A decade ago, Erick ‘Snowfro’ Calderon, the creator of Art Blocks, started crafting 3D-printed cubes. He would paint these cubes before assembling them into heart shapes and displaying them in public areas. These first-generation block creations served as the inspiration for a new generative art series called Heart + Craft NFTs and sculptures, which will be launched on August 24 through the Prohibition platform.
The Heart + Craft NFT series features blocky heart designs with vibrant shapes and contrasting patterns. These designs are generated in real-time through a state-of-the-art blockchain algorithm created by Calderon and Jordan Lyall, the founder of Prohibition. The algorithm utilizes the Art Blocks Engine technology. Each Heart + Craft NFT is priced at $18 (0.01 ETH) and can be minted using the Ethereum scaling platform, Arbitrum, to reduce gas fee costs.
Calderon hopes that the Heart + Craft NFTs will experience a similar market boom to his previous project, ‘Chromie Squiggle’, which saw NFT items sell for more than $2 million each in 2020. The project also draws comparisons to his Friendship Bracelets project, which he co-designed with Alexis André, the Director of the Japan Generative Art Foundation. Both projects include instructions on how to create tangible replicas of the NFT designs. In the case of Heart + Craft, each collectible is accompanied by a manual that provides guidance on painting, 3D printing, and assembling the blocks to create the iconic heart shape.
Looking ahead, Prohibition plans to offer art enthusiasts the opportunity to purchase a complete set of printed blocks, custom-created block hearts, and special-edition collector’s versions. These versions will be crafted from high-quality materials and autographed by Calderon. They will be available for purchase at stores like Target or museum gift shops.
While Calderon intends for this project to change people’s perceptions of NFTs in a positive way, he also aims to showcase the intrinsic value of these digital collectibles beyond their monetary value and rarity. He wants to spread joy through the vibrant colors and expressive designs featured in the Heart + Craft NFTs.
Calderon’s masterpieces serve as an example of the limitless possibilities that exist within the realm of generative art. As the boundaries between digital and physical artworks continue to blur, projects like Heart + Craft highlight the convergence of these mediums and the exciting avenues that await.
In conclusion, Erick ‘Snowfro’ Calderon’s Art Blocks project has evolved from creating 3D-printed block hearts to launching the Heart + Craft NFT series. This series showcases blocky heart designs with vibrant shapes and patterns generated in real-time through a blockchain algorithm. Each NFT comes with a manual on painting, 3D printing, and assembling the blocks. Prohibition plans to offer printed blocks, custom block hearts, and special-edition collector’s versions. Calderon aims to emphasize the intrinsic value of NFTs and to bring joy through color gradients. These projects represent the endless possibilities of generative art and the convergence of digital and physical artworks.
