DESMA 9 Final Project - Healthy Chip

Event 3 - Orange County Museum of Art

My visit to the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) in Newport Beach was a very different experience from my trip to the Bowers Museum. The art was much more modern and there was a large variety of mediums. The scientific sides of  these works were much more evident based on the various designs that were seen. In one of the displays, an artist had attached dried flowers to an electrically run spinning base so that it created a garden that was in constant motion. It was quite eccentric and at first, a little disconcerting, yet at the same time, very beautiful. Another room displayed a video of a woman using her voice to create beats just like an instrument would.

Exterior of OCMA

What I believed to be ceramic tiles actually turned out to be photographs of the tiles all neatly arranged on the wall so that it appeared to be attached to it. It was quite realistic until you looked up close. The Visionaries Galleries contained a series of pictures made out of gemstones. They were arranged to create a separate design for each piece. I also saw a giant bright pink trumpet made out of what appeared to be yarn among other items that were made from fabric. All the actual painted art was very abstract, each picture had numerous different shapes and colors. Often times, the shapes would come together to create a bigger picture.

The Two Galleries of OCMA

I was surprised by how diverse everything seemed and how different it was from anything I had seen before. This class has really helped me see how much art is apart of science as science is apart of art. In our modern world, science has become so important to way that artists think; it is vital to creativity. I am more aware of my surroundings and when I look at something, I often analyze which aspects have scientific or artistic characteristics.

The Orange County Museum of Art is definitely the place to go if you're curious about modern and abstract art. It is most certainly different from what I'm used to but I'm glad to have gotten the chance to see this other side of art. The variety of materials that were used created an atmosphere that made it feel like you were moving forward into a new world. I think we are slowly making our way into an era of art that will include technology much of the time. It is quite inevitable since we are developing new things everyday.

Event 2 - The Bowers Museum

My trip to the Bowers Museum was very enjoyable. I was able to view artwork from all parts of the world and from many different cultures. Although I was not allowed to take many photos, I was able to take away so much knowledge of the background behind many of these masterpieces.

The first stop I made was to the exhibit on the South Pacific Islands. There was everything from ornamental jewelry such as nose rings and large shells necklaces to hand fashioned weapons such as arrows and spears. Though many of these items had practical uses, I would most definitely consider them to be art, given the time and intricacy they must have taken. Many of the displays also explained the cultural practices and ceremonies these items were an important part of.

In another part of the museum, there was a newly set up exhibit on unusual gems of the world. They were absolutely exquisite pieces of jewelry with a large variety of shapes and sizes. My favorite was a type of stone known as morganite, which appeared as a lovely peach pink color. What I immediately thought of was the scientific art of mining these gems and the process it took for it to appear the way I saw it. Though the tie is tenuous, art and science are very much indeed connected here. Without theses scientific processes, there is no way to produce the gems needs to keep the jewelry industry running.

The third exhibit I visited was something called Gems of the Medici. It was by far my favorite because of the history behind it. The Medici family was very prominent in Italian society many centuries ago. Though they were not royal, they had much political influence and were very involved in law making. Over the generations, they accumulated a magnificent collection of artwork from all eras of history which was currently being displayed at the museum. I saw many depictions of Greek mythology, medieval art and sculptural busts of many of the Medicis themselves. At the end of the exhibit, they showed a video of the process of carving one of these sculptures and the various tools that were used; it took very involved time consuming steps to get to the final product.

I would most certainly recommend making a visit to the Bowers Museum, especially if you are an art lover. You can see the subtle hints of science in everything you look at. Many of the masterpieces took precise measurements and simply put, it is unlikely that what we consider art could exist without science.

Event 1 - Discovery Science Center

For my first event, I decided to pay a visit to the Discovery Science Center. Although this place was designed to expose young children to science, I was surprised by how much I was able to take away from this experience. Almost everything that I had a chance to look at directly tied art and science together. The DSC was currently running a Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit; it showed replicas of many of his achievements in all areas of the arts and sciences. I was pleased to find many displays of the concepts we have learned in DESMA 9. There was a large projection of the Vitruvian Man with an explanation of the golden ratio and the important role it plays it aesthetics of artwork. Correct proportions are so integral yet so subtle that most of the time, we do not even give it any attention.

Vitruvian Man

Another part of the exhibit explored the history of the Mona Lisa; it may appear to a be a simple portrait but it was clearly very carefully designed and was painted in layers. Over the centuries, it has undergone many restorations and there are many subtle changes to the piece of art since it was originally painted many years ago. The actual masterpiece can be seen at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Da Vince also spent a great deal of time in exploring the human anatomy. He made many drawings of the skeletal system and the muscles of the body. His work lay the foundation for the book known as Grey's Anatomy. We have learned from this class that human anatomy is an integral concept for artists; it has given us many insights and inspiration for new technology in all sorts of fields.

