Named after the small red sticker that once guided scholars through legacy 35mm slides, The Red Dot is here to help you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of visual and material research. While rooted in the University of California, Santa Barbara community, our posts are open to all.
At MIRL, we engage with art history, digital humanities, and material culture through hands-on research and archival projects. Guided by our core principles—critical engagement with visual and material culture, ethical stewardship of images and data, and innovative approaches to research and pedagogy—we work at the intersection of technology and the humanities. We are especially interested in how digital tools can expand the study of images, objects, and spaces.
Here, we’ll share insights on Digital Art History and Architectural History, highlight new image and data resources, discuss copyright and ethical considerations, and spotlight events that shape our field.
The Red Dot © 2025 is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
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Modern sculpture ruined by “overzealous cleaner”
Oops. Martin Kippenberger’s When It Starts Dripping From the Ceiling (Wenn’s anfängt durch die Decke zu tropfen), on loan from a private collector to Museum Ostwall in Dortmund, suffered an attack motivated by … a strong work ethic. Upon noticing what appeared to be grime in part of the sculpture, a cleaner apparently thought all… Read more
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The 18 pound art museum
Imagine a museum with unlimited space and budget… NPR this morning reported on a new book from Phaidon, The Art Museum, which has compiled extensive museum highlights from around the world into one collection – the ultimate museum. Over 100 people spent a decade researching and tracking down works. Disparate parts of one altarpiece were… Read more
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Save the date: Los Angeles Art Show 2012
Mark your calendars for the 17th Annual Los Angeles Art Show, January 18-22, 2012, in the LA Convention Center. This year promises to be the most comprehensive art experience on the west coast, with three distinct shows: the L.A. Art Show: Modern & Contemporary, the L.A. Fine Print Fair and the newly separate Fine Art… Read more
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UCSB Art History Association event on Oct. 27
The Department of the History of Art and Architecture and UCSB Art History Association are co-hosting an Informational Meeting and Halloween Bash for History of Art and Architecture majors, minors, or those curious about the degree and where it will take you. There will be a series of short presentations about some of the requirements… Read more
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Advice for Art History Jedis
There’s a mysterious new web presence called The Art History Jedi, who has a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and two videos on YouTube, all giving sage advice to current and prospective students of Art History. The videos talk through the processes of applying for graduate studies and internships using XtraNormal Movie Maker, software that… Read more