California Firm to Launch "Digital Art Deli" on Internet

Los Angeles-based Kaleidoscope Media says it will launch a "digital art deli" on the Internet to showcase the work of independent artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, performers, CD-ROM authors and software developers.

The company is one of a number of companies creating multimedia online marketplaces, virtual shopping malls and electronic bazaars on the global network. The service debuts March 31 and will kickoff with a hands-on demonstration at Santa Monica's Electronic Cafe.

"We call our site a digital art deli because we operate out of one room in our apartment-- like any corner store--and we've got lots of tasty stuff for our customers to sample," said Peter Markiewicz, one of the partners in the venture.

Kaleidoscope says it has created an online electronic catalog with a highly intuitive graphical interface on which artists may display short excerpts from their products.

For example, musicians might showcase 30-second cuts from their albums and filmmakers might provide short scenes or trailers from their work. Users fill out electronic order forms and send them over the Internet, or they may phone, fax or mail their orders.

The artists retain full rights to their work and pay a monthly fee to Kaleidoscope for for the catalog listing. Jeannie Novak, also a partner in the venture, said the goal is to empower independent artists who have been ignored by major record labels, publishing houses and film studios.

"We believe that as the cost of producing creative works drops and the information highway grows, it will be commonplace for artists to independently produce and promote their products," Novak said.

The service works with the Mosaic interface to the World Wide Web.

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