Reception and opening talks: exhibitions by Sue Gollifer and Jack Tait.
Speakers
- Sue Gollifer
- Jack Tait
Agenda
6:00pm - Welcome, Sean Clark, Computer Arts Society Chair
6:10pm - Talk by Sue Gollifer
6:40pm - Talk by Jack Tait
7:10pm - Reception and demonstration of Jack Tait's drawing machines
9:00pm - Event ends
Synopsis
Sue Gollifer – I Turned Myself Into A Machine
“I was fascinated by computers and technology, but in the sixties and seventies the field was almost entirely the preserve of men, and for an artist it was it even harder. It was difficult for male artists to get access to computers, but it was nigh on impossible for a woman in those days – so – I turned myself into a machine.”
These telling words describe the struggle of female artists interested in technology and working with computer art in those early days.
As a pioneer of systems art, master printmaker, and later as a digital printmaker, Sue Gollifer’s journey is an important story to tell.
From artist and researcher, through to curator and facilitator for many other artists, she is the epitome of the ongoing struggle for women in the field of digital art and this urgent exhibition tells her story.
Jack Tait “It is a privilege to have 20 images shown by the CAS at De Montford University and now at the BCS, thanks to the curation of Dr Sean Clark.
Exhibited work covers the range of graphic and light drawings over many years. Some images address the current preoccupation with randomness, chaos and persistence of coherence in graphic drawings.
Most machines depend on three actions; X and Y axes with Pen rotation. Simple inputs lead to complex drawings, programmed by a Randomiser which mimics the throw of a dice. Recent work explores line characteristics using flow pens which extend the randomness.”
About the speakers
Sue Gollifer
Sue Gollifer (b. 1944) is a pioneer of early computer art and a printmaker who has explored the relationship between technology and the arts throughout her extensive artistic career.
Her work has featured in numerous major exhibitions, including a one-person show at the Serpentine Gallery in London in 1972, and is held in both national and international public and private collections such as the Victoria & Albert Museum (UK), the Towner Art Gallery (UK), the Museum of Kharkov (Ukraine), and the British Council Collection (UK).
As a curator, organiser, writer, and board member she has had a huge impact in driving the field forward and creating opportunities for other artists around the world such as working with organisations such as SIGGRAPH, ISEA International, and the Computer Arts Society.
Jack Tait
Jack Tait - Curiosity driven research culminated in 2011 with a Ph.D Programmable Analogue Drawing Machines at Manchester Metropolitan University. The Ph.D machines are in the Science Museum; others are in the CAS archive at Leicester. Three remain in use. Influences are RAF, Guildford School of Art and having started Schools of Photography at Derby and Manchester. Early machines were deterministic; later randomness was introduced using D.C. motor characteristics, linkages, asymmetric X and Y ratios and broken lines.
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This event is brought to you by: Computer Arts Society