                               Mona Lisa Replica                                      Anatomical Drawings

In other parts of the museum, I saw many connections between art and space, a currently growing aspect of our own modern day society. There was a replica of the Mars Rover and interactive display that allows visitors to explore what the surface of Mars might look like. One of the coolest things I saw at the DSC was a stringless harp. It was designed so that sound could be produced when your fingers triggered the sensors on the harp. I was quite amazed that this is the kind of technology that we are capable of producing today. It was the perfect example of art and science all in one. Overall, I truly enjoyed my visit to the Discovery Science Center. It's the perfect place to see how art and science can connect at both the simplest to the most complex levels. It really helped to solidify my understanding of the many concepts that we have covered in this class and has really broadened my interest in this ever expanding field. I would highly recommend making a visit here; it was more eye-opening than I could have imagined.

Proof of Attendance

Micro + Macro: Nanotech + Space + Art

I was quite intrigued by all that I learned about nanotechnology this week. It turned out to be completely different from what I originally though it would be. It is used in large variety of things that we see on a daily basis. What I found particularly interesting was the fact that by minimizing a substance, one could change the properties of this substance; for example, something inert could become a catalyst or solids could become liquids. Nanotechnology is a field that strives to find all the amazing uses of these minuscule particles. Boo Chapple's Transjuicer is a project that has worked towards forming audio speakers from bone. The bone matrix is used generate audible sound for human beings. This is merely one way that art and science can be connected and the results are fascinating. It is the work of nanotechnology that has allowed us to explore all these opportunities. Nanotechnology is not only used in electronics but in almost every aspect of our lives.

Quantum Dots

This leads me to talk about how nano particles are used in clothing and food. For example, silver nano particles are used in our active wear. They carry antimicrobial properties that result clothing that can be worn for long periods of time without accumulating too much bacteria. Nano particles in items such as sunscreen, cosmetics, and food are a bit more of a debated subject because of the possible toxicity. On the other hand, nanotechnology has also opened doors for the pharmaceutical and medical world, allowing for more new possibilities than ever before to cure diseases. 

Silver Nano Particle

On the opposite side of the spectrum, we also discussed space in this week's lectures. I have always found space exploration to be an exciting subject. The fact that humankind has been to able to engineer crafts that have allowed us to orbit in space and land on the moon is nothing short of genius. In recent years, the exploration of space has entered into the private arena, giving entrepreneurs the chance make their own contributions. I believe that this will greatly expand our knowledge of what is out there in short span of time. There is so much that humans could benefit from (alternative energy sources, for example) and it is in our interest to continue on this path. 

Solar System

NASA recently pioneered a telescope that has introduced us to the lower layers of the Sun's atmosphere; with all the technology that we are capable of in the modern world, new things are being discovered on a regular basis. I would consider this to be an art because of the precision that it takes to build such things. Space is beautiful in its own right and the steps that we take to learn more about it only further the connection between itself and art.

NASA International Space Station Construction

Citations

"John Curtin Gallery." Artabase. N.p., 30 Apr 2010. Web. 28 Jul 2013. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

Quantum Dots. N.d. Photograph. sigmaaldrichWeb. 28 Jul 2013. <http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/materials-science/nanomaterials/photolumin-scence-of-alloyed-quantum-dots.jpg>.

Chapple, Boo. "Boo Chapple." Residual Soup. N.p.. Web. 28 Jul 2013. <http://residualsoup.org/boo-chapple.html>.

Silver Nano Particle. N.d. Photograph. BlogspotWeb. 28 Jul 2013. <https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFHHLmpY-QWE-UrUJayyGCEbZ1GQPAPMXh4TaTLxOEqHeqPkc4mwf1FsAlpsb58xEo48Pvr3Q_BOcADppxBY6cRvbtL4AcUrGTqEu_u_L-TM0jao4fof1zvO_Ebx9g5TE9TtXu5nbyo8/s400/silver+nano.jpg>.

"Silver Nanoparticles: Properties and Applications."sigmaaldrich. N.p.. Web. 28 Jul 2013. <http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/materials-science/nanomaterials/silver-nanoparticles.html>.

NASA International Space Station. N.d. Video. YouTubeWeb. 28 Jul 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCLHJ0YUAC4>.

"NASA's IRIS Telescope Offers First Glimpse of Sun's Mysterious Atmosphere." NASA. N.p., 25 Jul 2013. Web. 28 Jul 2013. <http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/iris-telescope-first-glimpse-of-suns-mysterious-atmosphere/index.html>.

Solar System. N.d. Photograph. WiredWeb. 28 Jul 2013. <http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2012/12/Our-Solar-System-Montage1.jpg>.

