Bio

Elizabeth Goldring, a poet and media artist, is CAVS Fellow at ACT and director of the CAVS Vision Group. She worked with Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope inventor, Robert Webb, to turn the SLO into a “seeing machine” for people who are blind. Recently, using the SLO concept, she and her Vision Group have developed an affordable, portable, easy-to-use “seeing machine camera” prototype, the pilot study results of which are being reported in a forthcoming issue of Leonardo. 

Goldring has published four poetry books and contributed to many poetry publication. As a visual artist she has exhibited interactive Eye/Sight installations internationally. Collaborations include work with theater director, Robert Wilson, exploring blindness and robotics featuring the CAVS Vision Group’s Eye-Robot; video artist Vin Grabill exploring how low vision and blindness can be visualized; and flutist David Whiteside exploring poetry performance with musical improvisation. She is a Fellow of the World Technology Network and of the Lifeboat Foundation. Awards and honors include Smith College Medal; Technology Review, Scientific American and Esquire Magazine “best and brightest” awards; NEA, poet of the month award; Prix Ars Electronica; MIT IDEAS competition. 

Goldring was graduated from Smith College and received a Master’s Degree from Harvard University. She worked as exhibits developer at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Collection of Fine Arts and the Boston Children’s Museum. At MIT she has held positions as Exhibitions and Projects Director, CAVS; lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning; acting Co-Director, CAVS. She co-directed and participated in five international Sky Art Conferences and two MIT Arttransition Conferences with Otto Piene.

Goldring was married to artist and CAVS/MIT Director, Otto Piene, who passed away in 2014.