From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!mit-vax!clu
Newsgroups: net.graphics
Title: Re: art and c.g.
Article-I.D.: mit-vax.213
Posted: Thu Mar 10 14:10:33 1983
Received: Fri Mar 11 06:12:50 1983

This may be outside the field of discussion of computer GRAPHICS
and art, but my own feeling is that the major potential of
computers in art lies in the computer's ability to interact with
the outside world.  This, after all, is one of the computer's
unique qualities as an artistic medium.  An example I have heard
of is a "sculpture" (I forget by whom) that consisted of a metal
bird that traveled around a track on the ceiling of a large
room.  The bird could sense the presence of people below it and
would swoop down at them and then continue on.  This use of the
computer allows the work of art to interact with its environment
and brings it to "life".  Perhaps creating new ways of "living"
will become an art form in its own right.

One other comment:  one can often admire examples of superb
craftsmanship without needing to call them Art (though even this
can be debated). This is even more likely when one understands
the difficulties involved.  For me, many of the impressive
examples of current computer "art" fall more properly in this
category.

---Paul Johnson
(prjohnson@mit-xx)