Space + Art

This week’s lecture is about the relationship between space and art. Humans have been fascinated with space for a very long time, inquiring ideas such as living in space or if there is presence of life anywhere else in the universe. As a species, we feel a sense of entitlement, believing we are the most important and advanced life forms. Carl Sagan puts this into perspective in his video entitled The Pale Blue Dot. The video shows how small Earth is in comparison to the rest of the universe. All of the people that have ever known, all of the people that have existed, come from this small dot in the universe. As he mentions in the video, “Earth is a small stage in a vast cosmic arena...Our planet is a lonely speck in a great and developing cosmic dark” (Sagan 1). The following image is one used in the video and shows the importance of perspective in art and space.

I had known that there have been humans that have been to space. However, I was surprised to learn that Virgin Galactic is a program that is trying to commercialize it, calling itself a spaceline for Earth. I thought it was too good to be true until I discovered that a seat cost as much as $250,000 (Boyle 1). The price limits the opportunity for people to actually travel into space, but the concept is really intriguing. It was also very interesting to learn that asteroid mining was an industry. The quest for these asteroids is a growing field due to the discovery that many of them contain water that could potentially be used as fuel: “Many of the asteroids out there are loaded with water, a resource that may, in space, be more precious than gold. As Chris Lewicki, president of the asteroid mining company Planetary Resources explained...some of this water could be converted to rocket fuel by splitting off the hydrogen. Wet asteroids, then, may serve as cosmic gas stations; watering holes for thirsty spacecrafts and humans alike” (Stone 1). This new fuel source could be extremely beneficial to future space expeditions, allowing space crafts to return to Earth.

In addition to the fascination of humans in space is the theory that animals could survive in space. In reading an article on NASA’s website, I was shocked by the number of animals that they have attempted to send to space. Several animals including monkeys, mice, and dogs have been sent to space. Some of the first few monkeys that attempted to make this trip died on impact (Garber 1). Since then, there have been several successful voyages of animals traveling to and from space.

Bibliography

Garber, Stephen. "Animals in Space." Animals in Space. NASA, 3 Apr. 2014. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://history.nasa.gov/animals.html>.

"Human Spaceflight." Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic, n.d. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.virgingalactic.com/human-spaceflight/>.

Sagan, Carl. "Carl Sagan - Pale Blue Dot." YouTube. YouTube, 24 Mar. 2009. Web. 31 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g>.

Stone, Maddie. "How Asteroid Mining Could Pay for Our First Space Colony." Gizmodo. Gizmodo, 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://gizmodo.com/how-asteroid-mining-could-pay-for-our-first-space-colon-1685429089>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space + Art Lecture Part 5." Desma 9. Web. 31 May 2015. <https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/346337/pages/unit-9-view?module_item_id=6472176>.

"Virgin Galactic Decides on a Cautious Path to Spaceflight." NBC News. NBC News, 31 Mar. 2015. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/virgin-voyage/virgin-galactic-decides-cautious-path-spaceflight-n333621>.

Images:

"Animals in Space." Sharenator.com. Sharenator, 2015. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.sharenator.com/Animals_in_Space/>.

NASA. "Earth." Earth. Sol Company, 2012. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://www.solstation.com/stars/earth.htm>.

"The Pale Blue Dot." Global Elite TV. WordPress.com, 21 Oct. 2013. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://globalelite.tv/2013/10/21/pale-blue-dot/>.

Stone, Maddie. "How Asteroid Mining Could Pay for Our First Space Colony." Gizmodo. Gizmodo, 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 31 May 2015. <http://gizmodo.com/how-asteroid-mining-could-pay-for-our-first-space-colon-1685429089>.

Nanotechnology + Art

The link between art and nanotechnology tries to reinvent our understanding of the physical world around us and enhance our lives. For example, “Nano_essence is an interactive audio-visual installation where the viewer interfaces with the visual and sonic presentation through his or her own breath… In Nano_essence a single skin cell is analyzed with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to explore comparisons between, life and death at a nano level” (Curtin 1). This project is interesting because it questions what constitutes as life and death. This study at the nano-level has the “potential to move atoms around to create new materials, forms and structures replicating the construction of man from dust particles” (Thomas and Raxworthy 1).

