Event #1, Marc Foxx Gallery

For my first event visit, I went to the Marc Foxx gallery in Los Angeles and specifically looked at the works of Kasper Bosmans and Antonio Vega Macotela.

Me and an the Associate Director of Marc Foxx

Kasper Bosmans' Hummingbird

The piece of Bosmans' work that interested me the most was the Hummingbird.  To create this work of art, Bosmans laid sand and color pigments on top of a wooden surface.  The effect gives a very simple, yet beautiful look to the picture.  Depth and perspective can be seen as the orange pillars wrap around and in front of the blue pillars.  Bosmans is from Belgium and is very young, and his youthful style and simplicity is reflected in his work.

It fascinated me in our study of Math and Art how interrelated the two subjects were.  Artists use complex measurements to properly scale their work, and many geometric principles relate numbers and shapes. In Antonio Vega Macotela's piece entitled, "Prólogo a los estudios de agotamiento. La biblioteca invisible. Tomo 1," he placed 20 sheets of normal paper into a case and using a special ink placed hidden images in each piece.  Without using any tools, the images are completely invisible to the naked eye.  To reveal the image, a handheld blacklight is provided to wave over each panel to reveal the outlines and images of tools.  This combination of technology to reveal the artwork excited me and this was definitely my favorite piece at the gallery.

Blacklight revealing hidden image

Prólogo a los estudios de agotamiento. La biblioteca invisible. Tomo 1

The work of Antonio Vega Macotela defiantly influenced my midterm project in the sense that it instilled the idea that technology can be used in ways to enhance art rather than existing separately.  I would not recommend visiting the Marc Foxx gallery, however.  There were very few pieces of art being shown and there didn't seem to be an overarching theme to the gallery to link the pieces of art together.  When asking for help and explanation about one of the pieces, I received very little useful help from the curator.

Works Cited

Macotela, Antonio Vega. Prólogo a Los Estudios De Agotamiento. La Biblioteca Invisible. Tomo 1. Digital image. Marc Foxx. N.p., 2013. Web. 22 May 2015. <http://www.marcfoxx.com/exhibitions/1593/works/42384>. 

"Marc Foxx." Marc Foxx - OTHER WAYS AND MEANS. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2015. <http://www.marcfoxx.com/exhibitions/1593>.

Week 9, Space + Art

"Seperation Over The Pacific" by Chelsey Bonestell

In the same way that science influences art, art influences science as well.  Chelsey Bonestell was "... the leading artist among creators of science fiction artwork and design" according to Eddie Arruza and Travis Cornejo.  Bonestell began his futuristic artwork before the first airplane flight, but he portrayed rocket ships and complex maneuvers like separating parts and fuel cells, which would later be replicated in the actual production of space crafts.  Attila Nagy notes that he even envisioned shuttles and ferries to transport humans back and forth from Mars.  Though his work was incredibly idealistic at the time, it ended up being very realistic and the basis for many future scientific designs and discoveries.

Captain James T. Kirk using a Communicator

The portion of this week's material that influenced me the most was the part about futuristic television shows.  Like Chelsey Bonestell, Gene Roddenberry was also a dreamer.  Roddenberry created the television show, "Startrek," which displayed a multi-race and multi-national team of scientists and doctors traveling through space to keep peace in the many galaxies of the universe.  His vision of communicators gave way to the creation of cell phones, his scanners influenced Xbox Kinect units, his talking computer gave a preview of Siri to the world, and according to Laurie Ulster, his universal translator even influenced that Google Translate App.  Roddenberry was so far beyond his time; after his death, Tom Lawrence commentated that his ashes, along with his wife's, were sent into space as a commemoration of his achievements.

Hayden Planetarium in New York

The use of planetariums have long been helpful in teaching about the universe.  The Argus Observer notes that elementary schools are even renting inflatable planetariums as an inexpensive way to teach students about the world outside of Earth.  The fun shows captivate audiences and show sights that previously could only be viewed by scientists with advanced equipment. Roxie Hammill writes that combining the depictions of the universe with art and music can even tell complete stories and many shows today offer these multi-disiplinary experiences.

Works Cited

Arruza, Eddie, and Travis Cornejo. "The Futuristic Art of Chesley Bonestell." Chicago Tonight. N.p., 3 Dec. 2014. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2014/12/03/futuristic-art-chesley-bonestell>. 

Bonestell, Chelsey. Seperation over the Pacific. N.d. Gizmodo. 15 May 2015. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://gizmodo.com/the-beautiful-art-that-helped-inspire-space-travel-1704693253#.>. 

Curd, Jamie. The Nokia-Made Star Trek Communicator That Never Got Launched. Digital image. N.p., 5 July 2012. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.gadgethelpline.com/star-trek-nokia-communicator/>. 

Hammill, Roxie. "Music and Art Blend in 'Once and Future Cities' Planetarium Show." The Kansas City Star. N.p., 21 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/community/816/article19190118.html>. 

Hayden Planetarium. Digital image. American Museum of Natural History. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/rose-center-for-earth-and-space/hayden-planetarium>. 

Lawrence, Tom. "A 'Star Trek' Fan's Final Frontier Encounters." Black Hills Pioneer. N.p., 28 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhpioneer.com%2Fblogs%2Fblog_three%2Fblog_three_text%2Farticle_8b7c80cc-edbd-11e4-b416-77c5f609e63e.html>. 

Nagy, Attila. "The Beautiful Art That Helped Inspire Space Travel." Gizmodo. N.p., 15 May 2015. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://gizmodo.com/the-beautiful-art-that-helped-inspire-space-travel-1704693253#>. 

"Portable Planetarium Offers Hands-on Experience to Students." Argus Observer. N.p., 20 May 2015. Web. 20 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argusobserver.com%2Findependent%2Fnews%2Fportable-planetarium-offers-hands-on-experience-to-students%2Farticle_ec623864-ff15-11e4-ae4e-1f1bd6decc38.html>. 

Ulster, Laurie. "The Genius of Gene Roddenberry's "Star Trek"" Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 3 June 2014. Web. 20 May 2015. <http://www.biography.com/news/gene-roddenberry-star-trek-45-years-later>.

Week 8, Nanotechnology + Art

Shirt is resistant to stains

Nanotechnology sounds like a concept of the future, but the idea that its unique properties and techniques have been utilized for thousands of years interested me the most of this week's material.  The ability for very small particles to have different capabilities and properties than its bigger form allows for a world of creativity and alteration of the norm.  Self-cleaning clothing, a concept made possible by the use of nanotechnology, has the power to change industries.  With clothing that repels all substances, stains and ruined clothing are a thing of the past.  Instead of spending hours cleaning a truck, self-cleaning paint will "kill" car washes according to Jordan Golson.

Hologram

The use of nanotechnology with graphene is being used to change the way LED screens work.  Scientists at the Swinburne University of Technology have been able to create a hologram that viewers can see without 3D glasses.  Other than bringing the world closer to the technology in the movie Iron Man, this technology has the potential to help with remote education and medical diagnosis according to Professor Min Gu.

Used cigarette butts can be used for energy

In order to combat global warming, countries have promised to limit usage of certain chemicals and processes that produce waste.  However, according to Tim Redford, scientists have created technology to speed up the reduction of greenhouse gasses by using nanotechnology to artificially create photosynthesis in fake trees.  Inventions like this work at higher rates than naturally found in nature, and show promise in capturing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  With this same goal in mind to save the environment, scientists at Seoul National University say that nanotechnology can be used to help transfer the carbon found in used cigarettes into energy that can be utilized for everyday use.

Nanotechnology has endless applications for today and the future because it bends the previous rules of what is possible.

Works Cited

Golson, Jordan. "RIP, Car Washes: See Nissan’s New Self-Cleaning Paint in Action." Wired. Conde Nast Digital, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.wired.com/2014/04/self-washing-car/>. 

Holograms Next Step in Realistic Training for Tomorrow’s Troops. Digital image. National Defense. N.p., Nov. 2014. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2014/November/Pages/HologramsNextStepinRealisticTrainingforTomorrow’sTroops.aspx>. 

Iron Man 2. Dir. Jon Favreau. Perf. Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke. Paramount Home Entertainment, 2010. Youtube.com. 

Patel, Aamir. Silic. Digital image. Kickstarter. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2015. <https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/741186545/a-shirt-that-cleans-itself>. 

Radford, Tim. "Artificial Trees and Nanotechnology: Climate Saviours?" RTCC Artificial Trees and Nanotechnology Climate Saviours Comments. N.p., 23 Apr. 2015. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.rtcc.org/2015/04/23/artificial-trees-and-nanotechnology-climate-saviours/>. 

Swinburne University of Technology. "Nanotechnology Enables Glass-free 3D Holograms." Nano Werk. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news/newsid=39857.php>. 

"Used Cigarette Butts May Power Future Computers." Deccan Herald. Nanotechnology, 18 May 2015. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.deccanherald.com/content/478240/used-cigarette-butts-may-power.html>. 

Used Cigarette Butts Offer Energy Storage Solution. Digital image. Science Daily. N.p., 15 May 2015. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150515144950.htm>.

Neuroscience + Art, Week 7

Brainbow Hippocampus

The human brain is so incredibly complex and protected by such a thick skull that we are only recently in history able to discover the contents.  Early studies of phrenology proved to be inaccurate, but laid a very useful foundation for specialization within the brain.  Today, such projects as the "Brainbow" help to illuminate the different pathways within the brain in a colorful and fun fashion.  Ashley Yeager comments that this technique can be especially helpful when trying to locate proteins and nerve cells within the brain.

Occupational Therapy using virtual reality

I found the portion of this week's lecture on states of consciousness relating to perception to be most interesting.  When listening to the sample from Mark Cohen, I immediately related his work with altering vision to virtual reality with gaming.  Virtual reality was defined by NASA as "... the use of computer technology to create the effect of an interactive three-dimensional world in which the objects have a sense of spatial presence." In pop culture today, this technology is often associated with gaming.  However, as described by Erin Carson, virtual reality can have broad application beyond gaming reaching even into real estate and health care.

The Void demonstration puts players in the game

One exciting new theme park in Utah plans to utilize virtual reality on all of their attractions in order to tap into thrill-seekers' minds' from the source.  The park will be called "The Void," and will boast gigantic rooms according to Quinten Plummer that will allow ample room for participants to roam and explore the artificial world.  Stephanie Mlot adds that users will feel as if they "passed through both time and space."  Some expected attractions will include head mounted displays, motion tracking vests, and even robotic simulators to toss and tumble users around on a 360 degree axis.  This project excites me because I feel it gives a glimpse of the future in which experiences will be able to be dowloaded to a headset, and then explored to full detail from one's own home, rather than having to go out and explore the real, physical world (Similar to in the movie Wall-E).

Works Cited

Brainbow. Digital image. Center for Brain Science. Harvard University, n.d. Web. 14 May 2015. <cbs.fas.harvard.edu>. 

Carson, Erin. "Why Virtual Reality Could Finally Mend Its Broken Promise." TechRepublic. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015. <http://www.techrepublic.com/article/why-virtual-reality-could-finally-mend-its-broken-promise/>. 

Mlot, Stephanie. "Wander Around in Virtual Worlds at 'The Void'" PCMAG. N.p., 12 May 2015. Web. 14 May 2015. <http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2484097,00.asp>. 

Plummer, Quinten. "Void Virtual Reality Theme Park: Welcome To The Matrix." Tech Times RSS. N.p., 12 May 2015. Web. 14 May 2015. <http://www.techtimes.com/articles/52282/20150512/void-virtual-reality-theme-park-welcome-to-the-matrix.htm>. 

Toyra Introduces Virtual Reality to Occupational Therapy. Digital image. Fitness Gaming. N.p., n.d. Web. <www.fitness-gaming.com>. 

"Virtual Reality: Definition and Requirements." Virtual Reality. NASA, n.d. Web. 14 May 2015. <http://www.nas.nasa.gov/Software/VWT/vr.html>. 

The Void: World’s First Virtual Reality Theme Park Coming Soon. Digital image. Web Urbanist. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015. <weburbanist.com>. 

WALL-E. Dir. Andrew Stanton. By Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, and Jeff Garlin. Prod. Jim Morris. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2008. Youtube. 

Yeager, Ashley. "'Brainbow' Illuminates Cellular Connections." Science News. N.p., 4 May 2015. Web. 14 May 2015. <https://www.sciencenews.org/article/%E2%80%98brainbow%E2%80%99-illuminates-cellular-connections>.

Week 6 | BioTech + Art | Blog Assignment

Alba

Eduardo Kac fascinated me the most of the artists discussed in our lectures this week.  I find it incredible that Eduardo Kac was able to take the GFP protein from jellyfish and implant it into a bunny.  The bunny, named Alba, was one of Kac's most famous pieces and this can partially be accredited to there already being great debate over genetically modified foods being in grocery stores.  compared to foods, the creation of genetically modified organisms raises even greater questions in society today.  According to Kristen Philiphoski, Alba died an untimely death.  Experiments like these raise questions about if artists should be able to use animal for experiments.  The GFP protein is now being used however, to monitor cell division according to Julie Cohen.

Modified butterfly

Marta de Menezes modified the patters on live butterflies wings' in a demonstration to show how art can be placed into nature and according to Karl Fabricius, to create an animal that wouldn't exist naturally in nature.  While I found Menezes' work to be quite stimulating, others felt it was displeasing because the butterflies formed holes in their wings.  Genome Network News said that Menezes altered their wing patters by "using a thin needle coupled to a heat generator" and this created unnatural patterns.

What's considered genetically modified?

Today it appears that there are separate standards for scientists and artists.  Since scientists are experimenting with the intent of find new knowledge, people forget and let slide that they are testing their ideas on animals.  Since artists can use many mediums to show their work, people like Andrew B. Perzigian say "...(animals are being treated as) nothing more than "test tubes with tails."

Works Cited

"Asymmetrical Butterfly Wings." Genome News Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2015. <http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/2004/05/28/butterflywings.php>. 

Cohen, Julie. "Illuminating the Dark Zone." The UCSB Current. N.p., 29 Apr. 2015. Web. 11 May 2015. <http://www.news.ucsb.edu/2015/015362/illuminating-dark-zone>.

Fabricius, Karl. "What Became of the Glowing Green Bunny?" What Became of the Glowing Green Bunny? N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2015. <http://scribol.com/science/what-became-of-the-glowing-green-bunny>. 

GMO? Digital image. Visually. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://visual.ly/gmo-genetically-modified-organism>. 

Green Fluorescent Protein. Digital image. GFP. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <www.conncoll.edu>. 

Perzigian, Andrew B. "Full Title Name:  Brief Summary of Genetic Engineering and Animals." Brief Summary of Genetic Engineering and Animals. N.p., 2002. Web. 11 May 2015. <https://www.animallaw.info/article/brief-summary-genetic-engineering-and-animals>. 

Philipkoski, Kristen. "RIP: Alba, the Glowing Bunny." WIRED. N.p., 12 Aug. 2002. Web. 11 May 2015. <http://archive.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2002/08/54399?currentPage=all>.