Before VJing, before even TV, turn-of-the-century painters were exploring the connection between music and visuals. The Smithsonian Institute’s Hirsshorn Museum constructs an “alternative” look at the history of modern abstract art through its connections to music in a new show, Visual Music. Sure, some of the work is a little, how shall we say, under the influence, but the show offers some compelling ideas about both art and music. And you can bet these artists would have loved today’s technologies that blend visuals and music in live performance. (Picasso would probably have more luck with Quartz Composer than I am.)

See Gridskipper’s nice write-up, and go try a “trip” yourself! The show runs through September 11, 2005.

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• Visualizations: London Optronica Show Marries Music and IMAX
• Interactive Music Tracks Fish Movement
• Generative Visuals, Installation Light Up Minitek in NYC This Weekend
• Workshop and Studio Discount in Brooklyn for Create Digital Motion Readers
• Witness the Birth of Synced Sound and Image