Week 9 Blog: Space + Art

            Space is possibly the most inspiring subject for science and art to draw ideas from. An infinite space holds infinite possibilities making it very hard to rule out anything as impossible. This idea is what inspired the artists of the space age, as they envisioned the rockets and other gadgetry that could be possible with the rapid advancement of technology. Even though there have been many bad byproducts from the obsession with space, some truly amazing inventions and idea have come from it as well (Turysheva, 2013). And while the space age greatly influenced popular art, it also took hold in other disciplines such as architecture and automotive design (Ngo, 2011).

Figure 1: LAX Theme Building, one of the most iconic structures from the Space Age

Figure 2: Chrysler Turbine Car Concept, powered by a jet engine

            It is also interested how fantastical interpretations have accurately preceded what is actually thought to be possible in today's world. While the Jetsons flying cars are not quite a reality in today's world, George Jetsons' talking watch has been realized through smart watches like the Apple Watch which integrates Siri as a virtual personal assistant (CBS News, 2013).

Figure 3: Jetsons version of talking watch vs. Apple Watch of today

            In an even more remarkable prediction, Star Trek appears to have fairly accurately predicted the shape of a faster-than-light ship (Schmidt, 2014). Even though the rings around the ship are not included on the original USS Enterprise, the inner ship's shape is relatively similar to that of the Star Trek ship.

Figure 4: NASA rendering of faster-than-light spaceship

Figure 5: Star Trek USS Enterprise for comparison to NASA rendering

            Space appears to have brought out some of the best art and science combinations that we have seen up until now. Scientists and artists alike continue to push boundaries when it comes to space, but so far no one has been able to touch the beauty of space itself as shown below (NASA.gov, 2015).

Figure 6: Pillars of Creation as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope

Works Cited

"Hubble Goes High-Definition to Revisit Iconic 'Pillars of Creation'" NASA. NASA, 5 Jan. 2015. Web. 27 May 2015. <http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/hubble-goes-high-definition-to-revisit-iconic-pillars-of-creation>.

Ngo, Denise. "Archive Gallery: How the Space Age Influenced Design." Popular Science. 3 June 2011. Web. 27 May 2015. <http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-06/archive-gallery-how-space-age-influenced-design?image=4>.

Schmidt, Caitlin. "NASA Physicist Imagines a Warp-speed Starship - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 12 June 2014. Web. 27 May 2015.< http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/12/tech/innovation/warp-speed-spaceship/>.

"The "retro-future" of "The Jetsons"" CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 29 Apr. 2013. Web. 27 May 2015.< http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-retro-future-of-the-jetsons/>.

Turysheva, Ekaterina. "Five Ideas That Anticipated the Space Age | Russia Beyond The Headlines." Five Ideas That Anticipated the Space Age | Russia Beyond The Headlines. 30 Sept. 2013. Web. 27 May 2015. <http://rbth.com/science_and_tech/2013/09/30/five_ideas_that_anticipated_the_space_age_30361.html>.

Week 8 Blog: Nanotech + Art

            Nanotechnology is a scientific that goes largely unnoticed in the modern world yet, as the lecture material shows, has a significant impact on our everyday lives. Nanotech is a science dealing with structures on a scale only slightly larger than that of atoms, making it invisible unless one has access to highly sophisticated technology. But the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) in the 1980's has led to the creation of art on the nano-scale.

            Nanotechnology and art complement each other based on the idea that nanotechnology can be used to create art while at the same time art can make nanotechnology easier to conceptualize and understand. Cris Orfescu appears to be one of the leading artists in the field of nanotechnology (Feder, 2008). Orfescu is an artist with a background in materials science who also happens to have a passion for abstract art. He has done much to advance the NanoArt field since his jump into the field in 1989 (nanotech-now.com, 2015).

Figure 1: "Power" by Cris Orfescu using Graphite nanoparticles.

            The use of art to conceptualize nanotechnology is the other side of the relationship between the two subjects. Art has traditionally been used to create images of potential objects and shapes that can't be physically seen using existing technology. This is how nanostructures were originally visualized and existing architecture even contributed to the field in the case of the "buckeyball" structure of pure carbon (Fernandez et al., 2007). In his proposal for nanomachines, Eric Drexler used schematic diagrams to illustrate his otherwise invisible proposition (Baum, 2003).

Figure 2: Nanotech gear as envisioned by Eric Drexler

            While Dr. Gimzewski asserted that nanotechnology has nearly boundless potential and is at work in our lives constantly through at least 1,000 commercial products, I question if this technology is actually scalable. There has been much talk about the potential for nanotechnology but not much has arisen in terms of practical applications (Koshy, 2013). While hydrophobic glass has been used widely and some other applications have made it to market, I think the application that cements nanotechnology as truly revolutionary and remarkable has yet to be found. I still have hope that this discovery will be made and have full faith that it will be used responsibly and potentially revolutionize our world.  

