Week 9 Assignment

This week's subject was easily my favorite.  I love space and art separately, but the idea of them together infatuates me.  Space and art can be broken apart in several different segments.  One being very technological: the art of rocket science, art done in space, or the art of space itself.

Richard Clar looks into the art of rocket science, portraying the more technological side of the spectrum.  Clar uses rocket science to elucidate his take on issues in space, "Philosophical in nature, themes for Richard Clar's art-in-space projects include: space environment issues, such as orbital debris; war and peace; the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), and water management on Earth" (Arttechnologies.com).  Clar's usage of mechanical images in order to spread awareness of these issues gives a fascinating light on the combination of design, art, technology, and even propaganda.  The picture below illustrates ink on stainless steel, a practice he used in order to show the possibilities of design on technology.

http://www.arttechnologies.com/site-2005/Gallery/28.html

Arthur Woods illustrates the idea of art done in space.  His images show astronauts building and designing artwork in places such as the International Space Station (Cosmicdancer.com).  The articles accordingly states, "Over the years many "space artists" have served the space community as illustrators of astronomical and astronautical information provided to them by the scientists and technologists and by so doing they have helped this community to visualize and realize its goals" (Cosmicdancer.com).  This movement has become a forefront in the idea of global communication with integrating design through space and art.  I believe that the people that can accomplish this truly have talent, as they perform and execute artistic talents in a vacuum of no gravity.

http://www.cosmicdancer.com/cosmic_dancer_photos.php

Chesley Bonestell explores the art of space itself.  By doing so, the American pioneer actually popularized human space travel (Bonestell.org).  His art takes a more obvious approach on the idea of art and space, but it is still appreciated as he has won countless awards for his world.  Personally, I am the biggest fan on Bonestell because I love paintings and landscapes more than any other form of art.

http://www.bonestell.org/#prettyPhoto

http://www.bonestell.org/#prettyPhoto

Ultimately, this unit inspired me to discover more possibilities of art in the world of space.  Personally, I believe that astronomy and the observation of constellations make for incredible creative processes that only divergent thinking could come up with.  The constellations, specifically the linking of the stars into shapes, elucidates the ideal idea of art in space.


Sources:

"Bonestell - Home." Bonestell - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2015. <http://www.bonestell.org/>.

 "Cosmic Dancer - a Space Art Intervention by Arthur Woods." The Cosmic Dancer Project : Cosmic Dancer Introduction : Arthur Woods. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2015. <http://www.cosmicdancer.com/cosmic_dancer_introduction.php>.

"Cosmic Dancer - a Space Art Intervention by Arthur Woods." The Cosmic Dancer Project : Cosmic Dancer Photos : Arthur Woods. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2015. <http://www.cosmicdancer.com/cosmic_dancer_photos.php>.

 "Richard Clar." About the Artist RICHARD CLAR, Founder and President of Art Technologies. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2015. <http://www.arttechnologies.com/site-2005/Gallery/28.html>.

 "Richard Clar." About the Artist RICHARD CLAR, Founder and President of Art Technologies. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2015. <http://www.arttechnologies.com/site-2005/richard-clar.html>.

Event Blog #3

As the school year comes to a close, I chose to explore The Getty Museum for the first time since moving to California.  The museum had some wonderful exhibits, but what I found most enticing was the experience and the views.  A trolley car takes visitors from the ground level parking to the buildings and gardens with amazing sights of Los Angeles.  

In the trolley car

The view

The exhibit that I loved the most was one featuring the essence of Russian dances.  This exhibit was demonstrated by Degas.  He used sculptures, as well as pastel painting, to illustrate his take on the Russian-style of movements.  Degas was a French impressionist with more than half of his works depicting dancers (Wikipedia.org).

I thought Degas beautiful incorporated technology and design into his art, in his attempts to portray the movement of people.  I believe that dance takes lots of design in order to perfect, as it is also an art in its own right.  The beautiful nature of dancing is that it is art itself, but then Degas used design, technology, and his own creativity to make it his own form of art.  I admire his works because he does sculptures and art pastels with the same subjects.  I believe that generalist artists that use two forms of art to spotlight the same works have a larger amount of capital in the world of art and design.

