I am 8-bit

i am 8-bit is an annual group art exhibition held in Los Angeles, California every year since 2005. The show's theme involves over 100 artists reinterpreting their favorite old-school videogame characters in a variety of mediums, including paintings, plush, sculpture, and even interactive pieces.

History

"i am 8-bit" was originally conceived by videogame/tech journalist Jon M. Gibson in the summer of 2004. Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight in Los Angeles served as the show's venue for three years, but even after the first opening, it was obvious that "i am 8-bit" needed a more spacious home. Nearly 1,500 people attended the opening night reception on April 19, 2005, with thousands frequenting the show during its month-long run. Subsequent shows were just as popular, drawing not just the attention of fans but also corporate sponsors. Nintendo, Capcom Entertainment, Foundation 9 Entertainment, Intellivision, Harmonix, Red Octane, and several other companies have strategically aligned with "i am 8-bit" throughout the years.

"i am 8-bit" Brand

Since its inception as an art event, "i am 8-bit" has become a full-fledged lifestyle brand, focused on the artistic side of gaming - whether it's old-school or not. It began with a collection of "limited edition" t-shirts (printed in no larger quantities than 500), adorned with popular images from the exhibition, but quickly branched off from there. Chronicle Books published an official collection of pieces from the inaugural show in April 2006 entitled, "i am 8-bit: Art Inspired by Classic Videogames of the '80s", and was promptly carried in stores like Urban Outfitters, Barnes and Nobles, Giant Robot, and many other museum and boutique shops. It is one of the best-selling videogame-themed books of all time.

An alliance with Blik [" [http://www.whatisblik.com/iam8bit.html Blik Surface Graphics' "i am 8-bit" mini-site] "] , a manufacturer of vinyl wall decals, was formed in 2005 after the company created a custom, large-scale window installation for the "i am 8-bit". The result was a series of high-end, removable "Space Invader"-style wall stickers that, after several years, have been a consistent seller for Blik.

In 2007, "i am 8-bit" formed another partnership with Couch Guitar Straps [" [http://www.couchguitarstraps.com/rock-bandguitar-hero-strap-i-am-8bit-by-couch-p-60.php [Couch Guitar Straps'] "i am 8-bit" mini-site/"] , a vegan-friendly manufacturer of designer guitar straps, to create an exclusive line of straps created for use with Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Each strap was handmade/sewn in downtown Los Angeles (sweatshop free) and numbered. The straps themselves are also cut slightly shorter than normal guitar straps to more comfortably fit the gaming peripherals.

For New Line's 2008 DVD release of , "i am 8-bit" produced numerous supplemental features, including the "i am 8-bit" Music & Gallery," which featured "Donkey Kong"-inspired art from the first three years of the show, as well as an accompanying soundtrack by renowned micro-musicians like 8 Bit Weapon, ComputeHer, and several others. Director Gabe Swarr and writer/producer Jon M. Gibson also created an original, one-minute animated short entitled, "A Really, Really Brief History of Donkey Kong", which received both critical and fan praise [" [http://www.aintitcool.com/?q=node/35443 Ain't it Cool News DVD review of "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters"] ] and also featured music by 8 Bit Weapon. Gibson, along with IGN Entertainment Editorial Director Chris Carle, also provided a full-length commentary track recounting the cultural and historical significance of the 80's arcade scene.

"i am 8-bit" Productions

"i am 8-bit" is also a full-service production studio/event house, having created marketing and promotional material for a wide range of companies, including Radiohead, Capcom Entertainment, Nickelodeon, and others. Two of the studio's most notable projects are "A Really, Really Brief History of Donkey Kong," featured on the DVD, as well as a one-minute Radiohead music video for "Bodysnatchers" created in conjunction with the band to inspire animators to enter a "Create Your Own Radiohead Video" contest on Aniboom.com, an animation community website. Both videos were directed by Gabe Swarr and produced by Jon M. Gibson.

Exhibitions

"i am 8-bit" is produced annually an held in Los Angeles. Featured artists include Gary Baseman, James Jean, Tim Biskup, Greg "Craola" Simkins, Seen, Luke Chueh, Joe Ledbetter, Bob Dob, Jorge R. Gutierrez, Gabe Swarr, Jose Emroca Flores, Amy Sol, and hundreds of others.

"i am 8-bit" Exclusives

Throughout the years, "i am 8-bit" has attracted a wide variety of artists and developers to its unique synergy of videogames and art.

In 2006, developer Harmonix created an exclusive version of "Guitar Hero" just for the second annual "i am 8-bit" show, which included playable tracks like the "Mega Man" and "Ikari Warriors" theme songs.

Renowned comic book artist Seth Fisher created the promotional poster for the 2006 exhibition. Due to his untimely and unexpected death in January 2006, the unfinished piece, thought to be his last published work, was printed as a tribute piece, with all proceeds benefiting his survived wife and child.

In 2007, artist Jason Torchinsky designed a massive, interactive sculpture in the form of a 6-foot-tall, 200-plus-pound Atari 2600 controller. It was totally functional, requiring the player to mount the base of the controller, stepping on the button while leaning their body weight against the control stick. Atari founder Nolan Bushnell attended the opening event, finding the over-sized controller a fascinating evolution of his original creation.

For 2008, similar surprise installations are expected, but the creators have remained tight-lipped.

References