American composer
Paul DeMarinis (1948)[1] is an American visual and sound artist, specializing in electronic music composer, sound, performance, and computer-based artist. Since the 1970s he has been active in creating digital sound sculptures, one of the early innovators of sound art.[2] He is currently a professor of art at Stanford University.[1]
Early life and education
Born in 1948 in Cleveland, Ohio.[3]
DeMarinis received a B.A. in Music and Filmmaking Interdisciplinary from Antioch College in 1971.[3] At Antioch College, DeMarinis studied film with Paul Sharits, music with John Ronsheim and philosophy with Keith McGary.[4] DeMarinis received an M.F.A. in Electronic Music and the Recording Media from Mills College in 1973.[3] At Mills College, DeMarinis studied music composition with Robert Ashley and Terry Riley.[5]
Career
DeMarinis' performance pieces and interactive installations have been featured in international exhibitions and festivals.[6][7]
DeMarinis in 1996 received a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists Award. He received the 2006 Golden Nica Award for Interactive Art at the Ars Electronica Festival for his installation The Messenger, which examines the myths of electricity in communication.[8][9] He was awarded the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation fellowship award in 1999 for Video & Audio.[10]
In the late 1970s he was a member of the San Francisco Bay Area-based experimental music collective The League of Automatic Music Composers.[11][12]
DeMarinis has investigated abandoned technologies and the history of electronic inventions and telecommunications.[13] Some of his installation works have used optics and computers and featured processed and synthesized speech.[14]
DeMarinis taught computer, video and audio art at Mills College, Wesleyan University, San Francisco State University and the New York State College of Ceramics. He is currently a Professor of Art at Stanford University in California.[1][15]