Sources:

"Edgar Degas." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 May 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Degas>.

Week 8 Assignment

NanoTech, like almost anything else, also has a place in the evolving world of art.  NanoTech focuses on the smaller parts or building blocks of the technological field, including pieces such as the nano chip.  NanoTech correlates to a plethora of scientific findings, including air pollution and medical discoveries.

http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/winter-2009/turning-to-nanotechnology-for-pollution-control-applications-of-nanoparticles#.VWKf30I-DR0

Specifically, a new X-ray technology makes no particles visible in order to detect blood clots more easily.  One source claims, "...these nanoparticles will take the guesswork out of deciding whether a person coming to the hospital with chest pain is actually having a heart attack" (Nanowiki.info).  I believe this is an incredible feat due to the fact that a few weeks ago, I was hospitalized with chest pain.  I have a heart murmur that my cardiologist at home suggests I pay attention to, so the doctors at the hospital actually ran tests for blood clots.  This new nanotechnology benefits the cardiological field in vast ways, making life-threatening clots more of a routine check-up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombus

Another source discusses the "Bio-Nano-Chip" and the invention of it diagnosing people with diseases.  The source asserts that the chip would actually be cheaper than routine clinical checkups  benefitting the general public with such medical expenses in the current era.  One disease mentioned is HIV, which effects some of the poorest countries in the world.  This new nano chip could decrease the spread with major outreach and awareness efforts to slow the infectious virus. (Nanowiki.info).

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/17131.php

The artistic side of this field comes mainly in microscopic images due to the size of these pieces.  In his article "The Art of Nano tech", Barnaby Feder states, "But the molecular landscapes of various materials, where features are measured nanometers, became a preoccupation in recent years and the jumping off point for his art" (Nytimes.com).  I believe that the molecular level of art fascinates people because of the fact that we cannot see it with just the plain human eye.  It takes technology in order to even see the artistic sense of the nano technology.   

Sources:

 "The Art of Nanotech." Bits The Art of Nanotech Comments. N.p., 25 Jan. 2008. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/the-art-of-nanotech/?_r=0>.

 "Findings on Pollution Damage." N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fnanowiki.info%2F%23%255B%255BFindings%2520on%2520Pollution%2520Damage%255D%255D>.

"New Nanoparticles Make Blood Clots Visible." NanoWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fnanowiki.info%2F%23%255B%255BNew%2520nanoparticles%2520make%2520blood%2520clots%2520visible%255D%255D>.

"Programmable Bio-Nano-Chip as Medical Diagnostic Tool." NanoWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fnanowiki.info%2F%23%255B%255BProgrammable%2520Bio-Nano-Chip%2520as%2520Medical%2520Diagnostic%2520Tool%255D%255D>.

"World's First Programmable Nanoprocessor." NanoWiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fnanowiki.info%2F%23%255B%255BWorld%2527s%2520first%2520programmable%2520nanoprocessor%255D%255D>.

Week 7 Assignment

The brain functions as the organ that perceives art, but it is nearly unheard of to actually categorize the brain itself as art.  John Hyamm describes the field as "near-aesthetics, which is the study of art by neuroscientists" (Queens.ox.ac.uk).  Those scientists explore images of the brain in search for art, taking a creative approach on the field of neuroscience.  This perception of human anatomy makes me realize that almost anything can be art.  Something as weird and ugly as the brain being perceived as art proves that art can be seen in nearly any form.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/greg-dunn_n_1534366.html

Pictured above, "Greg Dunn's neurons painted in Japanese sumi-e style" becomes a new type of art as he depicts neurons in a picture.  Dunn claims that his inspiration is actually, "frustration with European Renaissance period art" (Huffingtonpost.com).  

http://www.gregadunn.com/category/print-of-neuroscience-and-nature-art-by-greg-dunn/

Dunn takes the shapes of neurons and other anatomical brain parts, putting them on a canvas to portray his idea of art.  He wants to use these anatomical pieces to better understand the essence of medical fields in the art world.  The product evidently portrays beautiful artistic forms of the human brain.

http://www.gregadunn.com/category/print-of-neuroscience-and-nature-art-by-greg-dunn/

I personally believe that it is rather riveting that artists now take such scientific ideas and turn them into art.  Neuroscience proves as one of the most technologically advanced fields in society, so the idea of artwork in such a medium explores creativity to a whole new degree.  One must be gifted to even attempt the combination of these art and science pieces. (Oikos.org).

