2020 Joint Mathematics Meetings
Gary Greenfield
Artists
Gary Greenfield
Professor Emeritas of Mathematics & Computer Science
University of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia, USA
Statement
Most of my computer generated artworks arise from visualizations of mathematical, physical or biological processes. I want to focus the viewer's attention on the complexity and intricacy underlying such processes. Most recently, I have been exploiting the tension that arises from generating minimalist art using complex processes.
Artworks
What Are You Looking At?
23 x 15 cm
Digital print
2019
On a 200 x 300 toroidal grid each cell has four rotors that advance independently. The rotors have 8, 5, 4 and 4 segments numbered 1-8, 1-5, 1-4 and 1-4. After rotor initialization, four cells are selected to receive "painting objects" that paint in different colors and, respectively, have finite sequences over the alphabet (R)ight, (D)own, (L)eft, (U)p of lengths 8, 5, 4 and 4. At each time step, cells with objects assume the color of the object, use the value of the appropriate rotor as an index for deciding where to send the object, and then advance the appropriate rotor. This "rotor router" model is used to deterministically simulate random walks. We use a genetic algorithm to find placements and sequences that maximize connectivity.