Into the Pixel 2009

LOS ANGELES – March 10, 2009 – The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences and the Entertainment Software Association announced today that submissions for the annual Into the Pixel art exhibition are open for the 2009 exhibit. Now in its sixth year, this is the only juried digital art exhibition that brings together experts from the fine art world and the interactive entertainment industry. The 2008 collection had over 200 submissions for the 16 pieces of artwork chosen. Into the Pixel has been shown at the Design Center in Stuttgart Germany, the European Festival of Art in Nottingham England, The Bradford Animation Festival, Creative Artists Agency, Animfx in New Zealand, the San Jose Technology Museum, The National Cable Show, E for All, the Toronto International Film Festival, and will be debuting at the South by Southwest Festival this weekend.

“Video games are an influential aspect of pop-culture and entertainment, and behind every game character and kinetic environment are artists whose images tell the stories. The art is created on a computer with software based brushes, pallet knives, canvases and paint, which takes as much skill and talent as “traditional art.” We are excited to be able to bring these gifted artists into the public eye and look forward to viewing the fantastic work that will be added to the Into The Pixel collection,” said Joseph Olin, president of The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Interested artists can find submission information on the Into the Pixel website ( www.intothepixel.com).

ITP has established itself as the one annual opportunity for computer and video game artists to receive critical review of their creative achievements by peers in the both digital interactive world and traditional fine art experts. All 16 works of art that make up the Into the Pixel Collection are printed by a master printer, then framed and hung. In June the art will debut with a jury event and cocktail reception at E3. Through the unique partnership between the Entertainment Software Association, the Academy and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Into the Pixel has pioneered the digital game art exhibition and continues to facilitate this valuable conversation between the traditional and digital art worlds.

ITP 2009 Jurors:

• Lead Juror: Kevin Salatino, LACMA: Curator and Department Head, Prints and Drawings

• Lead Juror: Louis Marchesano, Curator of Prints & Drawings, Getty Museum

• Jeremy Bennett, Conceptual Designer, Valve

• Thomas Haegle, Institute Director, Institute of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Postproduction, FMX

• Glenn Phillips, Consulting Curator, Dept. of Contemporary Programs & Research, Getty Museum

• Jason Manley, President of Massive Black, concept design studio for videogames, film and new media

• Stephan Martiniere, Internationally acclaimed Science Fiction and fantasy artist

• Dr Peter E. Raad, founding Director, Linda and Mitch Hart eCenter at SMU

• Kiki Wolfkill, Executive Producer, Microsoft Game Studios

Interested artists should visit www.IntoThePixel.com for detailed information and to submit their artwork for consideration by the jury for the Into the Pixel 2009 collection. The deadline for submitting artwork is April 10, 2009.

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CONTACTS:

Wendy Zaas / Debby Chen

Rogers & Cowan

310-854-8148 / 310-854-8168

wzaas@rogersandcowan.com

dchen@rogersandcowan.com

Geri Gordon Miller

Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences

818-876-0826 x202

geri@interactive.org

Dan Hewitt

Entertainment Software Association

202-223-2400

dhewitt@theesa.com