The Bre Pettis Collection of Computer Art
Research

Bre Pettis Computer Art Library

A reference shelf for researchers, curators, and the curious — records, books, scanned books, articles, and magazine issues that document the people and ideas behind the works in the collection. Most paper entries link to a downloadable PDF. References are organized by the artist they discuss; a piece that touches more than one artist appears in each section.

The library opens with the record shelf: computer and electronic music was pressed to disc as much as it was printed, from the Illiac Suite and the Bell Labs demonstration records to the ICA's Cybernetic Serendipity LP. Each record links to its catalog entry, and from there to its Discogs release — where there is often audio to listen to.

Books bought whenever possible with the hope of scanning them someday. Internet bitrot is real — PDFs have been collected while doing research on the artists as a way to maintain this information for research and future generations.

241 on the shelf · 151 digital references across 35 artists

Read Notes → — writing and project notes.

Unattributed

Méthode pour faire une infinité de desseins différens, avec des carreaux mi-partis de deux couleurs par une ligne diagonale
Dominique Douat · 1722
Book
The Grammar of Ornament
Owen Jones · 1868
Book
Spirals in Nature and Art
Theodore Andrea Cook · 1903
Book
Kunstformen der Natur
Ernst Haeckel · 1904
Book
A Theory of Pure Design: Harmony, Balance, Rhythm
Denman Waldo Ross · 1907
Book
Nature's Harmonic Unity: A Treatise on Its Relation to Proportional Form
Samuel Colman, C. Arthur Coan · 1912
Book
A Primer of Higher Space (The Fourth Dimension)
Claude Bragdon · 1913
Book
The Curves of Life
Theodore Andrea Cook · 1914
Book
Projective Ornament
Claude Bragdon · 1915
Book
Four-Dimensional Vistas
Claude Bragdon · 1916
Book
On Growth and Form
D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson · 1917
Book
The Elements of Dynamic Symmetry
Jay Hambidge · 1919
Book
Dynamic Symmetry: The Greek Vase
Jay Hambidge · 1920
Book
Practical Applications of Dynamic Symmetry
Jay Hambidge · 1920
Book
Proportional Form: Further Studies in the Science of Beauty
Samuel Colman, C. Arthur Coan · 1920
Book
Esthétique des proportions dans la nature et dans les arts
Esthétique des proportions dans la nature et dans les arts
Matila C. Ghyka · 1927
Book
Cybernetics; or, Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine
Norbert Wiener · 1948
Book
Programmierung des Schönen. aesthetica IV
Bense, Max · 1960
Book
CalComp Model 566 Digital Incremental Plotter — Instruction Manual
California Computer Products · 1963
Book
Nove tendencije 2 (New Tendencies 2), Zagreb 1963
Galerija suvremene umjetnosti, Zagreb · 1963
Book
Designing Programmes
Karl Gerstner · 1964
Book
Aesthetica: Einführung in die neue Ästhetik
Max Bense · 1965
Book
Projekte generativer Ästhetik = rot 19
Bense, M., & Nees, G. · 1965
Book
The Four Suits
Benjamin Patterson, Alison Knowles, Philip Corner, Tomas Schmit · 1965
Book
CalComp Model 110 Plotter Controller — Operator's Manual
California Computer Products · 1966
Book
Information Theory and Esthetic Perception
Abraham A. Moles, trans. Joel E. Cohen · 1966
Book
CalComp Liquid Ink Accessory Kits
California Computer Products · 1968
Book
Programming CalComp Pen Plotters
California Computer Products · 1968
Book
Expanded Cinema
Gene Youngblood · 1970
Book
Software, Information Technology: Its New Meaning for Art
Jack Burnham · 1970
Book
Statement by the collective Anonima (May 1968), catalogue 'tendencije 4' (1968-69)
Anonima · 1970
Book
Tendencije 4 (Tendencies 4), Zagreb 1970
Galerija suvremene umjetnosti, Zagreb · 1970
Book
Art et ordinateur
Abraham A. Moles · 1971
Book
CalComp Brochure 1972
California Computer Products · 1972
Book
Tendencije 5 (Tendencies 5), Zagreb 1973
Galerija suvremene umjetnosti, Zagreb · 1973
Book
A.S.A.P. — Automatic Symbolic Artwork Program, Vol. I
California Computer Products · 1974
Book
A.S.A.P. — Automatic Symbolic Artwork Program, Vol. II
California Computer Products · 1974
Book
CalComp Software Reference Manual
California Computer Products · 1976
Book
The Material of Symbols
Harold Cohen · 1976
Book
