Leonardo

EditorialAuthor(s): Bryan RogersSource: Leonardo, Vol. 18, No. 3 (1985), pp. 131-132Published by: The MIT PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1578041 .

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Editorial

Commentary on the Current Issue During the last two decades prophecies have repeatedly portrayed the full integration of the computer into the arts, from its obvious applications to the unimaginable. Three articles in this issue leave no doubt as to the validity of these prophecies. The computer is indeed becoming a commonplace tool and medium in the artist's repertoire.

In an extensive two-part article, sculptor Robert Fisher and architect/programmer Raymon Masters detail their collaboration involving computer-aided design (CAD). They discuss the design and ultimate realization of complex sculptural constructions which would have been virtually impossible without the powerful resources of CAD. Artist Myron Kreuger in his "Report from the Artificial Reality Laboratory" explains VIDEOPLA CE, a human-machine interactive environment. He describes the development of this computer/video installation which allows participants to interact in real-time with electronically generated visual imagery. In a scholarly article Susan Brennan outlines the current status of her research on a computer-based, interactive system for caricature generation. One can infer from this essay that the boundary between scientific and artistic investigation is sometimes indistinct.

All three of these essays provide evidence that the computer can transcend its more typical artistic application of generating optically sophisticated graphic imagery; it can also be integral to the investigation and understanding of complex conceptual and physical structures.

In addition to the above articles, this issue contains notes by artists from Belgium, Hungary, Israel and the U.S.A., as well as recently available writings by the noted Russian artist Aleksandr Rodchenko with an introduction by Co-Editor Kirill Sokolov. There is also an update by Co-Editors David Topper and John Holloway of their extensive bibliography (Leonardo 13, 29-33 (1980)) on the literature related to the interrelitionships of the arts, sciences and technology. Finally, design scientist Arthur Loeb has written an in-depth review of Linda Henderson's recent milestone book on The Fourth Dimension and Non-Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art. This review is exemplary as the type of essays we wish to publish on books of major importance to the journal's readership.

Historical Perspectives Section Historian and Leonardo Co-Editor David Topper will be relinquishing his post as editor of

the Journal's semi-annual section entitled "Historical Perspectives on the Arts, Sciences and Technology". A long-time friend of the Journal whose support was particularly important during the recent transition period, Professor Topper has edited this section since 1982. On behalf of the editors, I wish to express our appreciation to him, not only for his written contribution to the Journal, but also for his understanding and support of the comprehensive mission of. the Journal. I look forward to his continuing affiliation as an International Co-Editor.

It is our intention that the Historical Perspectives section continue, although its editorship is untended for the moment. I invite interested and qualified individuals to send proposals for editing this section to my attention. To date the section has functioned as a digest of current historical articles related to the aims and scope of the Journal; however, alternative approaches are equally viable. The section should in some fashion encompass the largest possible historical overview of issues related to the interaction of art, science and technology. Moreover, it should complement the Journal's semi-annual "Theoretical Perspectives on the Arts, Sciences and Technology" section, edited by David Carrier (see issues 17-4 and 18-2).

U.S. National Endowment for the Arts Grant Award During the past two years, a grant from the Artists' Forums category of U.S. National

Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has enabled the Journal to offer honoraria to artists whose writings it publishes. The Journal's editors and its parent organization, the International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology (I.S.A.S.T.), are pleased to announce that our proposal to the NEA has been approved for a third year.

As a result of this funding, published artists will continue to receive U.S.$250 for Articles and U.S.$100 for Notes. The grant will also be used to support Editorial Office expenses incurred in editing artists' writings.

Pergamon Press Ltd. Printed in Great Britain. LEONARDO, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 131-132, 1985 0024-094X/85 $3.00+0.00

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Upcoming Special Issue Commemorating Jacob Bronowski The next issue of Leonardo will be a special issue entitled Jacob Bronowski: A Retrospective.

It originates from a symposium held in 1984 at San Francisco State University to commemorate the esteemed scientist/humanist Jacob Bronowski on the tenth anniversary of his death and to offer contemporary perspectives on his ideas and achievements. The conference was sponsored by the NEXA Science-Humanities Convergence Program of the California State University System.

The special issue will include articles by Rita Bronowski, Clifford Grobstein, Gerald Holton, Bruce Mazlish, Charles Shapiro, Jonas Salk and Paul Saltman, developed from their presentations at the Symposium. A number of Bronowski's previously published writings will also be included along with his complete bio-bibliography.

Honorary Editors Frank Oppenheimer and Francois le Lionnais The editors acknowledge with sadness the loss of two of the Journal's ardent supporters,

Francois le Lionnais and Frank Oppenheimer. The varied intellectual and artistic interests of Francois le Lionnais are the subject of a letter from Honorary Editor Claude Berge in this issue's Letters section. The life and career of Frank Oppenheimer, noted physicist and science museum director, are the subject of a reprinted obituary by David Perlman in the Documents section of this issue. Dr Oppenheimer was a charter member of the I.S.A.S.T. Board of Directors; his counsel regarding the Journal was critical during its recent Editorial Office transition.

I.S.A.S.T. Bulletin Starting with this issue, the Journal's regular "International News and Opportunities"

section is being converted to the I.S.A.S.T. Bulletin. The Bulletin will include information on the activities of I.S.A.S.T. and will continue the publication of timely material regularly found in the International News and Opportunities section.

Bryan Rogers Editor

I amfully conscious that, not being a literary man, certain presumptuous persons will think that they may reasonably blame me; alleging that I am not a man of letters. Foolish folks! Do they not know that I might retort as Marius did to the Roman Patricians by saying: that

they, who deck themselves out in the labours of others will not allow me my own. They will

say that I, having no literary skill, cannot

properly express that which I desire to treat of; but they do not know that my subjects are to be dealt with by experience rather than by words; and (experience) has been the mistress of those who wrote well. And so, as mistress, I will cite her in all cases.

LEONARDO DA VINCI Reprinted with permission

from The Literary Works of Leoiardo da Vinci, JEAN PAUL

RICHTER, 2nd Ed. P1i6. Oxford University Press (1939).

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