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GRASS: series 1

Drawing
1979 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This drawing was produced by Colette and Charles J. Bangert, using a computer and a line plotter - a drawing device that is controlled by a computer program.

Colette Bangert trained as an artist, and Charles (Jeff) Bangert worked in the Computer Center at the University of Kansas. They first started to use a line plotter in 1967, when Jeff was asked to test one. The Bangerts went on to make collaborative "algorithmic drawings", produced by entering a set of instructions into a computer program that controls the drawing machine. Their works are signed CB, for Colette-Charles Bangert.

Colette Bangert has stated that "The subject of all my work has been landscape. The elements of the computer work and my hand work are often repetitive, like leaves, trees, grass and other natural landscape elements are... The form of grass as grass, leaves as leaves, is what I'm exploring... Grass as form. Grass is also random and random is a natural computer facility. Computer grass is natural grass." (In: Leavitt, R, ed. Artist and computer, 1976, p.18-19 )

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGRASS: series 1 (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Colour plotter drawing on paper
Brief description
Plotter drawing with coloured inks, 'GRASS: series I', by Colette and Charles Bangert, Lawrence, Kansas, US, 1979.
Physical description
This colour plotter-drawing is made up of differently coloured (blue, green, red) straight lines and creates a pattern through positioning them with different lengths, angles and densities onto the paper.
Dimensions
  • Length: 35cm
  • Width: 28cm
  • Of mount length: 43.7cm
  • Width: 37cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'CB 9 30 79' (Signed and dated in black ink at bottom.)
  • '79-82 comp b' [or ?- comp 6] (Inscribed in black ink at bottom of print (below mount))
Credit line
Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Patric Prince
Summary
This drawing was produced by Colette and Charles J. Bangert, using a computer and a line plotter - a drawing device that is controlled by a computer program.

Colette Bangert trained as an artist, and Charles (Jeff) Bangert worked in the Computer Center at the University of Kansas. They first started to use a line plotter in 1967, when Jeff was asked to test one. The Bangerts went on to make collaborative "algorithmic drawings", produced by entering a set of instructions into a computer program that controls the drawing machine. Their works are signed CB, for Colette-Charles Bangert.

Colette Bangert has stated that "The subject of all my work has been landscape. The elements of the computer work and my hand work are often repetitive, like leaves, trees, grass and other natural landscape elements are... The form of grass as grass, leaves as leaves, is what I'm exploring... Grass as form. Grass is also random and random is a natural computer facility. Computer grass is natural grass." (In: Leavitt, R, ed. Artist and computer, 1976, p.18-19 )
Bibliographic reference
Bangert, Colette S. & Charles J. Computer grass is natural grass. In: Leavitt, R. ed. Artist and computer. New York: Harmony Books, 1976. p.18-20.
Collection
Accession number
E.1063-2008

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Record createdJune 8, 2009
Record URL
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