Sources:

Drake, John M. "Ecology, Cognition and Landscape: Linking Natural and Social Systems . Landscape Series, Volume 11. By Almo Farina . Dordrecht (The Netherlands) and New York: Springer. $129.00. Xi + 169 P.; Ill.; Index. ISBN: 978-90-481-3137-2 (hc); 978-90-481-3138-9 (eb). 2010." The Quarterly Review of Biology 87.1 (2012): 55-56. Web.

Frank, Priscilla. "Neuroscience Art: Greg Dunn's Neurons Painted In Japanese Sumi-e Style (PHOTOS, INTERVIEW)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 14 May 2015. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/23/greg-dunn_n_1534366.html>.

"How Does the Brain Process Art?" Smithsonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-does-the-brain-process-art-80541420/?no-ist>.

"MIND AND NATURE by Gregory Bateson." MIND AND NATURE by Gregory Bateson. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015. <http://www.oikos.org/mind&nature.htm>.

"Print | Greg Dunn Design." Greg Dunn Design. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2015. <http://www.gregadunn.com/category/print-of-neuroscience-and-nature-art-by-greg-dunn/>.

Event Blog #2

This past weekend, I made a trip back home to see my family.  I live in New Jersey, so my friends and I decided to take a trip into New York City on Monday to explore one of the most renowned museums in the world.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) explores the history of art in diverse forms and from various time periods.  The museum has an overwhelming amount of wall art hanging throughout the galleries, but what I found most intriguing was the pieces of sculpture and architecture.

My friends and I on the steps of the Met

 Waiting in line for admissions... she was a badged employee!

My admissions ticket... the focused picture below is better

The sculpture exhibits explore the concept of anatomy and art.  How each piece is constructed in accordance to the human body's most basic depiction baffles me.  Sculptures exemplify beauty by the simplicity of white stone imitating a position of a human, making it appear as if that piece of art is one of the human race.  Below, my friend Jamie poses in front of a piece called "Memory" by a American man named Daniel Chester French.  The piece portrays a woman focusing on handy tasks, as that is what woman of that specific time period did.

Jamie stands here replicating this famous statue.

Architecture throughout history has proven to change overtime with new advancements in art and technology.  The earliest buildings were simple huts made of dirt and straw, while now steel skyscrapers tower together to form cities.  Some of my favorite architecture was inspired by the Greeks and the Romans in the 13th century. 

This shows the idea of four columns holding up a roof.  Before columns, people would just rely on the whole foundation of the house to hold up the top of the house or building.  Because of this innovative discovery, people began to gear architecture more towards art, as technology advanced with it.

This column is meant to support a building, but the beautiful artwork in the details cannot be overlooked.  The edges hold beautiful carving details that could only be done by some of the finest artists in the day.  This new take on art within architecture highlights the importance of art in the midst of technological advancements.

In totality, it was an amazing experience spending a few hours in the Met exploring some of the most riveting galleries offered to the public.  We cherished the time we got to spend with these pieces, and we even escaped the afternoon rain for a little too!

Week 6 Assignment

Bio Tech proves as one of the most incredible fields of art, design, and technology's combination. As one source states, "biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet" (Bio.org).  This innovative field explores art, while also progressing human health and medicine.

http://montanabiotech.com

The lecture discussing Joe Davis illustrates the field in the best ways possible. Davis was considered the pioneer of Bio Art. His accomplishment that I found most intriguing would have to be the Microvenus project, in which he embedded artwork into a bacterial genome (Viewingspace.com).  Georgia Tech University researchers described this project as, "Digitized and translated into a string of 28 DNA nucleotides, Microvenus first slipped between the genes of E. coli in 1990. The bacteria quickly multiplied in its beakers into billions of cells, each carrying a separate instance of the icon" (Gatech.edu).  Personally, I think it is fascinating that something so small and so scientific now becomes seen as artwork.  There is plenty of room for art in science and vice versa, so this was one riveting way to illustrate that.

