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.

103 records · 267 on the shelf · 953 digital references across 107 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
Oscillons: Electronic Abstractions
Laposky, Ben · 1953
Article
Programmierung des Schönen. aesthetica IV
Bense, Max · 1960
Book
CalComp Model 566 Digital Incremental Plotter — Instruction Manual
California Computer Products · 1963
Book
Computers and Automation, Vol. 12 No. 8 (August 1963) — First Computer Art Contest
Edmund C. Berkeley (ed.) · 1963
Magazine
Nove tendencije 2 (New Tendencies 2), Zagreb 1963
Galerija suvremene umjetnosti, Zagreb · 1963
Book
Programme entwerfen (Designing Programmes)
Gerstner, K. · 1963
Article
Artistic Design by Computer
Mezei, Leslie · 1964
Article
Designing Programmes
Karl Gerstner · 1964
Book
A Book About Love & War & Death, Canto One
Dick Higgins · 1965
Article
Aesthetica: Einführung in die neue Ästhetik
Max Bense · 1965
Book
Projekte generativer Ästhetik
Bense, Max · 1965
Article
Projekte generativer Ästhetik = rot 19
Bense, M., & Nees, G. · 1965
Book
rot 21 — konkrete poesie international
Max Bense, Elisabeth Walther · 1965
Book (scan)
The Four Suits
Benjamin Patterson, Alison Knowles, Philip Corner, Tomas Schmit · 1965
Book
The Portrait of Machine as a Young Artist
J. R. Pierce · 1965
Article
CalComp Model 110 Plotter Controller — Operator's Manual
California Computer Products · 1966
Book
Chance-Imagery
George Brecht · 1966
Article
How To Make a Happening
Allan Kaprow · 1966
Article
Information Theory and Esthetic Perception
Abraham A. Moles, trans. Joel E. Cohen · 1966
Book
An Anthology of Concrete Poetry
Emmett Williams (ed.) · 1967
Book (scan)
the last french-fried potato and other poems
Emmett Williams · 1967
Article
CalComp Liquid Ink Accessory Kits
California Computer Products · 1968
Book
Componeren met de computer
Meertens, Lambert · 1968
Article
Concrete Poetry: A World View
Mary Ellen Solt · 1968
Book (scan)
Introductory speech at the conference Computers and Visual Research, Zagreb, 1968
Abraham A. Moles · 1968
Article
Mogučnosti kompjutera u vizuelnim istraživanjima
Bonačić, V. · 1968
Article
Programming CalComp Pen Plotters
California Computer Products · 1968
Book
Quartet No. 1 in C Major for 2 Violins, Viola and Violoncello
Meertens, Lambert · 1968
Article
Systems Esthetics
Burnham, Jack · 1968
Article
Zašto izlazi 'Bit'
Bašičević, D., Picelj, I. · 1968
Article
Componist en computer
Andriessen, Louis, Leo Geurts and Lambert Meertens · 1969
Article
HPSCHD for Harpsichords and Computer-generated Sound Tapes (liner notes to LP record)
John Cage and Lejaren Hiller · 1969
Article
Notes on the crisis in technological art
Metzger, Gustav · 1969
Article
PAGE 1 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1969-04)
Computer Arts Society · 1969
Magazine
PAGE 2 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1969-05)
Computer Arts Society · 1969
Magazine
PAGE 3 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1969-06)
Computer Arts Society · 1969
Magazine
PAGE 4 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1969-08)
Computer Arts Society · 1969
Magazine
PAGE 5 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1969-11)
Computer Arts Society · 1969
Magazine
The imitation of musical styles by a computer
Meertens, Lambert · 1969
Article
The Technology of Computer Music
Max V. Mathews, Joan E. Miller, F. R. Moore, J. R. Pierce, J. C. Risset · 1969
Book (scan)
Computers for the Arts
Dick Higgins · 1970
Book (scan)
Computers for the Arts
Higgins, Richard C. · 1970
Article
Eight Annual Computer Art Contest
Anonymous · 1970
Article
Expanded Cinema
Gene Youngblood · 1970
Book
PAGE 10 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1970-08)
Computer Arts Society · 1970
Magazine
PAGE 11 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1970-10)
Computer Arts Society · 1970
Magazine
PAGE 12 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1970-11)
Computer Arts Society · 1970
Magazine
PAGE 6 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1970-02)
Computer Arts Society · 1970
Magazine
PAGE 7 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1970-03)
Computer Arts Society · 1970
Magazine
PAGE 8 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1970-05)
Computer Arts Society · 1970
Magazine
PAGE 9 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1970-07)
Computer Arts Society · 1970
Magazine
PAGE no. 9 (Computer Arts Society bulletin)
Geurts, Leo and Lambert Meertens (eds.) · 1970
Article
Postage Stamps Designed by Computer in the Netherlands
Albarda, Eric · 1970
Article
Radical Software, Vol. 1 No. 1 (1970)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1970
Magazine
Radical Software, Vol. 1 No. 2 (1970)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1970
Magazine
Software, Information Technology: Its New Meaning for Art
Jack Burnham · 1970
Book
Statement
F. Nake · 1970
Article
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
The Aesthetics of Intelligent Systems
Burnham, Jack · 1970
Article
A Comment, a Case History and a Plan
Pask, Gordon · 1971
Article
Art et ordinateur
Abraham A. Moles · 1971
Book
Bit International no. 7: Dialogue with the Machine (incl. Nake, On the Inversion of Information Aesthetics)
Frieder Nake, New Tendencies · 1971
Magazine
Computer Graphics: Une esthétique programmée
Manfred Mohr · 1971
Article
Designing letter-like shapes
Meertens, Lambert · 1971
Article
Edward Ihnatowicz's Senster
Benthall, Jonathan · 1971
Article
PAGE 13 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1971-01)
Computer Arts Society · 1971
Magazine
PAGE 14 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1971-02)
Computer Arts Society · 1971
Magazine
PAGE 15 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1971-05)
Computer Arts Society · 1971
Magazine
PAGE 16 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1971-06)
