This project explores generative rule sets and the work of Sol Lewitt. Through the creation of a written set of instructions, operations can be carried out by others to create something many times over. The degree of accuracy with which each operation is carried depends on the ability of the reader to accurately parse the information in each step using the same linguistic the writer used in creating them. It is, therefore, necessary to establish a standard lexicon that can be referenced for the creation and interpretation of the information.

This piece was created by taking a small portion of a larger geometry that was generated through the use of a recursive algorithm. Lines were etched at 1/64th inch depths into quarter inch thick acrylic sheets.

GENERATIVE RULE SET

1. On a plane*, create 3 points approximate* to the plane's center.

2. Number each point sequentially*, beginning with zero.

3. Connect each point to each other point in the sequence by drawing a line* between them. The outcome should be a triangle.

4. Create a circle at each point who’s radius is the distance between any two of the points.

5. Repeat all subsequent steps, in order, an indeterminate* number of times. Each repetition represents an iteration*. Iterations are numbered sequentially, beginning at 1.

6. Draw a triangle whose center point is the same as that of the last and whose shape is congruent* to the triangle drawn in step 3. but whose relative* scale* and degree* or rotation are offset by the current iteration number. The new triangle should be scaled from, and rotated around, its center point.

7. Place a point at each corner of the new triangle and number them in the same manner as in step 2.

8. At each point draw a circle so that the point is equidistant* from the edge of that circle. The radius of each circle should equal the distance between any two of the points drawn in step 7.

9. Return to step 5 adding 1 to your iteration number total.

RELEVANT TERMS

Plane: A flat surface on which a straight line joining any two points on it would wholly lie.

Approximate: Close to the actual, but not completely accurate or exact.

Sequential: Forming or following in a logical order or sequence.

Line: Defined by two end points and must be straight.

Indeterminate: Not known, established, or defined.

Iteration: Repetition of a computational procedure applied to the result of a previous application.

Congruent: (Of figures) identical in form; coinciding exactly when superimposed.

Relative: Considered in relation or in proportion to something else.

Scale: The relative size or extent of something.

Degree: A unit of measurement or angles, on three-hundred-and-sixtieth of the circumference of a circle.

Equidistant: At equal distances.