Category: ELO

The ELO’s new site, designed and engineered by Nick Montfort, is now in place. Thanks go to Scott Rettberg for his help, which included migrating much of the content from the old site, and to Noah Wardrip-Fruin, who prepared many items that will appear in coming weeks in the new showcase.

The showcase is designed to feature exemplary electronic literature. The five most recent items are visible at the top of the main page, and everything featured to date is accessible via the “Showcased E-Lit” link just below the search field. An RSS feed of the showcase is available so that readers can automatically keep bookmarks to the current entry or syndicate the showcase on their own pages.

News entries and other pages on the site are now easily searchable. The news is also accessible by category and by date. We have tried to redirect as many previous URLs as possible to current resources, to avoid leaving anyone with page not found errors. The new site is also designed to be easier to maintain and manage into the future, allowing the ELO to communicate with members and the reading public more effectively.

The new ELO website is powered by WordPress and uses a theme based on Joni Mueller’s Zen Minimalist.

We hope you enjoy the new site. Please let us know what you think of it, and if you encounter any problems. The email you should use to contact the ELO can be found, along with our phone number and postal address, on the “contact” page.

The University of Iowa has announced its partnership with the ELO. The partnership was initiated by Thom Swiss, a professor of English and the Rhetoric of Inquiry at Iowa who is the new president of the organization. The ELO is based at UCLA; this partnership initiates a new form of the organization, where different campuses will be able to participate as “nodes,” helping the ELO reach its goals in different ways.

ELO has elected a new slate of officers. Thom Swiss of the University of Iowa Department of English and editor of The Iowa Review Web succedes Margie Luesebrink as president; Nick Montfort and Noah Wardrip-Fruin become co-vice presidents; and Scott Rettberg succedes Celia O’Donnell in the post of treasurer. Rob Swigart continues as secretary for another term. Margie Luesebrink and Celia O’Donnell will continue to serve on the board of directors.

The Brown University Program in Literary Arts will present E-FEST 2004, a celebration of electronic literary art, on February 17-19. The program will feature readings by John Cayley, Stephanie Strickland, Talan Memmott, Noah Wardrip-Fruin, Brian Kim Stefans, Aya Karpinska, Alan Sondheim and more. E-FEST 2004 also includes performances, panels, discussions with artists and theorists, and artist demos.

State of the Arts CD/Book is now available. Contact the ELO office for details on how to purchase one!

In last week’s Board meeting Jeff Ballowe, who has served as ELO’s Board of Directors President since the beginning of the organization, passed the baton to Marjorie Luesebrink, who will begin her role as President on January 1. Board member Rob Swigart will become the new ELO Secretary.

The Board expressed a deep appreciation for Jeff’s dedication, guidance, and foresight throughout his service as President. Marjorie Luesebrink writes: “Jeff’s talent and inspiration have guided our organization from the first glimmerings and will continue to inform our direction and success. Jeff was central to the initial process of incubating, defining, and forming the original ELO….. He brought the dreams we had for ELO into realization. …Jeff has been a trusted navigator through the changes. At each turning point, Jeff has helped us re-shape our ability to thrive and keep our goals clear.

“….As we conclude 2002, we are particularly grateful to Jeff for his legacy…. This year our conference, “State of the Arts,” brought together many of the most engaged people in our field. In the thoughtful discussion at this event, the question of preserving e-literature occasioned interest, controversy, and a need to address the issue further. The result was the creation of PAD, dedicated to the Preservation, Archiving, and Dissemination of e-literature. Jeff has taken the helm of PAD from the beginning, and, as he eases out of the demands of the ELO presidency (while remaining chief consultant and guru as Past President), he will be increasingly involved with building the infrastructure and engine for PAD.”

Luckily for all involved in ELO, Jeff will remain active and pivotal in the ELO. He will continue to oversee the PAD project, guiding this important, centerpiece effort.