“Beginning with early Atari and Nintendo video games, the 8-bit aesthetic has been a part of our culture for over 30 years. As it moved through the generations, 8-bit earned its independence from its video game roots. The idea of 8-bit now stands for a refreshing level of simplicity and minimalism, is capable of sonic and visual beauty, and points to the layer of technology that suffuses our modern lives. No longer just nostalgia art, contemporary 8-bit artists and chiptunes musicians have elevated the form to new levels of creativity and cultural reflection.”
For the second year in a row Chris Johanson is putting on the Quiet Music Festival of Portland, “a two day celebration of quiet music as well as the act of quiet listening.” Taking place at 8pm on both June 15th and 16th at Disjecta Interdisciplinary Art Center (8371 N Interstate Avenue / Portland Oregon 97217) the mood set by performances from Dan Sasaki, Grouper, Kevin Thomson, Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs, Sam Coomes, Scout Niblett, Sonny Smith, Strawberry Smog, The Lichens, Ural Thomas, and Vetiverrelaxing, will be mellow.
To celebrate the festival, we’ve got a couple posters signed by Chris to give away. To win one, just leave a link to an image your favorite quiet, relaxing place in the comments section. We’ll pick our favorites, and that’ll be that. Unfortunately, due to shipping this is only for US folks.
“The last head on the left is George Bush. George Bush’s head appears in a couple of beheading scenes. It’s not a choice, it’s not a political statement. We just had to use whatever head we had around.”
