Sines of the Times
Plotter Drawing
1970-1971 (made)
1970-1971 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Robert E. (Bob) Holzman (1935-2020) was the founder of the Computer Graphics Lab during his time at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The Computer Graphics Lab first opened in 1977, following his enlistment of computer graphics artist, Dr. James F. (Jim) Blinn.
The main goal of the Computer Graphics Lab was to develop 3D computer graphics to depict various aspects of NASA spaceflight operations. Known as 'fly-by' simulations, these graphics were used to show the planned flight paths of the Voyager 1, Pioneer, and Gallio missions.
Holzman played a pivotal role in establishing a network of scientists and artists, contributing to the burgeoning computer graphics community in Southern California. In 1981, he helped to organise and fund the early ACM SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics) Art Shows and remained as a member of SIGGPAPH’s advisory board in the following years. Holzman was also the partner of Patric Prince (1942-2021), an American art historian and collector. Prince's extensive computer art collection and archive were donated to the V&A in 2008.
The main goal of the Computer Graphics Lab was to develop 3D computer graphics to depict various aspects of NASA spaceflight operations. Known as 'fly-by' simulations, these graphics were used to show the planned flight paths of the Voyager 1, Pioneer, and Gallio missions.
Holzman played a pivotal role in establishing a network of scientists and artists, contributing to the burgeoning computer graphics community in Southern California. In 1981, he helped to organise and fund the early ACM SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics) Art Shows and remained as a member of SIGGPAPH’s advisory board in the following years. Holzman was also the partner of Patric Prince (1942-2021), an American art historian and collector. Prince's extensive computer art collection and archive were donated to the V&A in 2008.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sines of the Times (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Plotter drawings on paper, window mounted in black mount |
| Brief description | Plotter drawings on paper, six drawings window mounted, 'Sines of the Times', by Robert E. (Bob) Holzman, Pasadena, California, 1970-1971 |
| Physical description | These are six different black and white plotter drawings, window mounted in a black mount. The drawings play with the form of the sine wave. Signed with pencil at the bottom of the fifth drawing. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Patric Prince |
| Historical context | The plotter drawings were produced at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California with the hardware: HP7200, Univac 1108 and the software: Mbasic program. |
| Production | Made at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California |
| Summary | Robert E. (Bob) Holzman (1935-2020) was the founder of the Computer Graphics Lab during his time at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The Computer Graphics Lab first opened in 1977, following his enlistment of computer graphics artist, Dr. James F. (Jim) Blinn. The main goal of the Computer Graphics Lab was to develop 3D computer graphics to depict various aspects of NASA spaceflight operations. Known as 'fly-by' simulations, these graphics were used to show the planned flight paths of the Voyager 1, Pioneer, and Gallio missions. Holzman played a pivotal role in establishing a network of scientists and artists, contributing to the burgeoning computer graphics community in Southern California. In 1981, he helped to organise and fund the early ACM SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics) Art Shows and remained as a member of SIGGPAPH’s advisory board in the following years. Holzman was also the partner of Patric Prince (1942-2021), an American art historian and collector. Prince's extensive computer art collection and archive were donated to the V&A in 2008. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.995-2008 |
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| Record created | June 8, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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