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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Yale launches James J. Ross Archive of African Images
Yale University now hosts the James J. Ross Archive of African Images, 1590-1920 (RAAI), which contains approximately 5,000 illustrations of African art published before 1921. The archive represents an eight-year collaboration between African art collector James Ross and filmmaker Susan Vogel, a former director of the Museum for African Art, and is facilitated by Yale… Read more
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A(nother) new Broad museum announced for LA
Plans are being finalized and announced for the new Broad Art Foundation contemporary art museum and foundation headquarters in Los Angeles. The winning design by Diller, Scofidio + Renfro will provide a stunning addition to the downtown area (Grand Ave., right across from Disney Hall). It is planned for completion is 2013, and will show… Read more
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Norman Rockwell Museum digitization project
Today marks the debut of ProjectNORMAN at the Norman Rockwell Museum. ProjectNORMAN (New Online Rockwell Media Art & Archive Network), begun in 2003, offers not only the museum’s collection but also all images from the artist’s catalogue raisonné, the contents of his last working studio, objects from the Norman Rockwell Archives (including reference photos and… Read more
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Los Angeles Art Show: January 16-23, 2011
Mark your calendars for the 16th Annual Los Angeles Art Show, January 16-23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. One of this year’s highlights is a never before seen exhibition of photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson, courtesy of the Peter Fetterman Gallery, Santa Monica. There is also a Symposia Series and a Guest Country Program featuring… Read more
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LA MOCA – guilty of censorship?
After commissioning a mural for the football-field-sized wall of MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary building, MOCA director Jeffrey Deitch ordered that the mural be painted over this week. The story contains some interesting facts – a few: a) the decision to cover up the mural was made by Deitch alone (and not based on any complaints); b)… Read more