New media pioneer Lynn Hershman Leeson presents work on both coasts this December.  The University of Washington's Henry Art Gallery in Seattle is exhibiting a show titled 'Hershmanlandia: The Art and Films of Lynn Hershman Leeson' from November 5, 2005 - January 29, 2006 and Bitforms Gallery in New York is showing new and retrospective works from December 10, 2005 to January 14, 2006 including DiNA, a telepresent chat-bot (pictured) conversant in current affairs. 

I had the opportunity to have lunch with Hershman at Ars Electronica in 2004.  At the time she was developing a political platform for DiNA with the Vote for DiNA project.  DiNA was running as a counter candidate to the presidency but was not running for the presidency itself.  In fact, DiNA had her sights set on a larger vision:  DiNA for Telepathic Telepresent Oracle!

A New York Times article this weekend entilted 'Pardon Me, but the Art Is Mouthing Off' (free subscription) presents an excellent history of Hershman Leeson's over thirty years creating electronic and communications art.