Sustain Ability

Art Racquet: 2 matrices and 1 algorithm

The Art Racquet is driven by a set of control laws which govern actions an artist will take at any point it time. This matrix provides a simple breakdown of taking actions based upon measuring attributes of a piece of art. The two attributes are:

1) its state of value, 2) its state of scarcity

Once the artist has found the square which properly defines where there artifact is, the artist need but follow the arrows to sustain ability. Given the goal is to end up with art which is scarce yet valuable the artist needs to accomplish two tasks:

1) create need, 2) reduce/destroy stock

This algorithm is a recipe for artists to apply control laws! Start by taking an inventory of the artifacts you've created! Then, use YOU and YOUR DESIRED NET VALUE as inputs.

Note: If you live on a park bench and you have no desired net value then perhaps you already have too much and need to give away those few possessions you already have.

On the other hand if you live on a park bench and desire to view the park now from a penthouse in Twin Peaks you had better get busy running your Art Racquet!

Below, we take a look at our artifact as its flows through the Art Racquet system:

At time t1 We see an artifact of low value, namely a painted door with a GPS tracking device in it. Its state: not scarce/not valuable.

At time t2 (Figure 1) The artist has followed the program's prescription and created scarcity by giving the door away. Left in the wilderness: scarce / not valuable.

At time t3 or, its state= neutral as it has potential, an exotic artifact in the landscape.

At time t4 (Figure 2) The artifact begins to become valuable at the point that it is taken. From the adopters perspective it becomes an object of need and from the creators perspective it becomes a seminal work of art.

At time t5 (Figure 3) We are ready to do nothing except monitor its journey. According to the tracking device it has made its way through out the city over a period of several days. As of 9/6/05 at 2:22 (and everyday there after) it has been at rest away from its creators: scarce and valuable:]

Art Racquet

Figure 1 - Control Law - Always in the form of "What's my situation, and what do I do?" Concept of Sense / Act

Figure 2 - The Program - Instantiation of the Control Law. A direct mapping of the matrix to the program. If = sense. Then = Act.