Le Random Le Random

In our chat, "Pioneering Digital Expression in the '90s," from April 10, 2024, a panel of legends joins Le Random's ⁠Peter Bauman⁠, ⁠Conrad House and thefunnyguys⁠. They share their diverse perspectives on the 1990s as pioneers of an often overlooked decade. It's only overlooked because of its recency, as the impact the decade had can still be seen all around today, including AI and Internet-related art. The parallels between artists getting started on the Internet in the '90s and artists beginning with blockchain and AI today are stark. Enjoy one of Le Random's most enriching conversations yet.



Speakers include: Auriea Harvey, Joshua Davis, LIA, Scott Draves, Vuk Ćosić



Chapters 📖

[00:00:04]: Introduction to the Le Random discussion



[00:05:05]: Early experiences with net art in the 90s



[00:17:16]: Early programming experiences and Flash art



[00:27:27]: Creation of the Electric Sheep algorithm



[00:31:58]: Evolutionary art and machine learning influence



[00:44:02]: Personal connections and significance of local scenes



[00:49:21]: Impact of global audience on creative freedom



[00:56:56]: Use of Flash and freedom in artistic expression



[00:58:41]: Influence of avant-garde and personal creative journey



[00:59:45]: Reflections on early internet experiences and creativity



[01:01:12]: Introduction to Flash vs. Director



[01:02:42]: Transition to Flash for Design Intention



[01:04:06]: Benefits of Vector-Based Design in Flash



[01:06:38]: Evolution to Processing and Coding



[01:08:55]: Transition from Director to P5JS



[01:09:56]: Learning Different Programming Languages



[01:10:42]: Challenges of Shader Programming



[01:11:13]: Node-Based Programming Tools



[01:12:46]: Impact of Tools and Languages in Work



[01:15:16]: Reflections on the '90s Tech Community

The Le Random team met up to celebrate a year since our public launch.



thefunnyguys, Zack Taylor, Peter Bauman and Conrad House discuss:



-One year of LR: Our favorite collected pieces


36 Points by Sage Jensen & seeds of seeds by Entangled Others
Polygona Nervosa by Golan Levin
RGB Elementary Cellular Automaton #1 by ciphrd
Mondrian by Herbert W. Franke

-One year of LR: Our favorite editorial pieces


Demystifying Generative Aesthetics by Peter
Demystifying Generative Art by Peter
AGH on Glorifying the Computer by Peter
Il(Lumina)ting Marfa by Nathaniel Stern
Zach Lieberman on the Resonance of Generative Art by Peter

-One year of LR: Our favorite moments

-Our current thoughts on the market

-Questions from the audience

In our chat, "Pioneers of '80s Art & Innovation," from February 7, 2024, a panel of icons joins Peter Bauman and Conrad House. They share their diverse perspectives on the 1980s in digital and generative art, reflecting the decade's richness and complexity.



Speakers include: Mark Wilson, Copper Giloth, Dan Sandin, David Em, William Latham, Stephen Todd, Darcy Gerbarg + Geoff Davis



Chapters 📖



[00:00:00]: Introduction



[00:01:55]: The Decade of the 80s



[00:02:30]: Darcy Gerbarg's Experience



[00:06:36]: Copper Giloth's Pioneering Work



[00:09:04]: Mark Wilson's Journey



[00:14:53]: David Em's Early Encounters



[00:20:50]: William Latham's IBM Fellowship



[00:24:50]: Stephen Todd's Collaboration with William



[01:00:02]: Early experiences with personal computers



[01:01:13]: Transition to personal computers for artists



[01:03:01]: Evolution of personal computers in the 80s



[01:04:22]: Giloth on gender bias in the '80s art world



[01:06:21]: Giloth on computer graphics & the portrayal of women's bodies



[01:08:38]: Expansion of artist community in the '80s



[01:10:19]: Generative art and its evolution



[01:13:47]: Creativity & the Chicago video game industry



[01:17:05]: Influence of Silicon Graphics on commercial graphics

On February 1, 2024, Le Random collaborated with Joyn to host and present a community celebration of Genuary. Genuary is a generative art month, during which artists create daily pieces according to 31 carefully selected prompts.

We invited some very special artists as guests, including the organizer of the event itself, Piter Pasma. We asked the artists about their experience participating in Genuary 2024 and more. The talk is in conjunction with an article Peter Bauman (Monk Antony) wrote on Joyn.xyz, where he curated and shared his thoughts on his 10 favorite Genuary prompts.

Hosts: Aleksandra Art (Joyn), Peter Bauman⁠ (Content at Le Random), thefunnyguys (Co-Founder of Le Random), Conrad House (Nemo Cake, Collecting at Le Random) and Andrea (Crown & Palette at Joyn)

Arists: Piter Pasma, Ella, Darien Brito, Ahmad Moussa

The Le Random team of ⁠⁠⁠thefunnyguys⁠⁠⁠, Peter Bauman (⁠⁠⁠Monk Antony⁠⁠⁠) and Conrad House (⁠⁠⁠Nemo Cake⁠⁠⁠) spoke to special guest and celebrated collector ⁠⁠⁠Michael Spalter about the dense history of the 1960s in generative art⁠, the Early Digital Era.



This episode corresponds with:


⁠⁠⁠Generative Art Timeline: Chapter 4⁠⁠



10 Significant Early Digital Era Moments (Covered in the talk)⁠


1961: New Tendencies and Fluxus Begin


1963: Nake begins making computer art + 1965: Homage a Paul Klee


1965: First computer art exhibits (Computergrafik (Feb), Computer-Generated Pictures, and computer grafik (Nov))


1966: CTG and generative systems


1966: 9 Evenings and E.A.T. Forms


1967: Sol LeWitt “Paragraphs on Conceptual Art” + 1969 Wall Drawings


1967: Charles Csuri’s early work 


1968: Cybernetic Serendipity 


1968-9: Major international art and technology exhibitions: 




1968: The machine as seen… (USA)


1969: Tendencies 4 (Europe)





10. 1968: Molnar’s Interruptions: her first computer art

The Le Random team of ⁠⁠thefunnyguys⁠⁠, Peter Bauman (⁠⁠Monk Antony⁠⁠) and Conrad House (⁠⁠Nemo Cake⁠⁠) spoke to special guest and acclaimed expert Georg Bak ⁠about the foundational significance of the 1950s in generative art history: The Analog Era.



This episode corresponds with:


⁠⁠Generative Art Timeline: Chapter 3⁠



10 Significant Modern Era Moments (Covered in the talk)⁠



1951: MIT and the US Navy First Demonstrate the Whirlwind Computer ( + 1954: Whirlwind and SAGE Initiatives by US Military Funding Spark Computing Innovations)


1952: Love-Letters by Christopher Strachey + 1959: Theo Lutz produces Stochastic Texts


1952: Abstronic by Mary Ellen Bute + Electronic Abstractions by Ben Laposky


1952: Birth of Neo-Dada + John Cage’s Theater Piece No. 1 + 1957: Allan Kaprow Begins Making ‘Environments’ + 1950: Happenings


1953: Grace Murray Hopper Invents Programming Languages


1954: Victor Vasarely’s Yellow Manifesto Lays Generative Art's Conceptual Foundation


1956: CYSP by Nicolas Schöffer


1957: John Backus Releases FORTRAN


1957: Max Mathews Develops MUSIC I


1958: John Whitney Makes First Computer Animation for Film Vertigo