The Computer as an Art Tool at Hurlbutt Gallery at the Greenwich Public Library, Connecticut

This small exhibition in Connecticut, where Mark Wilson is based, featured many of the prominent computer artists of the 1980s. The show defied was a relative rarity in that it showed work in North America in a fine art setting as opposed to being attached to technological and scientific conferences. The show demonstrated that art made by computers was still continuing to gain acceptance.

According to this review in the New York Times, while there was excitement for the event, many viewers found the results underwhelming, especially given the sophisticated tools involved. The exhibition featured works by various artists and mediums, including the early experiments by the legendary Darcy Gerbarg in computer-generated abstract art.

Mark Wilson and Manfred Mohr’s highly detailed computer-generated pieces came closest to fulfilling the expectations of the general public. Margot Lovejoy incorporated computer-derived images into three-dimensional constructions, addressing societal changes.

The exhibition also included computer-generated motion in videos set to music. Lillian Schwartz’s steel mobile, programmed to move uniquely for years, was exhibited and particularly appreciated at the event, according to the New York Times review. Visitors could interact with painting programs on Apple computers in a back room, offering a glimpse into the future of computer art.