John Manning
Part-Time Faculty
Visiting Artist
Education
MFA 1981 School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Video/Sound
BA 1974 University of Chicago, New Collegiate Division
Professional Experience
Visiting Lecturer, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea, Summer 2006
Visiting Artist, Interdisciplinary Arts Dept. Columbia College Chicago, 2004-present
Associate Professor, Art and Technology Department, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1982- present
Chairperson, Art & Technology Department, School of the Art Institute of Chicago,1982-85, 1990-94
Analyst, Industrial Systems Integrators, Inc. 1991- present
Visiting Assistant Professor, Minneapolis College of Art and Design - Media Arts Division, 1986
Dayton-Hudson Distinguished Visiting Instructor, Carleton College, Minnesota, Spring 1985
Video Department Technical Supervisor , School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1978-82
Research Topics – Expertise - Interests
The complex intersection of technology, art, and society has been at the core of John Manning’s artistic practice since the mid-1970s, in installations and video works that engage microcomputer-based audio and video systems for fine arts applications. One of the earliest practitioners of video as an art form, Manning explored the sociological ramifications of technology itself in his classic video AlienNATION (1980, created with Edward Rankus and Barbara Latham), frenetically editing together an array of science-fiction imagery, textbook diagrams, special effects, and studio-built props to explore the near-dystopic impact of technology on contemporary humanity.
It was Manning who designed the complex production process for the video component of Spanish artist Jaume Plensa’s celebrated Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, earning him an AIA award for media design. This unprecedented effort included recruiting subjects from the community and designing the visual structure of the facial images, the related shooting strategy, and the intricate high-definition postproduction process for stretching, timing, stabilizing, and color correcting the images. Manning’s current research focuses on applying advances in artificial intelligence and networked communications from the field of robotics to the design of everyday objects and environments.
Grants/Fellowships
Faculty Research Grant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1990
Faculty Research Grant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1987
Regional Fellowship, N.E.A./American Film Institute 1983
Artists Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council 1983
Faculty Grant, Alliance of Independent Colleges of Art 1983
Exhibitions
2007
Betty Rymer Gallery, Chicago
1997
Chicago Cultural Center
Betty Rymer Gallery, Chicago
Northern Illinois University Gallery, Chicago
1992
Museum of Modern Art- History of Video Art, NYC
State of Illinois Gallery, Computer Installation Art, Chicago, IL
1990
Betty Rymer Gallery, Chicago, IL
1989
Intermedia Arts Exhibit: “The Technological Imagination”, Minneapolis, MN
1988
Galleria F15, Moss, Norway
Bosgarren Kolectiboa, Tolosa, Spain
Pompidou Center, Paris, France
Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
1987
Fundaco Bienal de Sao Paolo, Sao Paolo, Brazil
Bronx Museum, Emerging Expression Biennal, Bronx, NY
1986
Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, IL
U. C. Video/ Electronic Arts Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Boston Film/Video Foundation, Boston, MA
1985
First Street Forum, St. Louis, MO
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Anthology Film Archives
1984
San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain
Institute for Art and Urban Resources (P.S. 1), NYC
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
1983
Museum of Modern Art, NYC (History of Video Art Collection)
John Weber Gallery, NYC
Mandeville Gallery, La Jolla, CA
1982
Tokyo International Video Festival
Museum of Modern Art, NYC
The Kitchen, NYC
School of Visual Arts, NYC
1981
Erlanger University, Nuremburg, Germany
The American Center, Paris, France
Anthology Film Archives, NYC
1980
Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
N.A.M.E. Gallery/First Chicago Center, Chicago
Atlanta Independent Film and Video Festival, Atlanta, GA
WTTW, Channel 11, Chicago
1979
The Kitchen, NYC
Hunter Gallery, NYC
Chicago International Film Festival
University Art Gallery, U. C. Berkeley, CA
Manhattan Cable/Anthology Film Archives Program
Athens Video Festival, Athens, OH
Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY
Museo Del Folklore Romano, Italy
1978
Bergman Gallery, University of Chicago, Chicago
AWARDS
1982
Tokyo International Video Festival (Award of Excellence)
1979
Chicago International Film Festival (Special Merit Award)
Athens Video Festival (Special Merit Award+Colorado Video Award)
CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION
1989
‘The Technological Imagination: Machines in the Garden of Art’
(co-organizer w/ Neil Sieling) A symposium on the role of emerging technologies in the arts sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, held at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design.
1987
‘Simulations/Dissimulations’ (co-organizer w/ Jana Wright)
A symposium focusing on the interchange between artistic and technological
modes of thinking and methods of production, held at the School of the
Art Institute of Chicago
Visiting Artists Lectures
2006
IDMAA presentation, WaterShed
1990
Technological Imagination Symposium, Interactive Media Panel
1988
A.F.I. Video Festival: "Artistic Applications of Interactive Media"