Medicine + Biotechnology + Neuroscience + Art

This week's lessons on biotechnology and neuroscience in relation to art was extremely eye-opening for me. I was unaware of the fact that many artists actually worked in scientific laboratories to create their masterpieces. I believe that life itself is a very valid expressive medium for artwork. Whether or not it is ethical depends on the situation. The GFP (fluorescent) Bunny by Eduardo Kac is an example of transgenic art. This requires alteration of the animal's genes which some people have viewed as torturous and unnecessary. Another example is Joe Davis' Audio Microscope; I find this concept to be an amazing step for both art and science. Being able to hear living cells greatly extends our knowledge and opens new doors for scientific research.

GFP Bunny

I see the meaning inherent in the use of biotechnology for the purpose of art as a way to find a connection between life and creativity. It is an artist's ability to create a work that embodies both principles. As wonderful as this concept is, I think that restrictions should be more stringent for artists than for those in academia because a line has to be drawn on what can and cannot be done to the human body and to animals. There are ethical concerns and much controversy surrounds this topic. 

Human Brain

There is a need for separate standards for those manipulating human life and other organisms for artistic reasons. I find it necessary to protect humans and animals from harm but at the same time allow for artists to express their creativity. Neuroscience is another area of academia that has had much contact with art in the recent decades. Brainbows, for example, allow us to map neural connections using fluorescent colors. This in itself produces beautiful works that clearly shows the entwining nature of the human body and art.

"Brainbow"

It is difficult to say whether or not there should be a limit to human creativity. There should only be a limit when it comes down to whether this creativity is harmful to life or unethical in any way. Creativity should never be suppressed but at the same time, we cannot allow for living organisms to endure pain or hardship because of it. 

Transgenic Fish

Citations

Eduardo , Kac. "GFP Bunny." . N.p.. Web. 21 Jul 2013. <http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html>

Design Media Arts 98T Genetics and Culture. Joe Davis. N.p.. Web. 21 Jul 2013. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_joe.htm>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Biotechnology and Art." DESMA 9. University of California, Los Angeles. 

Miller, Greg. "Rainbow Brain Map Reveals Grid-Like Pattern." Science Now. 30 3 2012: n. page. Web. 21 Jul. 2013. <http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/connectome-brain-map/>.

Transgenic Fish. N.d. Photograph. NatureWeb. 21 Jul 2013. <http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v26/n11/images/nbt1108-1205-I1.jpg>.

GFP Bunny. N.d. Photograph. ConncollWeb. 21 Jul 2013. <http://www.conncoll.edu/ccacad/zimmer/GFP-ww/images/alba2.jpg>.

Human Brain. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 21 Jul 2013. <http://media.salon.com/2012/08/ravenous_brain_rect.jpg>.

Brainbow. N.d. Photograph. TumblrWeb. 21 Jul 2013. <http://25.media.tumblr.com/6b968eefe73542a8fb86c857394c7259/tumblr_mkhbcuL0Fy1r2m36ko1_1280.jpg>.

MedTech + Art

The connection between medical technology and art is actually quite a significant one. It never occurred to me before I took this course but it has become more apparent that the human body and the different ways we view it are indeed artistic. The Visible Human Project, which took cross sections of the male and female human bodies, gives artists insight into the different angles and different structures that make up these bodies.

Head Cross Section Model

In addition to this, there has been many other projects that explore the potentials of the human body such as Kevin Warwick's Project Cyborg 1.0. Warwick had a micro chip implanted in his forearm that allowed monitoring of his actions when he was away from his computer. These works of art are the product of combining art and medical technology. However, it is interesting to note that these technologies were not incorporated into medicine until relatively recently, as mentioned in lecture. 

MRI Machine

The development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has given the medical field more opportunities  than it has had in the past. It has given us the ability to diagnose diseases in an attempt to treat and find cures. Art has also opened the door to plastic surgery, making it possible to repair, mold, and shape human body parts. I was surprised to learn that plastic surgery came about because of war injuries. The myriad of ways that art and medtech are bound can be seen by looking at any hospital or research facility. I believe that as long as this connection continues, the kinds of technologies that are being and will be invented can only be beneficial to mankind.

Citations

U.S. National Library of Medicine. Visible Human Project. 1995. Print. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/visible/>.

"Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)." WebMD. WebMD, 16 May 2011. Web. 14 Jul 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri>.

"What Happens When a Man is Merged With a Computer." The University of Reading. Web. 14 Jul 2013. <http://www.kevinwarwick.org/Cyborg1.htm>.

Plastic Surgery. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 14 Jul 2013. <http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/maps_and_graphs/2010/2/1/1265049142417/Patient-with-Surgical-Mar-001.jpg>.

Do You Really Need an MRI?. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 14 Jul 2013. <http://essentialsomatics.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/medical-monitoring.jpg>.

Head Cross Section Model. N.d. Photograph. RandommizationWeb. 14 Jul 2013. <http://randommization.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Paper-Tissue-Human-Anatomy.jpg>.