Computer art for non-computer people
Agnieszka Pokrywka Department of Computer and Information Science Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim, Norway pokrywka@idi.ntnu.no Abstract—It is common to introduce computer art to people with a background about computer science or art. However, the rising importance of computer-based creativity demands methods of talking about computer art to people who have no professional experience in any of these fields. This paper describes and evaluates “Vanishing Point” computer art workshop, designed both for children and adults with small or no computer user experience. The aim of the workshop was to present in a simple way possibilities of computer technology and advantages offered by open source software in artistic use. The workshop description and reflection are structured according to “Computer art for computer people- a syllabus” (1977) by Grace C. Hartlein. The “Vanishing Point” workshop description combined with this early paper about computer art dissemination allows for a reflective point of view on computer-based creativity in the last thirty years and its practitioners according to their familiarity with computer art. Keywords- computer art; open source software; do it yourself; workshop
I.
INTRODUCTION
A relation between theoretical education and practicebased experience is crucial in interdisciplinary fields which demand a wide scope of knowledge and skills [1, 2, 3, 4]. Building upon interdisciplinarity and the balance between theory and practice, the idea of a computer art (CA) workshop, for people who have no professional experience in any of the component fields, came into being. The basic concept targeted the development of two-hour, do-it-yourself (DIY), art and computing courses for children and adults in which technology would serve human needs. By the use of open source software (OSS) [5], the workshop meant to motivate the participants to get familiar with t h e technical environment in which shareholders function as a dominant factor. Moreover, the workshop aimed to amplify the participants’ desire to create by making them aware about the existence of a supporting community of users around the open source technical environment itself [6]. Nowadays we face two contracting trends. On the one hand, the technical complexity of computer-based creativity makes very challenging the understanding of used tools. On the other hand, the easiness in creating attractive effects without knowing how they actually work stops people's
curiosity. For this reason, it is important to focus on helping people understand tools, motivate them to create digitally and be aware of stakeholder communities. The mentioned workshop has been titled “Vanishing Point” similarly as a famous cult film from 1971 which refers to the illusion of unrestricted, individual freedom which can be reached by rejecting the rules of organized society. The title describes also one of the techniques used during the workshop. The workshop description and reflection are structured (art works, photos, surveys, observations) according to “Computer art for computer people - a syllabus” (1977) by Grace C. Hartlein [7] which discusses in detail a thoroughly class-tested CA course for computer science people. This is not the only one reference from the beginnings of CA. Texts from '60s and '70s are characterized by simplicity, visionary style and ability to ask simple and basic questions. These features are seen as especially encouraged while gaining the first experiences in computer-based art. The paper is structured in the following way. Section 2 briefly presents an intersection of art and computing. Sections 3 and 4 respectively describe “Vanishing point” plan and its realization. Sections 5 and 6 focus on the workshop reflection. II.
THE BRIDGE OF ART AND COMPUTING
CA is based on software. Software is ruled by algorithms. Algorithms are mathematical, strictly defined instructions for functions calculating. Art and mathematics represent two of the most basic capacities and activities of the human mind and practice: counting and drawing. That is why friendship between these two disciplines has existed through the centuries [8]. This simple example shows that borders between fields are rather conventionally established as Bonačic's confirms: “Areas of research concentration are formally limited only by the subjective interests of the research worker, and by the general program of the institution under whose auspices on art and science the program is being carried out [6].” Interdisciplinary research should provide benefits to all disciplines involved [9]. That is why the teaching of CA can function as a bridge that unites art and computer science [10]. This was one of the main aims during planing and performing the “Vanishing Point” CA workshop, designed both for children and adults with small or no computer user experience. The aim of the workshop was to present