Computers and People, Vol. 29 Nos. 7–8 (July–August 1980) — Why the Rules for the Computer Art Exposition 1980? (forum)

Notes

Berkeley Enterprises, Newtonville MA, July–August 1980. 28 pp., OCR'd scan from bitsavers.org (Computers_And_Automation/Computers_and_People_V29_N07-08_198007.pdf), the source link. Why the Rules for the Computer Art Exposition 1980? (forum): pp. 3. Cover: A black-and-white photograph captioned "COMPUTER-CONTROLLED CRANE PLACES PALLET IN PROPER BIN", showing a stacker crane in a high-bay warehouse; the contents page credits the story "Computerized Warehousing Saves Energy, Labor, Land, and Increases Productivity" by Joseph H. Singer, American Hoechst Corp., Somerville, NJ (pp. 1, 5, 23) — not computer art. There is no exposition in this issue; the art content is a Forum exchange on page 3, "Why the Rules for the Computer Art Exposition 1980?", credited to Kerry Jones, Huntsville, AL, and the Editor. It opens by quoting "the Editor's invitation to some 120 computer artists" to submit drawings for the "Computer Art Exposition 1980", planned for the September-October issue. The rules: each drawing "should show at least three kinds of forms. For example the forms could be crystals, leaves, and icicles"; the forms should appear "in various sizes, perspectives, and orientations"; and a form in front "should appropriately conceal parts of the second form as in ordinary drawing." Jones writes that the "Computer Graphics and Art" Yearbook "is outstanding" but finds the rules for "the 18th Annual Computer Art Exposition" puzzling: "I feel compelled to ask 'Why?' It seems to rule out most graphic art work previously published," since "mathematical" or optical graphics also have "a powerful and emotional appeal." Berkeley replies that he is forwarding the letter to Grace C. Hertlein of CSU-Chico, Art Editor and Yearbook editor, "one and the same person," and explains that "almost everybody to whom I show computer art of many years... does not find it satisfying or appealing or emotionally moving or intellectually interesting. The subject this year seeks to call forth a different direction." A second item from Barbara Lewandowska (Lodz) requests the editorial "The Frightening of People by Words"; List 800702 (p. 22) names earlier editorials on the 17th (1979) and 16th (1978) expositions. Rest of the issue: "Payments, People, Privacy: A Challenge of the Eighties" by James D. Robinson III (p. 7); "Computer Technology: Directions in Investment Management" by Gerald J. Moran (p. 10); "Sand, Glass, Quartz, and Silicon" by R. W. Kristinat (p. 15); "The Automatic Prevention of Errors in Computer Applications: Algorithms" by Lawrence Methuen Clark (p. 16); editorial "The Crisis in Home Heating, and Computers" by Edmund C. Berkeley (p. 6); "Computerized Warehousing..." by Joseph H. Singer (p. 23); newsletter items on the CCIA/FCC challenge and the Socialist countries' Unified Computer System; "The Frustrating World of Computers" by Harry Nelson (p. 28); Neil Macdonald's Computer Almanac and puzzles.