ACCAD Explores Algorithms in Toledo
It’s not every day that you get to trace the history of generative art, rave to live-coded algorithms, and celebrate the legacy of ACCAD’s founder all in one afternoon. But that’s exactly what 25 students, staff, and faculty from ACCAD, the Department of Art, and the Department of Design did for the second week of classes.
On September 13th, the group piled onto a bus and headed north for a jam-packed field trip to Toledo, Ohio. The destination? A convergence of art and technology seemingly tailor-made for the ACCAD community.
Infinite Images at TMA
The day kicked off at the Toledo Museum of Art with a visit to the groundbreaking exhibition, Infinite Images: The Art of Algorithms. The group was treated to a special, in-depth tour led by the exhibition’s curator, Julia Kaganskiy.
The show offered a fascinating look at the evolution of generative art, connecting the dots from early pioneers to contemporary heavyweights. We saw historical works by legends like Vera Molnár, Sol LeWitt, and Frieder Nake, alongside modern pieces by Tyler Hobbs, Quayola, Sofia Crespo, and Casey Reas.
The Assembly Line & The Csuri Legacy
Next, the group headed to the historic Okun Building to see The Assembly Line. Curators Justin Gilanyi and Raina Marie Valentine guided the group through the pop-up exhibition, which explores the intersection of art, labor, and technology.
For the ACCAD contingency, this stop was particularly special. The Assembly Line features work by none other than Charles Csuri, the visionary creator of ACCAD. Seeing his work displayed alongside other major digital artists like Harold Cohen, Botto, Jennifer and Kevin McCoy, and LoVID served as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of his pioneering spirit.
Beeple Live
Later in the day, the group returned to the museum's annual Block Party to catch a performance by Beeple (Mike Winkelmann). In true digital pop-star fashion, Beeple setup a desk on the median at the end of the block for an "Everydays Live" session. It was a meme-heavy spectacle, as he built one of his daily digital artworks in real-time, cracking jokes and engaging with the crowd while 3D rendering the absurdity of internet culture.
Ending at the AlgoRave
The trip culminated with high energy at the AlgoRave, a performance where code meets club music. We watched Char Stiles and Roxanne "Roxy" Harris perform live, projecting their real-time coding onto the walls while generating the beats and visuals that kept the crowd moving before the bus ride home.
From the bus ride conversations to the immersive digital experiences, it was a day of inspiration, community, and celebration of the very fields ACCAD works in every day.