Machine for Drawing All Over the World

Bloomington, Indiana. 1996.

Steel, wood, Velum, ink, electro-mechanical connection to real time interaction with the World Wide Web.

A 40’ X 60’ Mercator Projection map of the world was glued to the terrazzo floor of the gallery. The drawing device, attached to the internet by an umbilical cord from the center of the ceiling, drew two lines on the map, representing the “twisted pair” of copper telecommunication lines that were the conduits of the WWW. Interaction with people all over the world cause variations in the movement of the drawing machine causing the lines to be drawn. Gradually, through the duration of the exhibition, the drawing increased in density, as did the growth of interest and interactions from around the globe.