http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/heaven-earth-joe-davis 

http://digitalarts.lmc.gatech.edu/unesco/biotech/artists/bio_a_jdavis.html

To answer some of the Ruth West questions, I would like to clarify that I believe life is a completely valid medium to express art.  There should be restrictions to how far a scientist goes into the wellbeing of one's life to express the art, but as long as people's health and living conditions are not permanently effected, it is a great field of artistic expression.  Ultimately, human creativity with no limits could abolish populations or lands, which becomes too risky.  There should be limits to creativity, but the possibilities will always remain endless.

Sources:

 "HEAVEN + EARTH + JOE DAVIS." HEAVEN + EARTH + JOE DAVIS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.<http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/heaven-earth-joe-davis>.

"Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture." Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_joe.htm>.

"Montana BioTech." Montana BioTech. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://montanabiotech.com/>.

"UNESCO Arts, Science & Technology." UNESCO Arts, Science & Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://digitalarts.lmc.gatech.edu/unesco/biotech/artists/bio_a_jdavis.html>.

"What Is Biotechnology?" What Is Biotechnology? N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.bio.org/articles/what-biotechnology>.

Week 4 Assignment

The human body captivates beauty in the sense that it can make art, produce art, hear and see art, and, ultimately, it is art.  For centuries, people have been using the human body as forms of art work.  One source claims, “From paintings to sculpture, body art to performing art, the body has figured prominently in the creative expression of nearly all cultures from the beginning of civilization.  Through art, the body come becomes a site for defining individual identity, constructing sex and gender ideals, negotiating power, and experimenting with the nature of representation itself” (Learner.org).  

My favorite form of anatomy in art would have to be sculpture.  I love the idea of a body in an artificial material, imitating certain figures or people.  Sculpture does a terrific job of exemplifying how the artist wants a certain type of human or specific person perceived at that point in history.  Here, Rob Mueck uses his craftsman skills to portray very real sculptures.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2514500/Are-life-like-sculptures-produced-Artist-creates-hyper-realistic-models-humans.html

http://learner.org/courses/globalart/work/138/index.html

As mentioned in the lecture, the Human Genome Project is absolutely enthralling.  The race to discover the genetics and DNA systems of the body proves to be nearly as exhilarating as the famous ‘Space Race’ between the US and the Soviet Union in the1960s (Genome.gov).  

http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/05/24/3766923.htm

Lastly, jewelry takes skills and pristine precision, proving as one of the more intricate forms of art.  Not only is jewelry worn on the body, but it can also be used in context with parts of the body.  This specific piece pictured below illustrates a hand on what looks like would be the jewel of a necklace.  This is a riveting example of mixing the body and art, as you see the body in art and then the art on the body.  Personally, this interests me because of the irony and dynamics of this concept.

http://www.metalemily.com/portfolio/PortfolioEnamelBTLE.html

Sources:

 "All About The Human Genome Project (HGP)." All About The Human Genome Project (HGP). N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://www.genome.gov/10001772#al-2>.

 "Emily Watson | Metal & Enamel Jewelry | Enamel Jewelry | beyond the Lover's Eye | Anatomical | Anatomy." Emily Watson | Metal & Enamel Jewelry | Enamel Jewelry | beyond the Lover's Eye | Anatomical | Anatomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://www.metalemily.com/portfolio/PortfolioEnamelBTLE.html>.

"MoMA Learning." MoMA. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/investigating-identity/the-body-in-art>.

 Reilly, Jill. "Are These the Most Life-like Sculptures Ever Produced? Artist Creates Hyper-realistic Models of Humans." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 27 Dec. 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2514500/Are-life-like-sculptures-produced-Artist-creates-hyper-realistic-models-humans.html>.

"13 / The Body." Art Through Time: A Global View. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://learner.org/courses/globalart/theme/13/index.html>.