Simone Paterson / Machine Memory and Motherboards

October 25 – November 16, 2024

Embroidery

Artist Statement:
In Machine Memories and Motherboards, I explore the intricate evolution of computing from the 1940s to the present, blending machine embroidery, hand beading, and motion graphics to illuminate the hidden labor and technological milestones that have shaped our digital world. This project traces the historical trajectory from the early days of UNIVAC mercury delay lines and the rise of mainframes through the advent of microprocessors and personal computers to the sophisticated chip manufacturing techniques of today, including ultraviolet (UV) lithography. The motion graphic component dynamically connects the evolution of computer components with significant global events, vividly illustrating the interplay between technological advancements and historical contexts.

By using traditionally feminine crafts like embroidery and beading, my work highlights the often-overlooked human effort involved in technological innovations. Machine Memories and Motherboards invites viewers to reflect on the broader human narrative embedded within our digital age. The term "motherboard" also alludes to the connectors and networks that bind us together in our shared technological experience. As we advance into quantum computing, with its unprecedented speed and complexity, this exhibition challenges us to consider how these cutting-edge technologies are built upon the foundations of past innovations and the human stories that have driven them. It is a reminder of the rapid evolution and profound impact of technology on our world, urging recognition of the intricate web of labor and knowledge that propels us into an ever more complex future.

Biography:
Born and educated in Australia and now residing in the American South, Dr. Simone Paterson is an artist who operates at the intersection of creative technologies and crafts. Her work investigates machine systems and the flow of energy. She firmly believes that making and viewing art can significantly contribute to understanding the world. Her studio, located in an old log cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, profoundly influences her contemporary art production.

Dr. Paterson's solo exhibitions, showcasing diverse applications of technology and textiles, have been featured at A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Virginia, and during a residency at Art Space in Sydney, Australia. Her recent retrospective exhibition was held at Olin Hall Galleries, where she was a Copenhaver Scholar in Residence at Roanoke College in 2023. She has also presented at the College Art Association in New York and ISEA in South Africa.

Dr. Paterson received a Ph.D. from The University of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia, and an M.F.A. from Sydney College of the Arts at Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia. She is a retired Associate Professor and Chair of Undergraduate Studies in Creative Technologies, a past Chair of Studio at the School of Visual Arts, and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Human-Centered Design graduate program at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA.

Website: simonepaterson.com
Instagram: @simonepatersonart
Facebook: simonepatersonart