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)