motion light cube this is about a Simple idea that yields maximum complexity Simultaneity/motion/light

Transcription

1 motion light cube this is about a Simple idea that yields maximum complexity Simultaneity/motion/light Light/motion cube 1974 Problem statement Design a one foot cube defining motion and light (seqence) Simple format Could not photograph the experience What you actually saw A dada event Sensation of infinite reflections Dynamic/recursive/kinetic Dynamic misalignment Response: 4 two way mirrors Opaque horizontal plane above Translucent horizontal plane below 9 rotating mirrored planes (both sides) electric motors

2 smoked cigs down to the nib John Peterson 1973

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4 his partner in establishing the freshman program an artist, a graphic designer independently wealthy Director Cincinnati contemporary Art Center director 1970 divorce/fired/denied tenure (had no degree) Albers connection William A. Leonard 1973

5 Donald Judd Jasper Johns By Owen Findsen The Cincinnati Enquirer There have been many memorable exhibitions, but those that I recall most fondly are some of the first that I covered. Monumental Art (1970) was too big for a gallery. The Contemporary Arts Center filled downtown streets with large abstract sculpture. For a little while, the city looked like a world class arts center.

6 berger ratterman sue terzian monte Huebsch moxy freshman colleagues

7 leonard drew something like this on the wall in response to the question what should it look like? a box a light a screen don t worry about it. just do it. if you want to b.s. go to arts and sciences assignment: make a light box (projected color and light)

8 similar in modest respects to the Albers piece light box - december 1973

9 motion light cube 1974 motion cube 1974 Problem statement : Design a one foot cube defining motion and light (sequence) Simple format

10 first idea Leonard s critique: looks like an egg-beater

11 second idea presented: I wanted the 9 planes to rotate in unison simple question: how are you going to rotate these planes? you have to figure it out. response to criticism: 9 simultaneous rotating planes

12 given: design a one foot cube containing motion motion cube problem - spring 1974 (Cincinnati)

13 external - internal - intersitial

14 transparent/reflective cube

15 Response: 4 two way mirrors four transparent mirrored planes

16 horizontal compression

17 nine aligned planes (as two-sided mirrors)

18 mechanical system: motion mechanical system: light bulbs mechanical systems

19 complete system

20 it didnʼt work couldnʼt find a way to make it work pulleys, strings I did not have the technical skill to make it work it didn t work work

21 revised given: design a one foot cube containing motion & light neiman assignment: motion/light cube but even though it didnʼt work he thought that the idea of a mirrored cube with mirrored rotating planes was intriguing enough so he allowed me to continue working on it for the next exercise the light cube my given: design a one foot cube containing motion and light every one else did a cube containing light. my assignment in effect was what we were supposed to do for the final project later on. in my failure I was actually doing a more advanced project.

22 mechanical system: motion with motors mechanical system: translucent light new mechanical system Opaque horizontal plane above Translucent horizontal plane below 9 rotating mirrored planes (both sides) electric motors

23 but what about the simultaneity? rotation begins

24 misalignments begin

25 each revolution causes a further degree of misalignment dynamic misalignment observed

26 dynamic misalignment established

27 I thought I was going to get an F. misalignment

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42 Could not photograph the experience (at least I couldnʼt) What you actually saw was a dada event random open to chance the Sensation of infinite reflections and lighting conditions a Dynamic/recursive/kinetic experience Dynamic misalignment discovered dynamic mis-alignment

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