Figure 3: Hydrophobic glass enabled by nanotechnology

Works Cited

Baum, Rudy. "C&EN: COVER STORY - NANOTECHNOLOGY." Chemical and Engineering News. Web. 25 May 2015.< http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8148/8148counterpoint.html>.

"Cris Orfescu." Nanotechnology Art Gallery. Nanotechnology Now. Web. 25 May 2015. <http://www.nanotech-now.com/Art_Gallery/Cris-Orfescu.htm>.

Feder, Barnaby. "The Art of Nanotech." Bits The Art of Nanotech Comments. New York Times, 25 Jan. 2008. Web. 25 May 2015. <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/the-art-of-nanotech/>.

Koshy, Jacob. "Nanotech Research Speeds Up, but Applications Fail to Materialize." Http://www.livemint.com/. 22 Apr. 2013. Web. 25 May 2015. <http://www.livemint.com/Specials/j8UZSy0iiA8kRpgtjwxioM/Research-speeds-up-but-applications-fail-to-materialize.html>.

Maclovio Fernandez, Martha Farnsworth, Luca Sabbatini, Buckyballs: Their history and discovery. OpenStax CNX. Feb 20, 2007 http://cnx.org/contents/4a177b0e-1228-41d4-9d62-d4f0a9a3f335@1.

Event 1: Infinity Structures: Paradoxical Spaces by Robert Gero

            For my first event, I attended the opening of Robert Gero's exhibition on Infinity Structures on May 21, 2015. This exhibition was particularly interesting with regards to the subject of mathematics and art since the theory behind the piece involved "structures whose internal dimensions exceeded its external ones." (Gero, 2015) I found this idea fascinating in that it is basically impossible for humans to visualize anything beyond the three dimensions we currently live in. I thought Mr. Gero did a good job of trying to explain his thought behind representing other dimensions in the video below.

Robert Gero explains his representation of dimensions beyond the 3rd

            The idea behind this piece seems very counter-intuitive yet somehow possible. An infinity structure is a structure with a stable outside that does not expand yet has an infinite number of dimensions and space inside. In the piece this is achieved by combining sound, static objects, and moving objects accomplished through the projection of video. I loved the idea of this exhibition and think that it may well be true that the next thinkg to be unlocked to advance art is the representation of further dimensions.

            As a piece of artwork I found this exhibition particularly interesting in that a central idea behind it was the idea that the experience of the piece was different depending on the position/perspective of the viewer within in the room. This is illustrated by the 2 different videos shown below looking at the same place in the piece, but from different points in the room.

 View one of a certain point

       View two of the same point

          A unique feature of the piece that I thought was particularly well done for how last-minute Mr. Gero made it seem was the pillows added throughout the exhibition. The way the artist described it, he typically adds elements from the area his pieces are exhibited in and these pillows just happened to be in a back room. I think the darker pillows contrasting with the white space and styrofoam elements creates points of reference throughout the room so that a viewer can constantly compare his/her point of view within the piece.

 Ordinary pillow used in the exhibition

Verification of my attendance at the exhibition

Works Cited

Gero, Robert. "Infinity Structures: Paradoxical Spaces by Robert Gero." Exhibition. UCLA Art|Sci Gallery 5th Floor, CNSI | California Nanosystems Institute, Los Angeles. 21 May 2015. Lecture.

Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

            Neuroscience is important with the study of art because while it shows how humans think and determine what is interesting and important, it also details how people interpret the world around them. The brain's importance was unknown until relatively recently and neuroscience is still one of the most interesting fields of research, with discoveries being made all the time. One that I find particularly intriguing is the apparent discovery of an "off switch" for consciousness, that could have huge implications for other areas of the brain (Connectome, 2014).

Figure 1: Simplification of a brain "off switch"

            I found the discussion of drugs like cocaine and LSD and how they affect their users to be very interesting this week. While it is beneficial to understand how these drugs were created and the research that has been done using them, my question after watching this week's lectures was how much do we know about how these drugs affect people's perception. Specifically, do these drugs change what appeals to them as "art" or are appealing characteristics permanently wired into our brains? Research has largely shown that LSD in particular is a drug that directly affects perception (Freeman, 2015).

Figure 2: Timothy Leary was one of the most influential psychedelic researchers

                The influence of LSD on perception is even more interesting when looking at the culture change that accompanied its arrival (Richards, 2013). Music experienced a significant shift in popular style and while there are other factors at play here, new drugs definitely played a part. Bands like the Grateful Dead arose and became some of the most famous artists of their time (Getty, 2014). The Beatles were even influenced by psychedelics, with rumors even flying that the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was about the bands many trips on LSD (Snopes, 2007). What would music be like today if not for the effect of these drugs and their role in the evolution of the musical landscape as we know it?

