Orbit Tree
Plotter Drawing
1968 (made)
1968 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
American artist Lloyd Sumner (1943-1996) was one of the earliest pioneers to use the computer solely for aesthetic means, and his publication Computer Art and Human Response (1968) was the first text devoted entirely to an individual computer art practice. The monograph is an early example of a publication that included technical explanations on how to produce computer art.
Sumner started producing computer generated pictures in 1964 when he worked at the Computer Science Center at the University of Virginia. It was here he had access to a B5500 Burroughs computer and CalComp 565 plotter. Sumner made his works using extended ALGOL, a programming language, and produced plotter drawings characterised by smooth curved lines.
'Orbit Tree' was made in 1968, the same year that Sumner exhibited his art at 'Cybernetic Serendipity' at the ICA, London and 'Tendencies 4' in Zagreb. Sumner made a career out of his computer art by marketing his work under the title 'Computer Creations'. He used the proceeds to fund his famous round-the-world bike ride expedition – documented in his travel memoir The Long Ride(1978).
Sumner started producing computer generated pictures in 1964 when he worked at the Computer Science Center at the University of Virginia. It was here he had access to a B5500 Burroughs computer and CalComp 565 plotter. Sumner made his works using extended ALGOL, a programming language, and produced plotter drawings characterised by smooth curved lines.
'Orbit Tree' was made in 1968, the same year that Sumner exhibited his art at 'Cybernetic Serendipity' at the ICA, London and 'Tendencies 4' in Zagreb. Sumner made a career out of his computer art by marketing his work under the title 'Computer Creations'. He used the proceeds to fund his famous round-the-world bike ride expedition – documented in his travel memoir The Long Ride(1978).
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Orbit Tree (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | plotter drawing |
Brief description | Orbit Tree, 1968, plotter drawing by Lloyd Sumner |
Physical description | Blue and green coloured ink plotter drawing |
Dimensions |
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Summary | American artist Lloyd Sumner (1943-1996) was one of the earliest pioneers to use the computer solely for aesthetic means, and his publication Computer Art and Human Response (1968) was the first text devoted entirely to an individual computer art practice. The monograph is an early example of a publication that included technical explanations on how to produce computer art. Sumner started producing computer generated pictures in 1964 when he worked at the Computer Science Center at the University of Virginia. It was here he had access to a B5500 Burroughs computer and CalComp 565 plotter. Sumner made his works using extended ALGOL, a programming language, and produced plotter drawings characterised by smooth curved lines. 'Orbit Tree' was made in 1968, the same year that Sumner exhibited his art at 'Cybernetic Serendipity' at the ICA, London and 'Tendencies 4' in Zagreb. Sumner made a career out of his computer art by marketing his work under the title 'Computer Creations'. He used the proceeds to fund his famous round-the-world bike ride expedition – documented in his travel memoir The Long Ride(1978). |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.481-2015 |
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Record created | April 2, 2015 |
Record URL |
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