Albuquerque, NM - Albuquerque will soon host ISEA2012 Albuquerque: Machine Wilderness, the 18th International Symposium on Electronic Art, which consists of a conference, a multi-site exhibition and a season-long, regional collaboration. The exhibition, based at both 516 ARTS and The Albuquerque Museum, features artworks by more than 70 artists from 13 countries. Visitors will have opportunities to discover an array of programs about the intersection of contemporary art, science and technology. Albuquerque is known for its rich culture and influence in the arts as it was ranked seventh among AmericanStyle magazine’s Top 25 Arts Destinations in the country.

This year, Albuquerque joins Istanbul, Helsinki, Munich, Singapore and other major cities as an international center for creativity and technology. ISEA2012 Artistic Director Andrea Polli says, “As the home of not only many of the most ‘wild’ places in the country, but also some of the most advanced technology and scientific discoveries, New Mexico offers the world a site for reflection and inspiration.”

ISEA2012 Albuquerque: Machine Wilderness is produced by the nonprofit 516 ARTS in partnership with The University of New Mexico and The Albuquerque Museum of Art & History.

The main conference (September 19-24) includes focus days for the ISEA2012 Latin American Forum at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and Intel Education Day in Downtown Albuquerque. Field trips into the landscape are being offered on September 18th, and visitors can plan their trips to include ISEA2012 pre-conference activities in Southern New Mexico (September 15 & 16) and post-conference days in Santa Fe (Sept. 25) and Taos (Sept. 27).

The exhibition (September 20, 2012 – January 6, 2013) showcases innovative works by artists from around the globe including Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, New Zealand and Korea, exploring how artistic and technological innovations can help sustain life on Earth.

The season-long collaboration (September-December 2012), which is kicked off by the conference, includes public programs presented by over 90 partners throughout the region, highlighting New Mexico’s “Cultural Corridor.” Partners include an array of arts, cultural, scientific, civic and environmental organizations. Programs include an in-depth youth education program sponsored by Intel, focusing on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) + Art education.

Find more information on ISEA2012 at www.isea2012.org.