This is it!

After an exciting semester in ISTA 401, its time to wrap it up with this final posting.  Throughout the course, I was introduced to Processing, as well as learned some techniques I probably would not have learned if some one pointed me in its direction and said "ok, go for it".  For my final project, I decided to create a binary search tree type website program that takes the user through the course in a way similar to how I felt jumping in.  Within it, I discuss the importance of design in blogging, include links to the processing.org reference page for beginner topics, as well as the to libraries of minim and peasy cam.  Within the site, I used HTML, and CSS to style the text and add in pictures to my code.  In order to write the code, I used Sublime text, which is essentially a text editor with the capability to recognize key words and symbols, such as if statements within Processing.  At the end of this post, you will see a screenshot of the code of my main page.  As a solo final project, I did all of the work within my project, from concept and ideas, to the actual coding and design/layout of each individual page.  My hope with this project was to give the viewers a chance to experience my experience that I had taking this class.  The reason that I interpret it as art is because it is intended to give the user the feel of the class that I had, however it can easily give other emotions (perhaps humor as they see our professor with a cat).  I had a lot of fun making this project, and I hope it will provide useful information to those using the site whether they be current students, future students, or just anyone interested in learning more about ISTA 401.  Its been a fun semester you guys, I wish you all the best in the future.      

Thoughts On A Few Projects

To be honest, I feel that Marie's "Path Taken" would be a rather interesting project to create on a visual screen (though would be much more appealing on a floor).  I can visualize a grid that lights up squares as the mouse hovers over them to light it up (easy statement, no "off switch" necessary).  Then more statements involving color changes if the user moves the cursor outside the path, with a random generator fill (three random variables in place of integers).  It should be visually appealing as well as fun to do and able to do in the given time frame.
Brian's musical work also interests me because it is not visual art (though could be tied together) and seems like it would be an entertaining program to work on.  I would need more information to truly elaborate though.

Art Ideas

1).  A blank screen that requires user interface.  Changes shapes upon key press, mirrors shape in different colors and random properties.
2).  Shapes falling that when hit the floor turn into several other shapes, repeats multiple times.
3).  Sound/Art video, movement corresponding to song.
4).  3D Kinect images.
5).  Mirrored objects, shapes continuously drawn until different shape is desired, does not fade.  On set timer.
6).  Timeline of Grade School-College
7.)  Impossible tic-tac-toe.  User plays a game of tic tac toe against the AI, if a win condition is present, the last shape drawn is random (ex) triangle.
8).  Animate coffee mug cycling different Java language terms
9.)  Paintball fight via clicking mouse
10).  Fuzzy image that becomes more focused when mouse moved, if moved too fast screen goes black.

Artistic Statment

Joe McGeachy is an installation artist who works with reflective materials and light. He is putting the power of curiosity and light into the observers hands with his latest work, "Source Reflection." With a room made of mirrors, he gives the observer the power to explore the true power of light. With every angle imaginable at the palm of the observers hands. With only the limit of curiosity, all is possible with his latest work, "Source Reflection." Will update when more refined ideas are introduced.

Visual Poetry Representation

The purpose of this assignment was to create a text file breaking down the parts of speech of an existing poem, and creating a random generator to alter and edit the different parts of speech.  Originally I wanted to use the delay() function in Processing to make the poem appear at different portions, however it only worked in the black box of the print statements as opposed to the actual output of the program.  I did however make my own fonts and got them to change depending on if the word was a verb, noun, adjective, ect.  In order to add some variety to the code, I drew a rectangle that appears wherever the  mouse is on the screen.  The rectangle is moderately sized so that it can cover any noun on the screen to hide it.  If the reader does not like the output or if the noun given does not make sense, they can scroll over it to hide it for the poem to make more sense.  This rectangle also does not hide any of the other parts of speech, so it does not interrupt the flow of the poem.  I had a lot of fun with this project despite the errors I encountered along the way.  The poem that I decided to scramble was "The Sexless Innkeeper" as seen in How I Met Your Mother.  The poem created followed the scheme of The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe.  While a few poems created were difficult to read all the way through, others produced a few hearty chuckles.  

Project 1, Abstract Recreation

For my project I decided to recreate Kazmir Malevich's Avtoportret v dvukh izmereniiakh (Self Portrait in Two Dimensions) created first in 1915. My Work is linked, the original is here.  I chose this work to begin with because I know nothing of processing prior to this class (I am currently taking 301 at the same time) and thought that this piece was complex enough to get the basics down.  This piece struck me because it involved multiple shapes and colors, as well as the alignment of the corners of shapes as well.  For colors I would rate it a 7 out of 10 because without these colors the work would be very boring to look at, just a bunch of placed images on a page.  However I would give the placement of these shapes a 10 out of 10.  The big dark square in the upper center of the page ties everything together.  What I mean is the corners of other shapes lie in an almost perfectly straights line in respect to other shapes on the page, as such I used the square for placement of my other shapes inside my code.  As a Computer Science major, I like order, yet this work was categorized as abstract.  I guess what I like most about this piece is how everything ties together neatly, yet leaves room for interpretation.  I believe this is the reason that this work was selected for MOMA's site.  I see it as a gateway to explore further connections that are not directly implied to be seen.

Three Artists/Styles, Homework Zero Part 2

According to Wikipedia, the definition of installation art describes an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces, whereas exterior interventions are often called land art; however, the boundaries between these terms overlap.  While I know Wikipedia is not a reliable source for information, I needed a place to get started.  I searched Google for installation artists and came across an artist known as Pat Bandani.  Bandani caught my attention because much of their artwork involved sculptures made of bread bowls.  Why this caught my eye the way it did, I am really not sure (perhaps I am just hungry?).  In any case, Bandani sort of opened my eyes to the idea that anything can be made into art with the right mindset and a little creativity.  I look forward to seeing what other artists are out there and what kind of art can be made with just about anything.  Here is the link to one of the bread sculptures I ran into, and other works by Pat Bandani

While searching for experimental artists, I visited the other side of art in finding Zeenah Spirit.  Though I realize the last name could be in reference to the art, her art style is very spiritual.  To be honest, I find this art to be a bit eerie, and probably will not continue to investigate this artist too much more after this blog.  I am not sure how to describe the phenomenon, but there is something about her color choice and design that just makes me tilt my head in a non enjoyable manner.  In any case I have respect for the artist and the art, is it my favorite? No.  But my personal opinion doesn't lower the quality of the artworks in question, art is in the eyes of the viewer right?

Software Art is my favorite of the previously mentioned art styles because it is in my favorite area of study.  The Electric Sheep by Scott Draves is especially interesting to me because it does not seem like a software art piece, but rather a carefully painted image.  It kind of made me wonder what other possibilities there are in the field of software art.  I am excited to work with Processing so that I may see if I like my own creations as much as I enjoy viewing other examples of software art.  I like the freedom that software offers, as well as how it enables programmers to use their technical skills for an artistic purpose.


For some reason you have to highlight my top paragraph to read the information (on my machine at least, I hope this is not an issue for anyone else).

That's all for today folks, see you next time.