Video Art: An Anthology
Ira Schneider, Beryl Korot · 1976
Book
Computer Graphics Primer
Mitchell Waite · 1979
Book
Programming CalComp Electromechanical Plotters
California Computer Products · 1980
Book
Art and Technology: The Panacea That Failed
Burnham, Jack · 1981
Book
COMPUTE!'s First Book of Atari
COMPUTE! Books (ed.) · 1981
Book
COMPUTE!'s First Book of Atari Graphics
COMPUTE! Books (ed.) · 1982
Book
COMPUTE!'s Second Book of Atari
COMPUTE! Books (ed.) · 1982
Book
De Re Atari
Chris Crawford, et al. · 1982
Book
Inside Atari DOS
Bill Wilkinson · 1982
Book
SIGGRAPH 1982 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1982
Book
COMPUTE!'s Second Book of Atari Graphics
COMPUTE! Books (ed.) · 1983
Book
Computer Controller Cookbook
Tom Riley, Kelly Riley · 1983
Book
Machine Language for Beginners
Richard Mansfield · 1983
Book
SIGGRAPH 1983 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1983
Book
The Creative Atari
David Small, Sandy Small, George Blank (eds.) · 1983
Book
Assembly Language Programming for the Atari Computers
Mark Chasin · 1984
Book
Atari Graphics and Arcade Game Design
Jeffrey Stanton, Dan Pinal · 1984
Book
Atari Player-Missile Graphics in BASIC
Philip C. Seyer · 1984
Book
Atari Roots: A Guide to Atari Assembly Language
Mark Andrews · 1984
Book
COMPUTE!'s Third Book of Atari
COMPUTE! Books (ed.) · 1984
Book
Creating Adventure Games on Your Computer
Tim Hartnell · 1984
Book
Digital Deli
The Lunch Group, Steve Ditlea (ed.) · 1984
Book
SIGGRAPH 1984 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1984
Book
The Master Memory Map for the Atari
Craig Patchett, Robin Sherer · 1984
Book
The Policeman's Beard Is Half-Constructed
Racter, William Chamberlain, Thomas Etter · 1984
Book
The Second Book of Machine Language
Richard Mansfield · 1984
Book
Zur Geschichte und Ästhetik der Digitalen Kunst
Weibel, Peter · 1984
Book
Mapping the Atari
Ian Chadwick · 1985
Book
SIGGRAPH 1985 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1985
Book
SpeedScript: The Word Processor for Atari Computers
Charles Brannon · 1985
Book
BASIC Computer Adventures
David H. Ahl · 1986
Book
Electronic Computer Projects for Commodore and Atari Personal Computers
Soori Sivakumaran · 1986
Book
Off the Shelf
Harold Cohen · 1986
Book
SIGGRAPH 1986 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1986
Book
The Epson Connection: Atari XE/XL
Leigh Edward Zeitz · 1986
Book
HP 7475A Plotter — Service Manual
California Computer Products · 1987
Book
SIGGRAPH 1987 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1987
Book
Ars Electronica: Die Ars Electronica — Kunst im Zeitsprung (exhibition catalog)
Ars Electronica, Linz · 1989
Book
SIGGRAPH 1989 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1989
Book
Brother Giorgio's Kangaroo
Harold Cohen · 1990
Book
SIGGRAPH 1990 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1990
Book
SIGGRAPH 1991 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1991
Book
SIGGRAPH 1992 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1992
Book
Evolving Line Drawings
Ellie Baker · 1993
Book
SIGGRAPH 1993 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1993
Book
SIGGRAPH 1994 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1994
Book
SIGGRAPH 1995 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1995
Book
Transforming Mirrors: Subjectivity and Control in Interactive Media
David Rokeby · 1995
Book
SIGGRAPH 1996 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1996
Book
A study of audience relationships with interactive computer-based visual artworks in gallery settings, through observation, art practice, and curation
Graham, B. · 1997
Book
SIGGRAPH 1997 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1997
Book
Computing Aesthetics
Machado, Penousal, and Amilcar Cardoso · 1998
Book
In search of the right abstraction: The synergy between art, science, and information technology in the modeling of natural phenomena
Prusinkiewicz, P. · 1998
Book
SIGGRAPH 1998 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1998
Book
Ars Electronica: Ars Electronica 79–99: 20 Jahre Festival (retrospective)
Ars Electronica, Linz · 1999
Book
Art and Technology from the Machine Aesthetic to the Posthuman
Rutsky, R. L. · 1999
Book
