 James Seawright utilizes microprocessors to activate movement within Cube I.
As one approaches this minimalist sculpture, rotating scanners move inside the object.
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| Art and Interpretation by Tony S | |
| Marveling at the
precise mechanical motion of it's sensors, I contemplated what was being detected,
processed and how the encounter will progress. Would the Cube perform a telepathic mind
scan to gather information for some alien purpose? Would an attempt to touch the cube
result in vaporization from one or more of its cylinders pointed in my direction? With
pounding heart, I approached the cube for a closer look. Cube 1's body is a perfect cube,
measuring 12 inches on each side. It's skin is a smooth gloss black. From each corner
protrudes a cylinder, 6 inches long with the approximate diameter of a ball point pen. The
cylinders, four on each of the six surfaces, total twenty-four. Each one forms a
perpendicular angle with it's attached side. These cylinders or legs have the same smooth
gloss black finish as the body. The ends are pointed and solid. From the center of each
side and top, protrudes an additional leg, similar to the others but only 2 inches long,
with a sensor platform attached to the end of each. Each platform, rectangular in shape,
measuring 1 by 3 inches, is covered with electronic components. Most notable are two
glowing red eye-like sensors mounted to each platform. Each platform rotates with a slow,
jerky, clocklike motion on it's attached leg. Each one's motion is independent of the
others. No sensor platform is mounted on the bottom surface of the cube. The cube was
totally silent as if floating in the void of outer space. The relation of technology to
the art can be explained at two levels of awareness. In the physical or real level, the
technology used to create this piece is very simple. Ruler, hacksaw, little soldering and
welding. Basically putting together some very common items to satisfy the form element of
the art. The vision of the artist, when creating the piece, boosts the work into the next
level. At this virtual level, each viewer envisions something of considerable value....
The symmetry and geometric perfection of Cube 1 induced it's virtual perfection in my
mind. Viewing the Cube filled my mind with numerous scenes from science fiction
films and television shows which conveyed a similar message. The speaking computer of the
USS Enterprise, Robbie of the "Forbidden Planet," the all time classic 2001,
Astronaut Dave Bowman deactivating HAL as HAL sings daisy! .... The message conveyed by
the work is that of artificial intelligence. This area of technology can be comparable to
organic intelligence, as knowledge in both areas are constantly increasing. Small fast
powerful processors, coupled with a wide assortment of "intelligent" peripheral
devices, they do seem to have a mind of their own. Their mind, software programs, are also
evolving at the same exponential rate as hardware. The cube leaves all the exciting
possibilities of electronic intellect to the viewer's imagination. (Tony S) top
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 The imagery captured in Gregory Barsamian’s kinetic sculpture springs from the unconscious. He replicates dream fragments and transforms them through the use of three-dimensional animation. Barsamian’s imagery in Mother May I ? is perhaps a commentary on accelerated cycles of production and destruction that occur on "Mother Earth." (CACV) |
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| Art and Interpretation by Tamara F | |
| Stop what you are doing for a moment. I want you to help me with this by closing your eyes. Now imagine each element of this awesome work of art as I describe it for you. Lets start with picturing a large almost oval shaped globe or sphere, about the size in circumference as a tire. The textures are like the ones you would see showing hills and valleys or mountains on a globe. Use of color was very dramatic. The artist used shades of destruction (deep green, dark brown and black). The sphere, like the earth, is continually spinning on an axis (which in this case is hanging from the ceiling). A strobe-light sends its gleam upon all surfaces of the sphere that you can see from where you are standing. The ceiling is the midnight sky. The sphere is hanging in the sky and seems like it is just within reach. Upon taking a closer look, there is the view of a hand extruding out of the surface of the sphere. This hand appears to be picking up an egg; ever so carefully. Suddenly, the egg is smashing back to the earth-life sphere, from the power of the humans hand (egg yolk oozing). Now lay down on the floor directly below this sphere. The mind sees what had appeared to be the motions and movements of one hand, but is actually many individually formed hands in differing poses. Now you are able to see the step-by-step movement the hand goes through. It picks up the egg and then smashes it never pausing. Response: My feelings were very heart-felt. I try to live my life always doing my little part to help the earth and my fellow brothers and sisters. Keeping the earth protected from harm where I can. In "Mother May I?" I saw major intentional destruction. It reminded me of acts so many people commit each and every day. One person throws a soda can or cigarette butt out their car window. Thinking how just one can be so many. It may only be that one person I am seeing at that moment in time. I think further about how that one person being ten, twenty, thirty, one hundred or even thousands of people doing the same act, at that very same moment in time. This leads to an amount of destruction unimaginable to most thinking minds. The grasping and lifting of the egg was like a welcoming of life's beginnings. Then without thinking the hand smashes the hopes and dreams of life's possibilities, laying the egg out in shattered pieces. Still the life in the rotation continues. We must understand the repeating of nature's lessons along with the continual rotations of the healing earth. If we can't learn from our past destruction of our resources, we cannot make a life better or otherwise for our children of the future. We are only borrowing today for ourselves, from what belongs to our future generations of tomorrow. (Tamara F) top | |
 Sarah Garden Armstrong’s sculpture juxtaposes technology and organic materials to replicate natural, life-sustaining functions-such as the respiratory system. (CACV) |
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