PARSONS TAKES ON THE SIMS: MACHINIMA, MODS, AND MORE

Parsons The New School for Design Presents Art and Design Work Inspired by The Sims
The Sims: In the Hands of Artists, Chelsea Art Museum, April 19-May 12, 2007
Opening Reception, April 19, 6-8 p.m.

Parsons Also Presents at the Chelsea Art Museum
Ten Years Running: Design and Technology 10th Anniversary Exhibition, April 5-14, 2007

Parsons Communication Design and Technology Thesis Exhibitions
May 17-26 (BFA) and May 31-June 9, 2007 (MFA)

NEW YORK, March 28, 2007�This spring, Parsons The New School for Design will present The Sims�: In the Hands of Artists, an exhibition exploring the world of Electronic Arts� popular video game, The Sims, April 19-May 12, 2007, at the Chelsea Art Museum. Works on view by students in the Communication Design, Design and Technology, and Illustration programs at Parsons will range from machinima (using a game engine to produce animations or films), physical computing, interactive media, and three-dimensional printing to painting, drawing and even toy design. The exhibition is organized by Parsons Communication Design and Technology Department with support from Electronic Arts (EA).

An opening reception will be held on April 19, 6-8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

�A primary focus at The New School is the way design impacts society. The innovative social aspects of The Sims make this game an ideal springboard for our students to creatively explore these issues,� said Parsons Communication Design and Technology Chair Colleen Macklin. �Our students will push the envelope, and come up with sophisticated responses to this creative challenge.�

Developed by EA game designer Will Wright, The Sims was the first in a new genre of simulation games that engaged players in the day-to-day activities of virtual people. While Sims have a certain amount of free will, players are responsible for the lives of the characters in this virtual world, from social interaction and job employment, to health and personal development. The game comes equipped with pre-made characters; however, players are encouraged to create their own. The game has become the world�s best-selling computer game, with entire websites devoted to The Sims.

�While we have supported and encouraged our users to test the creative boundaries of The Sims in the past, our In the Hands of Artists program is our first effort to take the game to a new level of exploration, and we couldn�t be happier partnering with Parsons The New School for Design for its debut,� said Jack Lew, Global University Relations Manager at Electronic Arts. �We selected Parsons because of its reputation as creative mavericks, and we look forward to seeing the resulting artistic responses.�

Parsons Communication Design and Technology faculty member Sven Travis, who is organizing the exhibition, emphasizes that �fun� is an underlying theme of the show. �People play games to be entertained,� says Travis. �This show will be entertaining in some pretty unique and unpredictable ways.�

The Sims exhibit is one of a series Parsons CDT Department will be mounting at Chelsea Art Museum April through and June 2007. Kicking things off April 5-14 will be �10 Years Running� a 10th anniversary retrospective of work by faculty and alumni of Parsons Design and Technology program, featuring Graffiti Research Lab (http://graffitiresearchlab.com), Large Animal Games (http://www.largeanimal.com), Zach Lieberman �02 (http://www.thesystemis.com), and many more. In addition, thesis exhibitions for Parsons Communication Design and Technology programs will be presented at the museum May 17-26 (BFA) and May 31-June 9 (MFA).

About Parsons The New School For Design

Located in the heart of New York City, Parsons The New School for Design is one of the most prestigious and comprehensive degree-granting colleges of art and design in the nation, with approximately 3,500 students in degree programs from all 50 states and approximately 60 countries. Parsons has been a forerunner in the field of art and design since its founding in 1896. By locating visual beauty in the ordinary things of middle-class American life, Parsons virtually invented the modern concept of design in America. Parsons� rigorous programs and distinguished faculty embrace curricular innovation, pioneer new uses of technology, and instill in students a global perspective in design.

Parsons is currently celebrating the centennial of its Communication Design and 10th anniversary of its Design and Technology programs. Offering BFA degrees in Communication Design, and BFA and MFA degrees in Design and Technology, Parsons engages students in these programs in typographic exploration to geek graffiti, book design to game design, information visualization to animation. The programs form a dual curriculum that emphasizes experimentation, collaboration and social activism in the design of media experiences and new narratives for all kinds of people, in all kinds of places, around the world. For more information, please visit www.parsons.newschool.edu/dt.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world�s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS BIGTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2006, EA posted revenue of $2.95 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA�s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA�s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

LISTINGS INFORMATION:

PRESENTER:
Parsons The New School for Design

EVENTS:
April 5-14, 2007: �10 Years Running�; Opening: April 5, 6-8 p.m. 10th Anniversary exhibition of work by faculty and alumni of Parsons Design and Technology program, including works by Large Animal Games, Graffiti Research Lab, and many more
April 19-May 12, 2007: �The Sims: In the Hands of Artists�; Opening, April 19, 6-8 p.m. Exhibition of student work inspired by The Sims, sponsored in part by Electronic Arts
May 17-26 & May 31-June 9, 2007: Parsons CDT Thesis Exhibitions; Openings: May 17 & 31, 6-8 p.m. Juried exhibition of thesis work by Parsons MFA and BFA Communication Design and Technology students.

WHERE:
Chelsea Art Museum, 556 West 22nd Street, New York

HOURS:
Tues � Sat Noon to 6 pm; Thursday Noon to 8 pm (Closed Sunday and Monday)

ADMISSION:
$6 adults, $3 students/seniors, free to The New School community with proper ID and visitors 18 & under

INFO:
Chelsea Art Museum: 212.255.0719 or www.chelseaartmuseum.org;
Parsons: 212-229-8919 or www.parsons.newschool.edu/dt.