April 12, 2007
Multi-media artist Oneika Russell came to Panmedia's offices this week to participate as a Web Visitor in a lecture at Cornell University entitled Contemporary African Diaspora Art by Visiting Professor Petrine Archer-Straw.
Using one of Panmedia's iMacs, Russell teleconferenced the class through iChat, Apple’s cool software that has audio and video-conferencing capabilities. Russell listened to the first part of the lecture, which looked at parody and the role of the artist in the Caribbean. She could see the lecturer, the students and the projected images in the classroom.
She then gave an overview of her work and spoke briefly of her Diaspora experiences when she was studying at Goldsmiths University, University of London. When she was finished there was a spirited Q&A. Russell says she thoroughly enjoyed the virtual experience and her only complaint is that it went by quickly.
Dr. Petrine Archer-Straw has also used a Blog to facilitate discussion in that class, with participation from artists in the Caribbean, the UK and the United States.
Russell is currently a lecturer in fine art and media at the Edna Manley School for the Visual and Performing Arts. Her last exhibition was at that school's gallery, the Cage, titled "Power, Myths and Tragedies."