Sculpture and computers.

The 15th International Sculpture Conference, held in San Francisco this past summer, included a number of workshops and panel presentations on the use of computers and sculpture. Artists showed how computers are being used to develop and explore sculptural ideas. Once a sculpture model has been developed on the computer, the artist can examine how it would look from different views, with different materials, lighting and in various settings. Computers are also being used to develop templates for the actual construction of the sculpture.

Composing a Sculpture

Bruce Beasley, of Oakland, California, talked about sculpture and the computer.

"I began using computers when I found myself fascinated by a new imagery involving complex intersections of simple geometric forms... I was determined to find a way to make this imagery spontaneous and simple to work with....I find that [on the computer] I am able to work fully in-the-round even better than previously, because making a change is so easy that there is less tendency to compose the piece from one primary view....I have the spontaneity of a drawing, with the reality and multiplicity of a three-dimensional model," said Beasley.

Beasley used plotter drawings from the computer to finally realize his sculpture in either cast bronze or fabricated welded sheets of bronze plates. But the computer also played a valuable role in the early creation of the work.

Experiencing with Design Possibilities

"Others may find it difficult to believe, but for me, both emotionally and functionally, the model on the computer is fully a three-dimensional object...a change that might take several days of cutting and fitting cardboard, or even weeks if it were in metal, can be done in a few minutes on the computer."

"Fabrication is one of many years where computers can be of use to sculptors. Computers can produce full-size flat patterns as well as dimensional drawings form complex computer-generated solid models. Computers can drive a wide variety of plate or sheet cutting machines directly from the computer model without the artist having to produce templates or patterns."

Whatever the material is or the cutting machine employed, the computer information remains the same.

Exploring Concepts

New York sculptor Kenneth Snelson works in high tension stainless steel cable and hollow tubes to build tower sculptures like the one on permanent display at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC. Snelson works on a Silicon Graphics computer workstation with the same software used by animators in Hollywood, only he designs sculpture. Snelson has also had a long-term interest in the structure of the atom and has used these same computer tools to explore various concepts of atomic models.

Sculptors, like architects, are finding the three-dimensional modeling programs available on computers today more useful to their needs and thus are making them a part of the design process. Because sculptors must also realize their work through the machining of materials, computers hooked to industrial cutting machines have been an important extension of the design process. But for most of us, as viewers of art, the computer's role is invisible because it's work is often hidden in the process.

An Interactive Object within a Sculpture

A new area of exploration has emerged where sculptors are using the computer as an interactive object within sculptural installations. The computer becomes a part of the sculpture, sometimes embedded into it. In the future, we can expect to see this pattern of the computer appearing and then disappearing in both the process and presentation of sculptural work. We can see ancient and modern technologies working hand in hand.

Kenneth R. O'Connell is a professor and head of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Oregon in Eugene.