WEEK 8: NANOTECHNOLOGY & ART

  First introduced by Richard Feynman during his talk "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom," at an American Physical Society meeting, the concept of nanotechnology addressed the possibility of creating mechanics on an atomic scale. This took place at Caltech on December 29, 1959. Feynman suggested that building technology on such a small scale has limitless possibilities due to the amount of space provided, respectively.

  In relation to the field of art, nanotechnology can be seen through the incorporation of minerals/metals within paints or sculpture to create unique effects. This is because on the nano scale, many materials behave differently. When incorporated into glass, gold and silver nano particles catch the light in different ways and make the light passing through a different color. To take this a step further with silver, if incorporated into glass cups, a darker liquid will cause the cup to glow a bluish hue and give the glass an opaque appearance. 

  Lotus leaves have the ability to reject water from seeping into the surface, a quality known as hydrophobia. This property which works as a water deterrent helps the leaves sit on top of the water as lily pads. Furthermore, companies have created nanotechnologies that also have this ability and have applied it to clothing. Clothing can go beyond water repellent to having ketchup slide clean of the surface too. Fashion possibilities extend far beyond keeping clothes clean.

Sources:

Admin. "Invest in Nanotechnology" Article. Investingreeenenergy.com. 21 Oct. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

"The Science of Stained Glass" PowerPoint. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). NISE Network. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

Uconlineprogram. "Nanotech Jim Pt3" Online Video Clip. Youtube. Youtube, 21 May. 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

"Nanotechnology" Blog. Nano--technology.blogspot.com. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

"Richard Feynman (1918-1988)" Article. Atomicarchive.com. AJ Media and Software 1988-2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.

Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

  The relationship between the body and the mind attracts great curiosity within modern culture. Everyone wishes to know how they may better their health and lifestyle through strengthening their understanding of how this partnership functions. The mind receives great attention because of the great amount of information there is to still learn. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, (MRI), serves as one tool that artists of today draw inspiration from due to the incredible imagery and colorful representation.


  Giovanni Frazzetto and Suzanne Anker's work titled Neuroculture states the importance of the brain's mechanics in relation to the personality of an individual. They continue to explain how it is due to these factors that the brain is the most important organ within the human body. This is contrary to historical belief within many religions that may address the heart as the centerpiece of personality because of its placement within the body and its role in maintaining life. This controversy influenced by the importance of an organ within the body seems to have a great impact on artistic work as artists attempt to depict this vitality in their own work. Greg Dunn finds inspiration in neurons, the cells of the brain.

  Through his use of the Asian sumi-e style of painting Dunn creates lively images of neuroscience artwork. This technique uses the calligraphic approach with ink and brush that allows for aesthetically pleasing, finite lines that encroach upon the paper. His works show the marvelous balance between science and art.

 

 

Sources:

 

Dunn, Greg. "Hippocampus III" Painting, Ink on Paper. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Dunn, Greg. "Gold Cortex" Painting, In on Paper. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Migravent. "Migraines and Meniere's Disease: A Match Made in Hades" Article. Migravent.com. 31 Jan. 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Fazzetto, Giovanni and Anker. "Neuroculture" Article. Science and Society. Macmillan Publishers Limited. 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

Uconlineprogram. "Neuroscience-pt1.mov" Online Video Clip. Youtube. Youtube, 17 May. 2012. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.

WEEK 6: BIOTECHNOLOGY & ART

Artists continue to push the boundaries of what they produce and label as art. This desire to progress has led to incorporating living organisms into their work. Biotechnology allows scientists to learn how certain products affect the body on a cellular level and how they may apply this knowledge to improve life. Joe Davis was the first man to incorporate this practice with artistic pursuance. He defined this manipulation of life as a form of expression.

In a more literal representation, the incorporation of florescence within animals not known for glowing, allowed artists to label the product of scientific research as art. This was done by taking the gene from a jellyfish, that allows for its florescent properties, and inserting it into a fertilized rabbit egg cell. The gene enters the rabbit's DNA and is reproduced as the cell multiplies. This use of florescence is applicable for research purposes as the gene can be used as a tag to show when certain proteins are being active within an organism, respectively.

The labeling of life as art comes about, due to the reforming of the body's characteristics. There is a great appeal in a glowing household pet. The florescent rabbit works as a modern day version of Duchamp's ready-made's in that an artist recognizes the efforts of another individual and labels the product as art. Like the era of Duchamp, it is quite controversial today to call a living organism art.

Sources:

1. Duchamp, Marcel. "Fountain" Sculpture, Porcelain. 1917, replica 1964. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

2. Alien Disclosure Group (UK) "Scientists Create Cloned Glow-in-the-dark Rabbits" Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

3.Essaidi, Jalila. "Joe Davis: The Mad Scientist of MIT?" Blog, Bioartlab. 21 Oct. 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

4. Vesna, Victoria. "5 bioart pt1 1280x720" Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sep. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.

5.Vesna, Victoria. "5 bioart pt2" Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 17 May. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2013.