Computer Arts Society · 1971
Magazine
PAGE 17 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1971-07)
Computer Arts Society · 1971
Magazine
PAGE 18 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1971-10)
Computer Arts Society · 1971
Magazine
PAGE 19 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1971-12)
Computer Arts Society · 1971
Magazine
PAGE no. 17 (Computer Arts Society bulletin)
Geurts, Leo and Lambert Meertens (eds.) · 1971
Article
Radical Software, Vol. 1 No. 3 (1971)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1971
Magazine
Radical Software, Vol. 1 No. 4 (1971)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1971
Magazine
The Projects of Generative Aesthetics
Bense, M. · 1971
Article
The Projects of Generative Aesthetics (projekte generativer aesthetik)
Max Bense · 1971
Article
CalComp Brochure 1972
California Computer Products · 1972
Book
Kristalstrukturen van Leo Geurts en Lambert Meertens
Geurts, Leo and Lambert Meertens · 1972
Article
PAGE 20 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1972-02)
Computer Arts Society · 1972
Magazine
PAGE 21 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1972-03)
Computer Arts Society · 1972
Magazine
PAGE 22 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1972-04)
Computer Arts Society · 1972
Magazine
PAGE 23 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1972-05)
Computer Arts Society · 1972
Magazine
PAGE 24 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1972-07)
Computer Arts Society · 1972
Magazine
PAGE 25 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1972-10)
Computer Arts Society · 1972
Magazine
PAGE 26 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1972-11)
Computer Arts Society · 1972
Magazine
PAGE 27 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1972-12)
Computer Arts Society · 1972
Magazine
Radical Software, Vol. 1 No. 5 (1972)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1972
Magazine
Radical Software, Vol. 2 No. 1 (1972)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1972
Magazine
Zastosowania komputerów w sztuce [The Use of Computers in Art]
Zieliński, Gerard · 1972
Article
Art and Technology
Jack Burnham · 1973
Article
Art and the Future (Art)
Davis, Douglas · 1973
Article
PAGE 28 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1973-01)
Computer Arts Society · 1973
Magazine
PAGE 29 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1973-03)
Computer Arts Society · 1973
Magazine
PAGE 30 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1973-04)
Computer Arts Society · 1973
Magazine
PAGE 31 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1973-10)
Computer Arts Society · 1973
Magazine
Parallel to Perception
Harold Cohen · 1973
Article
Radical Software, Vol. 2 No. 2 (1973)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1973
Magazine
Radical Software, Vol. 2 No. 3 (1973)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1973
Magazine
Radical Software, Vol. 2 No. 4 (1973)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1973
Magazine
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
Creative Computing, Vol. 1 No. 1 (November 1974)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1974
Magazine
On Purpose
Harold Cohen · 1974
Article
PAGE 32 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1974-04)
Computer Arts Society · 1974
Magazine
PAGE 33 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1974-12)
Computer Arts Society · 1974
Magazine
Radical Software, Vol. 2 No. 5 (1974)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1974
Magazine
Radical Software, Vol. 2 No. 6 (1974)
Beryl Korot, Phyllis Gershuny (eds.) · 1974
Magazine
Creative Computing, Vol. 1 No. 2 (January 1975)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1975
Magazine
Creative Computing, Vol. 1 No. 3 (March 1975)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1975
Magazine
Creative Computing, Vol. 1 No. 4 (May 1975)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1975
Magazine
Creative Computing, Vol. 1 No. 5 (September 1975)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1975
Magazine
Creative Computing, Vol. 1 No. 6 (November 1975)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1975
Magazine
Not quite Computing – almost Art
Lansdown, John · 1975
Article
PAGE 34 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1975-02)
Computer Arts Society · 1975
Magazine
PAGE 35 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1975)
Computer Arts Society · 1975
Magazine
PAGE 36 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1975-07)
Computer Arts Society · 1975
Magazine
CalComp Software Reference Manual
California Computer Products · 1976
Book
Computer Art System ART-3
Sasaki MK, Sasaki T · 1976
Article
Computer Graphics and Art
Hertlein, G. (ed.) · 1976
Magazine
Computer Graphics and Art, Vol. 1 No. 2 (May 1976)
Grace C. Hertlein (ed.) · 1976
Magazine
Computer Graphics and Art, Vol. 1 No. 3 (August 1976)
Grace C. Hertlein (ed.) · 1976
Magazine
Computer Graphics and Art, Vol. 1 No. 4 (November 1976)
Grace C. Hertlein (ed.) · 1976
Magazine
Creative Computing, Vol. 2 No. 1 (January 1976)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1976
Magazine
Creative Computing, Vol. 2 No. 2 (March 1976)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1976
Magazine
Creative Computing, Vol. 2 No. 3 (May 1976)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1976
Magazine
Creative Computing, Vol. 2 No. 5 (September 1976)
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1976
Magazine
Description du programme 'Molnart' (1974-1976)
Vera Molnar · 1976
Article
PAGE 37 — Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society (1976-09)
Computer Arts Society · 1976
Magazine
The Best of Creative Computing, Volume 1
David H. Ahl (ed.) · 1976
Book (scan)
The Material of Symbols
Harold Cohen · 1976
Book