Janet Zweig, a Brooklyn-based sculptor, has some great work on her website that gives computer printers a second life and new meaning. The majority of Zweig’s printer-based sculpture was executed in the nineties- though not that long ago it is interesting to note the “old-fashioned” quality of the printers. While they obviously have a more vintage feel now than when they were made, the idea of repurposing printers for something more than thier practical origins is still a valid one. With digital technology’s astounding rate of obsolescence, university surplus stores around the country full of equipment begging for new uses.
Janet Zweig, Thinking Contest, 1995.
About Thinking Contest from Zweig’s website…
Two computers were fed two different vocabularies of adjectives and nouns. In the gallery, each computer thinks up things using its vocabulary and writes sentences by saying “I am thinking of” followed by a randomly chosen adjective, followed by a randomly chosen noun. Some examples (from millions): “I am thinking of Etruscan careers.”, “I am thinking of theoretical mammals.”, “I am thinking of love-sick plywood.”, etc., etc. The big red needle gauges their brainpower.
Janet Zweig, The Prisoner’s Dilemma, 1993.
A key component in Zweig’s work appears to be the performative aspect of the printing. The conversation in the work isn’t about printers/printing but the action of printing is integral to the piece.
Jason, thanks for this! I noted this blog entry on Bostoncyberarts.net, to infiltrate printmaking into the new media clan.
Thanks for spreading the word, Jenny. I just visited http://raepress.blogspot.com the other day!