As a national organisation promoting and supporting the interface between art, science and technology, a publication on theology seems like a surprising twist in ANAT’s usual programs. The Arcadia publication is in fact the result of a period of research facilitated by ANAT, which has aimed to delve into confluences between art, technology and theology. This investigation is part of a larger project called Deep Immersion, which provided thematic focuses for ANAT’s activities over the three-year period 1998 to 2000.
The three themes of Deep Immersion: new media in the Asia Pacific region; art and science; theology and technology have created an avenue for ANAT to develop projects informed by these broad thematic concerns. As an arts organisation, ANAT aims to facilitate not only access to equipment and technology, but to broader social and cultural issues which inform thought and practice, both locally and internationally. The process of Arcadia has been to bring a range of people into contact with ANAT, and to create a dialogue about contemporary interpretations of cosmology, religion, theology and the arcane in relationship to recent thinking about science and technology.
The research component has been directed by Samara Mitchell, who as a writer and thinker has a long-term interest in relationships, which might exist between theology and technology. The first component of Arcadia involved research into existing writings on this subject, which formed the basis to develop an online listserv discussion between Australian and international writers and theorists. The final component of this research period is this publication, which brings together the results of Samara’s research with commissioned images and texts as well as existing writings and an edited version of the listserv.
There were several possible outcomes for the Arcadia project – a seminar, conference or tour of speakers. After much discussion, it was decided that a publication would be an appropriate vehicle to encompass the issues and perspectives resulting from the theology and technology research. It also heralds a new initiative of ANAT, to create engaging and graphically sophisticated periodicals which encompass topical debate and writing. These publications will complement ANAT’s existing newsletter and occasional online publishing, as a source of critical writing and innovative design, available for both ANAT’s membership and the wider public.
I would like to especially thank Samara Mitchell for driving this project and giving it a depth of substance and commitment. The following collection is an eccentric and esoteric mixture of writings ranging from organised to dis-organised religion, the sacred to the profane, the virtual to the real. It is a reflection of a wide range of voices and opinions resulting from a process of collaboration between the Editor and the contributors.
I also wish to thank former ANAT Director Amanda Mcdonald Crowley, who developed the Deep Immersion strands in collaboration with the ANAT Board. Current ANAT staff, and in particular Caroline Farmer, who have supported the processes of developing Arcadia, the Publication Manager Francesca da Rimini, Karen Eliot for the illustrations and Drew Joyce for his visionary design on limited resources.
Finally I’d like to thank all the contributors, who have made the Arcadia publication a unique and special gift to those who have an existing association with ANAT and those that may come to it via intention or accident.
Julianne Pierce
Julianne was the Executive Director at ANAT from 2000 to 2005.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Australia.