N. E. A. ARTISTS IN EDUCATION' Program & Boston Film/Video Fdn.
1986
"Weekend Workshop in Video Teaching"
1985
Carleton College, MN "Esthetics of the Manipulated Image"
First Street Forum, St. Louis, MO "Current Trends In Video"
1984
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN "Recent Chicago Video Art
University Community Video, Mpls, MN "Computer Animation”
National Computer Graphics Assn. "Computer Imagery In Video”
1982
School of Visual Arts, NYC (visiting artist presentation)
1981
The Kitchen, NYC (panel on Video Image Processing)
Gallery Representation
Video Data Bank, Chicago, IL
Visiting Artist
Education
MFA 1981 School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Video/Sound
BA 1974 University of Chicago, New Collegiate Division
Professional Experience
Visiting Lecturer, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea, Summer 2006
Visiting Artist, Interdisciplinary Arts Dept. Columbia College Chicago, 2004-present
Associate Professor, Art and Technology Department, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1982- present
Chairperson, Art & Technology Department, School of the Art Institute of Chicago,1982-85, 1990-94
Analyst, Industrial Systems Integrators, Inc. 1991- present
Visiting Assistant Professor, Minneapolis College of Art and Design - Media Arts Division, 1986
Dayton-Hudson Distinguished Visiting Instructor, Carleton College, Minnesota, Spring 1985
Video Department Technical Supervisor , School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1978-82
Research Topics – Expertise - Interests
The complex intersection of technology, art, and society has been at the core of John Manning’s artistic practice since the mid-1970s, in installations and video works that engage microcomputer-based audio and video systems for fine arts applications. One of the earliest practitioners of video as an art form, Manning explored the sociological ramifications of technology itself in his classic video AlienNATION (1980, created with Edward Rankus and Barbara Latham), frenetically editing together an array of science-fiction imagery, textbook diagrams, special effects, and studio-built props to explore the near-dystopic impact of technology on contemporary humanity.
It was Manning who designed the complex production process for the video component of Spanish artist Jaume Plensa’s celebrated Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, earning him an AIA award for media design. This unprecedented effort included recruiting subjects from the community and designing the visual structure of the facial images, the related shooting strategy, and the intricate high-definition postproduction process for stretching, timing, stabilizing, and color correcting the images. Manning’s current research focuses on applying advances in artificial intelligence and networked communications from the field of robotics to the design of everyday objects and environments.
Grants/Fellowships
Faculty Research Grant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1990
Faculty Research Grant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1987
Regional Fellowship, N.E.A./American Film Institute 1983
Artists Fellowship, Illinois Arts Council 1983
Faculty Grant, Alliance of Independent Colleges of Art 1983
Exhibitions
2007
Betty Rymer Gallery, Chicago
1997
Chicago Cultural Center
Betty Rymer Gallery, Chicago
Northern Illinois University Gallery, Chicago
1992
Museum of Modern Art- History of Video Art, NYC
State of Illinois Gallery, Computer Installation Art, Chicago, IL
1990
Betty Rymer Gallery, Chicago, IL
1989
Intermedia Arts Exhibit: “The Technological Imagination”, Minneapolis, MN
1988
Galleria F15, Moss, Norway
Bosgarren Kolectiboa, Tolosa, Spain
Pompidou Center, Paris, France
Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
1987
Fundaco Bienal de Sao Paolo, Sao Paolo, Brazil
Bronx Museum, Emerging Expression Biennal, Bronx, NY
1986
Evanston Arts Center, Evanston, IL
U. C. Video/ Electronic Arts Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Boston Film/Video Foundation, Boston, MA
1985
First Street Forum, St. Louis, MO
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Anthology Film Archives
1984
San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain
Institute for Art and Urban Resources (P.S. 1), NYC
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL
1983
Museum of Modern Art, NYC (History of Video Art Collection)
John Weber Gallery, NYC
Mandeville Gallery, La Jolla, CA
1982
Tokyo International Video Festival
Museum of Modern Art, NYC
The Kitchen, NYC
School of Visual Arts, NYC
1981
Erlanger University, Nuremburg, Germany
The American Center, Paris, France
Anthology Film Archives, NYC
1980
Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
N.A.M.E. Gallery/First Chicago Center, Chicago
Atlanta Independent Film and Video Festival, Atlanta, GA
WTTW, Channel 11, Chicago
1979
The Kitchen, NYC
Hunter Gallery, NYC
Chicago International Film Festival
University Art Gallery, U. C. Berkeley, CA
Manhattan Cable/Anthology Film Archives Program
Athens Video Festival, Athens, OH
Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY
Museo Del Folklore Romano, Italy
1978
Bergman Gallery, University of Chicago, Chicago
AWARDS
1982
Tokyo International Video Festival (Award of Excellence)
1979
Chicago International Film Festival (Special Merit Award)
Athens Video Festival (Special Merit Award+Colorado Video Award)
CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION
1989
‘The Technological Imagination: Machines in the Garden of Art’
(co-organizer w/ Neil Sieling) A symposium on the role of emerging technologies in the arts sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, held at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design.
1987
‘Simulations/Dissimulations’ (co-organizer w/ Jana Wright)
A symposium focusing on the interchange between artistic and technological
modes of thinking and methods of production, held at the School of the
Art Institute of Chicago
Visiting Artists Lectures
2006
IDMAA presentation, WaterShed
1990
Technological Imagination Symposium, Interactive Media Panel
1988
A.F.I. Video Festival: "Artistic Applications of Interactive Media"
N. E. A. ARTISTS IN EDUCATION' Program & Boston Film/Video Fdn.
1986
"Weekend Workshop in Video Teaching"
1985
Carleton College, MN "Esthetics of the Manipulated Image"
First Street Forum, St. Louis, MO "Current Trends In Video"
1984
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN "Recent Chicago Video Art
University Community Video, Mpls, MN "Computer Animation”
National Computer Graphics Assn. "Computer Imagery In Video”
1982
School of Visual Arts, NYC (visiting artist presentation)
1981
The Kitchen, NYC (panel on Video Image Processing)
Gallery Representation
Video Data Bank, Chicago, IL