 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Works Cited

Freeman, Shanna. "How LSD Works." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 2015. Web. 18 May 2015.<http://science.howstuffworks.com/lsd3.htm>.

Getty, Michael. "The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir on Short-Shorts, LSD, and the." Vanity Fair. 28 Apr. 2014.Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/04/bob-weir-grateful-dead> .

Richards, Samantha. "The Influence of Drugs throughout Music in the 1960s: The Psychedelic Era." World Music. 2013. Web. 18 May 2015.     

<http://blogs.longwood.edu/worldmusicsm/2013/04/29/the-influence-of-drugs-throughout-      music-in-the-1960s-the-psychedelic-era/>.

"Snopes.com: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds LSD." Snopes.com: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds LSD.2007. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.snopes.com/music/hidden/lucysky.asp>.

"The Top 5 Neuroscience Breakthroughs of 2014." The Connectome RSS. 29 Dec. 2014. Web. 18 May 2015.< http://theconnecto.me/2014/12/the-top-5-neuroscience-breakthroughs-of-2014/>.

Week 6 Blog: Biotech + Art

            It is fairly easy to see why biotechnology as an art form can become controversial very quickly. Biotech deals with the building blocks that make humans what they are, and manipulating those building blocks into untested forms naturally makes people uneasy (Pasko, 2007). But what is hard to understand is why there is such disdain for art mixing with biotechnology even though it is basically the same thing that "scientists" are doing in labs, just with a different purpose.

            Eduardo Kac's GFP bunny Alba is a great example of this dichotomy in public opinion. Alba was created by scientists in a lab as an experiment with regards to the modifications of an animal's genes. But once the animal was put on display as a work of art, parts of the viewing public became upset and called the rabbit an atrocity. As a result, Alba was taken from Kac and placed in isolation in a laboratory over fears of what would happen if she reproduced (Rubinowitz, 2000).

Figure 1: Alba, Eduardo Kac's fluorescent bunny

            The case of Steve Kurtz is also a something that must be examined with respect to BioArt. Kurtz grew cultures of cells in his home as part of his artwork but once his wife died, the police discovered his cultures in his house. The FBI was called in and Kurtz was investigated for bioterrorism (Munster, 2005). If Kurtz had been in a secure lab, none of this would have happened to him. While there is no doubt that biological agents can be weaponized to great effect, the regulation of Kurtz seemed to be overkill. In contrast to this, when a strain of smallpox was mishandled in a CDC lab, there were reprimands but no criminal investigations into wrongdoing (McNeil, 2014). The divide between the two cultures of science and art is clearly seen in BioArt.

Figure 2: FBI agents raiding Steve Kurtz's home

            I think the most interesting and thought-provoking aspect of the mixing of biotechnology and art is that it creates the possibility of "living art" that can and will die and cease to exist at some point (Miranda, 2013). This also brings up the possibility that if someone is unhappy with a piece of art, they can in theory kill it. How society reacts to this act will provide a unique lens to examine our surroundings. Will this act be compared to book burning or shrugged off as not a big deal?

Figure 3: Victimless Leather, a living art piece that had to be killed because it grew too big

Works Cited

Mcneil, Donald. "C.D.C. Closes Anthrax and Flu Labs After Accidents." The New York Times. The New York Times, 11 July 2014. Web. 7 May 2015.        <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/12/science/cdc-closes-anthrax-and-flu-labs-after-  accidents.html>.

Miranda, Carolina. "Weird Science: Biotechnology as Art Form." ARTnews. 18 Mar. 2013.          Web. 7 May 2015. <http://www.artnews.com/2013/03/18/biotechnology-as-art-form/>.

Munster, Anna. "Why Is BioArt Not Terrorism?: Some Critical Nodes in the Networks of             Infomatice Life." Culture Machine. 2007. Web. 7 May 2015.             <http://www.culturemachine.net/index.php/cm/rt/printerFriendly/31/38>.

Pasko, Jessica. "Bio-artists Bridge Gap between Arts, Sciences." Msnbc.com. 4 Mar. 2007. Web. 7 May 2015. <http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17387568/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/bio-artists-bridge-gap-between-arts-sciences/#.VUqpsPnBzGc> .

Rubinowitz, Susan. "Glowing Rabbit Sparks Controversy." Glowing Rabbit Sparks Controversy.         23 Sept. 2000. Web. 7 May 2015. <http://www.ekac.org/petplace.html>.