts and an avid art collector.

 

The Sims is one of the world’s most popular PC games, selling nearly 85 million games world-wide since it’s launch in 2000. It’s earned its broad appeal by letting players creatively control the lives of characters in their own virtual world.

 

“EA has long recognized the artistic talent of the students at Parsons the New School for Design, Academy of Art University and Otis College of Art and Design. This program is the perfect way to celebrate The Sims games across a variety of art forms.” said Jack Lew, Global University Relations Manager for Art Talent at EA.  “And true to the Sims franchise, ‘The Sims: In the Hands of Artists’ exhibits will demonstrate self expression and creativity.”

 

Exhibition Dates

• April 19^th – May 12^th: Parsons The New School for Design at the Chelsea Art Museum
• June 26^th – July 19^th: 79 Gallery at Academy of Art University, San Francisco
• July 14^th – August 11^th: Ben Maltz Gallery at Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles