Charles Mattox (American, 1910–1996) Abstract plotter drawing [Abstract plotter drawing-purchased on Ebay], c. 1970–76
plotter drawing on paper
43.2 × 43.2 cm
Signed
Collection of Bre Pettis
PION.2026.097
Description
Charles Mattox (American, 1910–1996) came to computer art through kinetic sculpture, having built motion-and-sound works and a pendulum drawing machine before joining the University of New Mexico in 1968 to pursue connections between art and science. In Albuquerque he commissioned programmer David Caulkins to write DART1, one of the first computer programs designed for use by non-programmers for artistic purposes, and used it with a CalComp drum plotter to produce abstract drawings in colored ink on sprocket-fed computer paper. All of Mattox's plotter drawings date from the early 1970s; examples from the same body of work are held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the Anne and Michael Spalter Digital Art Collection.
Purchased on eBay. Exact year created is unknown. Possible date range created: 1970–1976*
Sources: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1488644/plotter-drawing-mattox-charles/ · https://spalterdigital.com/artists/charles-mattox/
The date given here is an estimate.
The 1973 date is as acquired: the V&A's twenty Mattox sheets are all dated 1970 or circa 1970, and he made computer drawings at UNM until retiring in 1976, so the date is plausible but externally unanchored.