Talk: CAS Online Open Evening
Sean Clark, Catherine Mason, Paul Brown, Stephen Bell, Graham Diprose
22nd February 2023, 19:00
Zoom
Chair Sean Clark and committee members warmly welcome attendees to the CAS Online Open Evening. Paul Brown, Stephen Bell and Graeme Diprose introduce their computer-art backgrounds, while Clark outlines upcoming hybrid talks, the CAS50 collection, the PAGE archive, the Computer Arts Archive CIC and exhibitions including a Paul Brown retrospective.
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Video Recording
Sean Clark introduces the Computer Arts Society's programme through a tour of its website, explaining how exhibitions, talks and archives connect contemporary practice with digital art history. He proposes touring print exhibitions that can expand through local materials, original artworks and associated events, alongside opportunities for members to contribute work and organise discussions. Archival priorities include documenting more recent society activity, preserving exhibition records and maintaining websites rather than depending entirely on changing content management systems. Clark demonstrates collections relating to CAS50, Micro Arts, Harold Cohen and Cybernetic Serendipity, distinguishing physical holdings from linked digital resources. Paul Brown outlines a historical discussion of AI centred on relationships between the Slade and Leicester Polytechnic, stressing that questions about originality and machine collaboration precede current technologies. Graham Diprose describes EVA London's combination of peer reviewed research, creative presentations, workshops and informal exchange, including support for projects. Audience contributions consider recovering the Quantel Paintbox's influence, constructing timelines and narratives from archival material, and recognising overlooked practitioners. Discussion also explores boundaries between art, design and data visualisation, with participants favouring openness over rigid definitions. International collaboration, shared exhibitions and educational access emerge as ways to extend the society's reach while strengthening its historical resources.
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About the Event
At the CAS Open Evening, chair Sean Clark and committee members welcome new and returning attendees and outline the Computer Arts Society's recent activities and future plans. Paul Brown, Stephen Bell and Graeme Proctor introduce themselves and their longstanding connections to computer art, from 1960s plotter work and Slade School experiments to EVA London and long-term digital preservation research. Clark reviews the society's programme of monthly talks at the BCS in London, hybrid online access via Zoom and YouTube, and the PAGE magazine archive now freely available online. He describes the CAS50 collection, the Computer Arts Archive Community Interest Company, and upcoming exhibitions including a retrospective of Paul Brown's work. The evening emphasises the society's aim to support practitioners working with computers and digital media across art, research and education, and invites attendees to participate by presenting their own work, joining the committee, or contributing to the growing archive. The session closes with informal discussion and an open invitation to future events.