Intro

My name is Matt Rutherford. I'm an interdisciplinary studies major (concentrations in computer science and fine art) and am pursuing a master's degree in computer science. I intend to, in this course, develop and understand concepts and learn to effectively communicate those concepts. I'm hoping that whatever ideas I play with in this class with also help me work out ideas for my master's thesis.

My visual art is composed mostly with computer code. I use programming languages, primarily Processing to generate images based on algorithms and mathematical values. My main interest in art is its function as a learning tool. By exploring concepts through art, I can better understand and articulate those concepts and the relevant thought processes. It allows me to observe myself as I work my way through an idea. Art to me, is as much about communicating with myself as it is communicating with others, if not more so. Blending the common thought processes of computer science and visual art - often seen as mutually exclusive - I am able to combine analysis and rigid algorithms with aesthetics and visual communication, working within the grey area of intersection between the two disciplines. Hopefully, this combination produces a more communicable and appealing medium than plain code or discrete math for representing thoughts and information.

I am, at times, horridly indecisive (probably why I'm an IDST major). While indecisiveness has many downsides (i.e. more time consuming, often torn between options to the point of being frozen in indecision, etc), it has been a great agent of change for me. Instead of forcing myself to choose from a set of options, I often just try them all. I work with the neuroscience department in the brain-computer interface (BCI) research lab developing robotic limbs. I'm a level designer, artist, and music designer for video games. I also love playing and creating music. All of these different fields and disciplines exert a huge amount of influence on my art.

Really looking forward to learning new things and developing concepts in this class.