John Critchett

Statement

I work in algorithmic digital art, primarily cellular automata, spirolaterals, and polyiamond tessellations. The finished product will be a digital archival print. Algorithmic art involves the use of predetermined formulas or procedures to create a design. A process of discovery is involved as the process "evolves." The artist does not necessarily know what the final product will look like. There is still room, however, for the artist to add personal touches to the work in the form of embellishments, and color patterns. The final piece, therefore, may combine the processes of discovery and creation in a way that has never been visualized before.

Artworks

This work is a spirolateral design where the length of successive units begins at one unit and increases by one unit until a length of 11 units is reached. The cycle is repeated, until a closed loop is formed. The turning angle is determined by the following algorithmic rule: if the next side length is even, the turning angle is 60 degrees; if the next side length is odd, the turning angle is 120 degrees. This rule creates a closed loop. The design was inscribed in a diamond shaped border. Smaller triangles and diamonds were assigned one of three colors. The viewer's eyes are drawn to the hexagon in the center of the design.

This work is a spirolateral design where the length of successive line segments begins at one unit and increases by one unit until a length of 20 units is reached. The 20 unit line segment is repeated, before beginning again at one unit. The addition of an extra 20 unit side length in each cycle creates a closed loop. The turning angle is 90 degrees. The four corner squares were added to create the impression of squares within a square. Smaller squares and rectangles were assigned one of three colors. The viewer's eyes are drawn to a 3x3 latin square in the center of the design.