Dear Eric,
Infinite love and appreciation for and to you my friend, for making Chromie Squiggles. You changed my life with your little squiggles that you unleashed on Ethereum. I stumbled upon NFTs in the pandemic, and the first squiggle I saw, it lit up what was a pretty dark time in lockdown, I was living alone and in my first job after graduating as a car designer.
When I viewed the first squiggle in OpenSea I felt it being alive and drawn in real time coz of low anti aliasing. I clicked on it to enlarge it, and the spectrum started animating, I knew there was more to this cute creature than meets the eye. I clicked on the collection and seen an army of squiggles thumbnails, I saw the traits filters, and was just mind blown. I just thought, this is the most absurdly simple idea, crafted into an algorithm. It changed everything for me, it changed my life. This project made me buy my first eth, get metamask, learn solidity, p5js, and most importantly, make friends and be part of a wonderful community and amazing people that I otherwise would've never crossed paths with. Looking back, I really don't know what to do without Web3. I learned alot, and created and sold my first ever NFT.
I cannot wait to get my own Squiggle, and have it framed in a little digital frame like the ones in the Venus Over Manhattan exhibition, and tell my future kids all about it.
I'm so grateful for you, Eric, and the incredible impact Chromie Squiggles and Art Blocks have had on my life and I am sure I am speaking for so many people too.
Last but not least, Deafbeef, you legend you, being the deployer of this contract makes it all more special. Your art is a personality in its own right, you singly handedly tickled the EVM with your analog tinkerings like no other. I'll always come back to this contract to read the messages and see the love and ENS names from the community.
Thank you both so much.
Much Love,
Misk.eth
Art Focused Manifesto
Art Focused is an idea, an ethos, a way of life.
Art Focused is a mantra.
My gm posts started as an escape.
While looking through my collection, I am in another world, just me and the art.
This world has a name.
The world of Art Focused is a utopia of creativity and togetherness.
This is where I go every morning.
Being Art Focused is to be a patron of the arts.
You learn about and pay tribute to the giants whose shoulders we stand on.
You are compelled to elevate artists and cherish their work and stories.
Being focused requires time and attention.
We focus to seek understanding.
It takes energy to focus.
It takes energy to make a difference.
Art deserves it.
The Art Focused Wave captures this essence in its swell.
Waves bring growth and transformation.
They bring resilience.
They bring strength.
They bring new beginnings and allow us to flush out what is no longer needed to regain focus on what matters most.
Being Art Focused is how we can leave our world better than how we found it.
It’s how we can make waves.
We are each a wave in the vast ocean of life.
We each get to decide how we spend our finite energy before getting swept back to sea.
Let’s make the most of it.
Art is a reminder of who we were, are and will be.
We are Art Focused.
Erick, thank you so much for creating the Chromie Squiggle, this colorful little experiment, and Art Blocks as a platform. Back in January 2021, when you patiently explained to me how this concept works and how to create those beautiful lines, I had no idea how positively it would impact my life. Thank you! You are a true GOAT and I will make sure to spread the word - charley | jmh
The Chromie Squiggle began as a proof of concept to demonstrate the seemingly infinite variability of outputs that can be generated when entropy from a blockchain is interpreted by a generative algorithm. /// I conceived of the project in 2018, just as I was formulating what would ultimately culminate in the release of the Art Blocks platform in November 2020. At the time, I was unaware of the early contributions of generative art pioneers such as Vera Molnar and Manfred Mohr; however, it became clear to me over time that demonstrating variability via automation was the basis for much of generative art’s earliest beginnings. And while I did not conceive the Squiggle initially as a work of art in this lineage, I knew I could apply my love of gradients –– a leitmotif in my previous artworks –– to blend two things I was passionate and excited about: algorithmic art and blockchains. /// Originally, I did not intend to release Chromie Squiggle on Art Blocks, but was persuaded to by a number of community members who, having given up their time generously to “test mint” Squiggles on Art Blocks’ testnet, expressed excitement about owning a “real” Squiggle when the project finally launched on Ethereum Mainnet. I was surprised at their disappointment on being told that Chromie Squiggle would not be released on the platform. Ultimately, I was inspired to release Chromie Squiggle as project zero on Art Blocks, as my personal signature as an artist, developer, and tinkerer. /// Like much of the work I create, Squiggles are intended to make people smile, and I feel that I have achieved this on levels I never thought imaginable. I am profoundly grateful to everyone who embraced this project with open arms: your enthusiasm and appreciation have been the driving force behind every Squiggle. /// I want to extend a special thank you to all of the collectors who have supported me and the generative renaissance of recent years. I would also like to thank the digital creators working with and beyond the generative medium who have added so much meaning and dialogue on this journey. /// None of this would have been possible without the support of my friends and family, particularly my wife Mara who, along with my children, has stood by my side through the incredible roller coaster of life since the launch of Art Blocks. And shoutout to Danny, Pete, and Matthew for lending a supportive ear from the start. /// I want to express my gratitude to SquiggleDAO, which has demonstrated the power of networked digital objects in a way I did not think was possible. It is humbling to see a community of enthusiasts come together to share their support for and appreciation of my work. I’m forever grateful for the team’s and the community’s respect for the Squiggle, and I’m excited for their future. /// I’m grateful for Art Blocks as an organization, and for the incredible team I get to work with day in and day out in pursuit of elevating the medium of generative art. I’d especially like to thank Jeff Davis for his early belief in this crazy idea, and for helping to drive the first few weeks following launch. /// Thank you also to Venus Over Manhattan for bringing the Squiggle to life in numerous exhibitions around the world and for introducing my work to a wider artworld audience. /// A tremendous amount of inspiration came from Larva Labs, who lit the fuse for me and many others in bringing the generative medium to the blockchain. They were the first to show me the value of digital ownership. Donald Judd cemented my conviction in and appreciation for variations on a theme, and James Turrell and Amon Tobin opened my eyes to light-based work. In turn, a new golden generation of generative artists inspired me to build and expand Art Blocks in order to preserve the beauty of ephemeral digital experience: Tyler Hobbs, Dmitri Cherniak, Melissa Wiederrecht, Kjetil Golid, Aaron Penne, Emily Xie, Alexis André, Matt DesLauriers, MPKoz and many others who shared their work out of sheer passion for the generative medium. I am grateful for and inspired by all of you. /// A special thanks must go to Derek Edwards for his unparalleled support as a collector, mentor, and shoulder to cry on over the years. /// Lastly, I wish to thank 0xDEAFBEEF for being an all-round incredible artist and contributor, but also for working with me on this smart contract farewell to the Chromie Squiggle. /// At the time of writing, 2,800 wallets hold a Chromie Squiggle. Five renowned art institutions have added a Squiggle into their permanent fine art collections. Three of the world’s leading auction houses (Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips) have hosted auctions of Squiggles. Thousands of people have experienced a Squiggle in dozens of venues globally. A professional European football team wore Squiggle-emblazoned jerseys for a year. And to my utter surprise, three people (that I know of) are sporting a Squiggle tattoo. /// And now Squiggle #9999 is going to the permanent collection of LACMA! In and of itself this is something I’m exceptionally proud of, but more so because it is being minted directly from the Art Blocks minter to their wallet. In the past, the community has expressed a fondness for Squiggles minted by me directly to them, doubtless inflamed by the anticipation of not knowing what is going to be created. There is something truly unique about a scenario where the institution is willing to accept an artwork before knowing what the final result will look like. It’s part of what makes this whole world of blockchain-powered digital art so exciting and innovative. The unknown nature of the final mint symbolizes the way the generative medium is unfolding and I’m anxious to see what emerges from the minter for the last time. /// The Chromie Squiggle has been more than a series of artworks — it has been a movement, a community, and a beacon of what digital art can achieve. My hope is that its legacy will continue to inspire and shape the future of algorithmic and digital art for years to come. /// I leave you with a note I received from a dear friend who chose to share their thoughts on the Chromie Squiggle. I’m humbled by these words, which render the ups and downs entirely worthwhile. /// “If the NFT financialized digital art, then it makes sense that one of its pioneers is a CEO of an NFT platform that used the Squiggle to clarify its mission. It also translated your marketing of porcelain tiles as a durable medium of design into its digital equivalent. Ultimately, the historical significance of the Squiggle will be that it unlocked the market for generative art, which had existed for 60 years without meaningful recognition by the public at large. Not only have you expanded the art world as we know it; you have also forced people to acknowledge a community of individuals who spent much of their creative lives in the wilderness. The Squiggle is therefore a beacon of inclusivity that not only created careers for hundreds of creative coders living today but a whole spectrum of digital artists who don’t work with code. Light work.” /// Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey. The Chromie Squiggle and surrounding community will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am honored to have shared this adventure with all of you. /// Love, Snowfro July 15, 2024
The Chromie Squiggle began as a proof of concept to demonstrate the seemingly infinite variability of outputs that can be generated when entropy from a blockchain is interpreted by a generative algorithm. /// I conceived of the project in 2018, just as I was formulating what would ultimately culminate in the release of the Art Blocks platform in November 2020. At the time, I was unaware of the early contributions of generative art pioneers such as Vera Molnar and Manfred Mohr; however, it became clear to me over time that demonstrating variability via automation was the basis for much of generative art’s earliest beginnings. And while I did not conceive the Squiggle initially as a work of art in this lineage, I knew I could apply my love of gradients –– a leitmotif in my previous artworks –– to blend two things I was passionate and excited about: algorithmic art and blockchains. /// Originally, I did not intend to release Chromie Squiggle on Art Blocks, but was persuaded to by a number of community members who, having given up their time generously to “test mint” Squiggles on Art Blocks’ testnet, expressed excitement about owning a “real” Squiggle when the project finally launched on Ethereum Mainnet. I was surprised at their disappointment