I just launched the first gallery client outside of the U.S., Galerie Open in Berlin. They are also one of the most customized sites.

Like a lot of busy tech types, I use RSS feeds to keep up with a lot of sites. What's RSS you ask? FeedBurner has a good explanation. Basically they are feeds published by a website that can be read by an external website or program. I use feeds to keep up with blogs and news sites so that I see when they have new items without having to actually visit the 100 different websites I'm tracking. My favorite applications for tracking RSS feeds are

• BlogLines (website)
• Google Reader (website)
• NetNewsWire Lite (OSX)

My webhosting service for artists and galleries, ArtCat, automatically generates RSS feeds for my clients so that it's easy for me to see when galleries have news or have added exhibitions, or when artists have new works and news items. Until ArtCat, I had never seen a gallery other than sixspace with a feed. It appears that sites running the exhibit-E software now are capable of generating RSS feeds if they wish. I first noticed this when visiting the Gagosian site to look at information on the Warhol shows.

I would like to think that ArtCat and ArtCal (which has several feeds) helped start this trend, but I doubt anyone's likely to say so out loud.

While we're on the subject of websites, what's the deal with big name galleries that don't have websites? I know they want to keep things "personal" for their collectors, but it really interferes with the ability of the less fortunate to get information on their artists and exhibitions. Marianne Boesky Gallery has a new building, but no website at the moment? Cohan and Leslie has taken down their old site and now there is just a placeholder. It's amazing to me that galleries don't work on a site at a temporary URL while keeping their old site up. It's not that hard. When galleries move their sites to ArtCat, they work on a temporary site until they have brought enough information over to launch. We don't relaunch with a blank site that says "coming soon."

... I would sign up for the class that John Moran is teaching at 3rd Ward.

Introduction to Soundtrack
Instructor: John Moran
Location: Digital Media Lab
Mondays Nov 13, 20, 27 Dec 4, 11
7p-10p
$230 members/ $280 non-members

John Moran, a luminary sound artist, will introduce the "art of the soundtrack." Although not a software study, this class utilizes the application Reason to create a wide range of soundtracks, from the simple to the most advanced. The course will begin by covering the essentials of Reason in a group lesson format. After this, course time will be spent developing and critiquing individual student projects with specialized attention from the instructor.

An emphasis will be placed on hands-on applications and techniques for individual use to enhance subtlety and expressiveness in this inherently collaborative field. Students may bring to class work in film, video, animation, dance or theater as project material. If a student would like to create a piece that is sound only, this can be done as well.

Students are asked to bring their own headphones for use in the class. A midi keyboard will be helpful for some. It is not mandatory. One will be available in class. If you have your own you are welcome to bring it.

John Moran is an award winning sound/theater artist. He has generally been considered the protegé of composer Philip Glass. In 2003, Glass was quoted as saying, "I am convinced that there is no more important composer working today, than John Moran. His works have been so advanced as to be considered revolutionary." Moran has directed performers such as Uma Thurman, Iggy Pop, Allen Ginsberg and Julia Stiles, under commission from venues like Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Public Theater / NY Shakespeare Festival, The Kitchen, and a host of venues across America and Europe. Several of his works are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, in New York City.

John Moran is a genius. I would liken his audio design to something like the best minimalists, but he uses sampled sounds and speech rather than musical motifs to assemble his works. James wrote about one of his performances in late August.

His opera The Manson Family is completely brilliant. My friend Noel Simmons was in one of the productions.

Below is a video of a performance at 3rd Ward by him and his collaborator Saori. This is more low-key (musically, not visually) than other work I've seen.