SIGGRAPH 1999 Art Show Catalog
ACM SIGGRAPH · 1999
Book
The Garden of Chances: a Visual Ecosystem
Hutzler G., Gortais B., Drogoul A. · 2000
Book
Too Many Notes: Complexity and Culture in Voyager
Lewis, George E. · 2000
Book
The Language of New Media
Manovich, Lev · 2001
Book
Concepts, Notations, Software, Art
Florian Cramer · 2002
Book
Information Arts
Wilson, Stephen · 2002
Book
Conceptual Art and Algorithms
Happersett, S. · 2003
Book
Metacreation. Art and Artificial Life
Whitelaw, Mitchell · 2004
Book
Hungarian Computer Art
Peternák, Miklós · 2005
Book
System stories and model worlds: A critical approach to generative art
Mitchell Whitelaw · 2005
Book
The Electric Sheep Screen-Saver. A Case Study in Aesthetic Evolution
Draves, Scott · 2005
Book
Charles A. Csuri: Beyond Boundaries, 1963-present
Glowski, J. M. (Ed.) · 2006
Book
The Interface as Sign and as Aesthetic Event
Frieder Nake and Susanne Grabowski · 2006
Book
Evolution and Collective Intelligence of the Electric Sheep
Draves, Scott · 2007
Book
Evolutionary and Swarm Design in Science, Art, and Music
Jacob, Christian, and Gerald Hushlak · 2007
Book
Evolutionary Search for the Artistic Rendering of Photographs
Collomosse, John · 2007
Book
Evolutionary Visual Art and Design
Lewis, Matthew · 2007
Book
Experiments in Computational Aesthetics: An Iterative Approach to Stylistic Change in Evolutionary Art
Machado, Penousal, Juan Romero, and Bill Manaris · 2007
Book
Gen8: Architects Experience with an Emergent Design Tool
Hemberg, Martin, Achim Menges, Katrin Jonas, Michel da Costa Goncalves, and Steve Fuchs · 2007
Book
The Myth of Materiality: Presenting and Preserving New Media
Paul, C. · 2007
Book
Toward Greater Artistic Control for Interactive Evolution of Images and Animation
Hart, David August · 2007
Book
Challenges for a Ubiquitous Museum. From the White Cube to the Black Box and Beyond. New Media in the White Cube and Beyond. Curatorial Models for Digital Art
Paul, Christiane · 2008
Book
Evolutionary Pointillist Modules: Evolving Assemblages of 3D Objects
Machado, Penousal, and Fernando Graca · 2008
Book
The control of control - Gordon Pasks kybernetische Asthetik
Rosen, Margit · 2008
Book
The Work of Vladimir Bonacic. A Temporary Realization of the New Tendencies Program
Fritz, Darko · 2008
Book
Creative agency: A clearer goal for artificial life in the arts
Oliver Bown and Jon McCormack · 2009
Book
Comparing Aesthetic Measures for Evolutionary Art
den Heijer, E. & Eiben, A.E. · 2010
Book
Computer Demos—What Makes Them Tick?
Reunanen, Markku · 2010
Book
Learning to Dance through Interactive Evolution
Dubbin, Greg, and Kenneth Stanley · 2010
Book
The Problem with Evolutionary Art Is
Galanter, P. · 2010
Book
Between Punched Film Stock and the First Computers
Burbano, Andrés · 2011
Book
Collaborations with My Other Self: Harold Cohen, October 27–December 9, Exhibition Catalog No. 13
The Gallery @ Calit2 · 2011
Book
Picbreeder: A case study in collaborative evolutionary exploration of design space
Secretan, J., Beato, N., D'Ambrosio, D.B., Rodriguez, A., Campbell, A., Folsom-Kovarik, J.T. & Stanley, K.O. · 2011
Book
Recent paintings of Harold Cohen: A mind's journey to itself
Sundararajan, L. · 2011
Book
Creative Ecosystems. In McCormack, J. & D'Inverno, M. (Eds.) Computers and Creativity, 1st ed., pp. 39-60
McCormack, J. · 2012
Book
"Atlas 2012" augmented reality: A case study in the domain of fine arts
Bovcon, N., Vaupotič, A., Klemenc, B., Solina, F. · 2013
Book
Aesthetics of interaction in digital art
Kwastek, K. (Katja) · 2013
Book
Software Takes Command
Manovich, Lev · 2013
Book
Peripheral Vision: Bell Labs, the S-C 4020, and the Origins of Computer Art
Zabet Patterson · 2015
Book
AI Aesthetics
Lev Manovich · 2018
Book
Performing with Patterns of Time
Magnusson, Thor, and Alex McLean · 2018
Book
Search Engine Art beta
Irini Papadimitriou, Gretchen Andrew · 2018
Book
XXII Generative Art 2019: Proceedings of the XXII Generative Art Conference
Celestino Soddu, Enrica Colabella · 2019
Book
Aesthetics, Artificial Intelligence, and Search-Based Art
Johnson, Colin G. · 2021
Book
Generative Art 2024: Proceedings of the XXVII Generative Art Conference
Celestino Soddu, Enrica Colabella · 2024
Book