on being told that Chromie Squiggle would not be released on the platform. Ultimately, I was inspired to release Chromie Squiggle as project zero on Art Blocks, as my personal signature as an artist, developer, and tinkerer. /// Like much of the work I create, Squiggles are intended to make people smile, and I feel that I have achieved this on levels I never thought imaginable. I am profoundly grateful to everyone who embraced this project with open arms: your enthusiasm and appreciation have been the driving force behind every Squiggle. /// I want to extend a special thank you to all of the collectors who have supported me and the generative renaissance of recent years. I would also like to thank the digital creators working with and beyond the generative medium who have added so much meaning and dialogue on this journey. /// None of this would have been possible without the support of my friends and family, particularly my wife Mara who, along with my children, has stood by my side through the incredible roller coaster of life since the launch of Art Blocks. And shoutout to Danny, Pete, and Matthew for lending a supportive ear from the start. /// I want to express my gratitude to SquiggleDAO, which has demonstrated the power of networked digital objects in a way I did not think was possible. It is humbling to see a community of enthusiasts come together to share their support for and appreciation of my work. I’m forever grateful for the team’s and the community’s respect for the Squiggle, and I’m excited for their future. /// I’m grateful for Art Blocks as an organization, and for the incredible team I get to work with day in and day out in pursuit of elevating the medium of generative art. I’d especially like to thank Jeff Davis for his early belief in this crazy idea, and for helping to drive the first few weeks following launch. /// Thank you also to Venus Over Manhattan for bringing the Squiggle to life in numerous exhibitions around the world and for introducing my work to a wider artworld audience. /// A tremendous amount of inspiration came from Larva Labs, who lit the fuse for me and many others in bringing the generative medium to the blockchain. They were the first to show me the value of digital ownership. Donald Judd cemented my conviction in and appreciation for variations on a theme, and James Turrell and Amon Tobin opened my eyes to light-based work. In turn, a new golden generation of generative artists inspired me to build and expand Art Blocks in order to preserve the beauty of ephemeral digital experience: Tyler Hobbs, Dmitri Cherniak, Melissa Wiederrecht, Kjetil Golid, Aaron Penne, Emily Xie, Alexis André, Matt DesLauriers, MPKoz and many others who shared their work out of sheer passion for the generative medium. I am grateful for and inspired by all of you. /// A special thanks must go to Derek Edwards for his unparalleled support as a collector, mentor, and shoulder to cry on over the years. /// Lastly, I wish to thank 0xDEAFBEEF for being an all-round incredible artist and contributor, but also for working with me on this smart contract farewell to the Chromie Squiggle. /// At the time of writing, 2,801 wallets hold a Chromie Squiggle. Four renowned art institutions have added a Squiggle into their permanent fine art collections. Three of the world’s leading auction houses (Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips) have hosted auctions of Squiggles. Thousands of people have experienced a Squiggle in dozens of venues globally. A professional European football team wore Squiggle-emblazoned jerseys for a year. And to my utter surprise, three people (that I know of) are sporting a Squiggle tattoo. /// And now Squiggle #9999 is going to the permanent collection of LACMA! In and of itself this is something I’m exceptionally proud of, but more so because it is being minted directly from the Art Blocks minter to their wallet. In the past, the community has expressed a fondness for Squiggles minted by me directly to them, doubtless inflamed by the anticipation of not knowing what is going to be created. There is something truly unique about a scenario where the institution is willing to accept an artwork before knowing what the final result will look like. It’s part of what makes this whole world of blockchain-powered digital art so exciting and innovative. The unknown nature of the final mint symbolizes the way the generative medium is unfolding and I’m anxious to see what emerges from the minter for the last time. /// The Chromie Squiggle has been more than a series of artworks — it has been a movement, a community, and a beacon of what digital art can achieve. My hope is that its legacy will continue to inspire and shape the future of algorithmic and digital art for years to come. /// I leave you with a note I received from a dear friend who chose to share their thoughts on the Chromie Squiggle. I’m humbled by these words, which render the ups and downs entirely worthwhile. /// “If the NFT financialized digital art, then it makes sense that one of its pioneers is a CEO of an NFT platform that used the Squiggle to clarify its mission. It also translated your marketing of porcelain tiles as a durable medium of design into its digital equivalent. Ultimately, the historical significance of the Squiggle will be that it unlocked the market for generative art, which had existed for 60 years without meaningful recognition by the public at large. Not only have you expanded the art world as we know it; you have also forced people to acknowledge a community of individuals who spent much of their creative lives in the wilderness. The Squiggle is therefore a beacon of inclusivity that not only created careers for hundreds of creative coders living today but a whole spectrum of digital artists who don’t work with code. Light work.” /// Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey. The Chromie Squiggle and surrounding community will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am honored to have shared this adventure with all of you. /// Love, Snowfro July 15, 2024