art @ IIT presents Ben Laposky’s Pioneering 1953 Electronic Abstractions Exhibition: Restaged and Remixed
Chicago, IL — April 12, 2006 —
The late Ben Laposky is among the pioneers in electronic art, which preceded the development of computer graphics. This exhibit recreates his first exhibition held in 1953. It includes more than 100 black & white and color images, and is the first showing of his collected works and historical images from his archives in more than 35 years. The exhibit runs through September 16. Hours are Monday - Thursday: 12 - 6 pm; Friday, 12 - 5 pm; Saturday, 8:30 am - 5 pm; and Sunday, 2 - 6 pm.
An opening reception will be held Thursday, April 13, 4:30 - 7:30 pm., presented in the Kemper Room Art Gallery, Paul V. Galvin Library.
The art @ IIT exhibit will also display reproductions of photographs of Laposky, his equipment, and documents found in his archives. The archives also include more than 125 photographs that were never mounted or displayed; these will be on view. As a number of Laposky’s exhibitions included electronic music of the time, art @ IIT will play compositions performed on a Moog Synthesizer.
The 1953 exhibition is comprised of large photographs of beautiful design compositions created by electrical wave forms produced on a cathode-ray oscilloscope. The oscilloscope, similar to a TV receiver in appearance, has varied uses in electronics. Given the current wide use of electronics in science and industry, it is of special interest to find this application in the field of art.
Laposky's development of this electronic technique was the most advanced, yet it showed, especially in terms of complexity, variety, and abstract art values of the designs he called "Oscillons." For a period covering more than 16 years, starting in the early 1950's, he made a study of design related to mathematical forms and related natural forms, including pendulum patterns. As the oscilloscope displayed many similar patterns, Laposky was led to consider its use to combine them or shape them, creating new abstract forms of art. The result of his work is a fascinating series of abstract designs, many of which give the impression of being suspended in space. The unusual effects obtained are especially appropriate and in line with the trend toward the abstract in much of contemporary art in other media.
Laposky began creating the black & white series of pieces in 1950, and the color pieces, using a set of filters, in 1957, continuing through 1969. The 1953 exhibition of 50 plates comprised more than 6,000 photographs Laposky had taken.
This exhibit is curated by Robert J. Krawczyk, art @ IIT gallery director, and assistant professor in the College of Architecture.
Special thanks to the Sanford Museum, Cherokee, Iowa, Linda Burkhart, Director, for allowing access to and display of the Laposky Archives and for co-sponsoring this exhibition.
Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting technological university that awards degrees in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering, as well as architecture, psychology, design, business, and law. IIT’s interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum prepares the university’s 6,200 students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex and culturally diverse global workplace.