Another field that has linked humans to nanotechnology and art is in nanomedicine. Cancer biomarkers are produced naturally by tumor cells; however, they are typically produced in small quantities. In early detection of cancer, nanoparticles can be injected into the targeted tumor and interact with the cancer cells, causing them to produce more biomarkers. This makes it easier for doctors to locate and analyze the full extent of the tumor to best begin treatment. Nanoparticles can be injected into the tumor and heated, killing cancer cells with magnetic fields, X-Rays, or light. Chemotherapy is also used to treat these localized cancer cells (“Nanomedicine in Cancer” 1).

The most interesting topic that I have found in relation to nanotechnology and art is its use in the enhancement of sports equipment, particularly in tennis (since I’m a tennis player). “Equipments such as footballs/tennis balls with nano-clay lining as a barrier material uphold pressure for a longer game-play… The famous tennis player Roger Federer has won many tournaments including Wimbeldon using nano-enhanced racquets (Wilson nSix-One Tour 90, nCode & K Factor) reinforced with SNPs. These racquets are more stable, stronger and have 22% more ball-hitting power than other non-nano based racquets” (Verma 1).

Bibliography

Curtin, John. "Art in the Age of Nanotechnology: A Perth International Arts Festival Exhibition." Art.base. Art.base, 5 Feb. 2010. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

Gimzewski, James K.. "Nanotech Jim Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 23 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0HCNiU_108>.

Gimzewski, James K. "Nanotech Jim Pt4." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 23 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHCuZetAIhk>.

"Nanomedicine in Cancer." European Technology Platform Nanomedicine. European Technology Platform Nanomedicine, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.etp-nanomedicine.eu/public/about-nanomedicine/nanomedicine-applications/nanomedicine-in-cancer>.

Raxworthy, Kevin, and Paul Thomas. "Nanoessence." Visiblespace. WordPress, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://visiblespace.com/blog/?page_id=122>.

Verma, Abhilasha. "Nanotechnology in Sports Equipment: The Game Changer." Nanotechnology in Sports Equipment: The Game Changer. Nanowerk, 27 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=30661.php>.

Images:

Curtin, John. "Art in the Age of Nanotechnology: A Perth International Arts Festival Exhibition." Art.base. Art.base, 5 Feb. 2010. Web. 24 May 2015. <https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

Fahmel, Herbert. "Nanotech in Sports Equipment." N1 Group C Blog - NanoTechnology. Blogger, 8 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://n1groupcnano.blogspot.com/2013/05/nanotech-in-sports-equipment.html>.

"Small Tools for a Big Cause: How Nanomedicine Contributes to Better Cancer Diagnostic and Therapy." Small Tools for a Big Cause: How Nanomedicine Contributes to Better Cancer Diagnostic and Therapy. VDI/VDE-Innovation + Technik GmbH, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.alphagalileo.org/Organisations/ViewItem.aspx?OrganisationId=302&ItemId=128069&CultureCode=en>.

Verma, Abhilasha. "Nanotechnology in Sports Equipment: The Game Changer." Nanotechnology in Sports Equipment: The Game Changer. Nanowerk, 27 May 2013. Web. 24 May 2015. <http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=30661.php>.

Neuroscience + Art

There is a unique relationship between neuroscience and art.Art is actually scientific when it comes down to it in terms of the processes that occur between the eyes and the brain. These two organs are important in visual perception, “the ability to see and interpret (analyze and give meaning to) the visual information that surrounds us” (Advanced Vision 1). For example, “Leonardo da Vinci used his knowledge of how the eye perceives form and depth through gradual changes in light to perfect his techniques of sfumato and chiaroscuro, centuries before psychologists and neuroscientists formulated theories of depth cues” (Huang 24). One of the most famous examples of this is the Mona Lisa in terms of the shading of her face without strict lines and borders.

One of the really good examples in the lecture about using art to study neuroscience is the concept of the brainbow. Axons and dendrites connect with hundreds and thousands of different processes in the brain; the brainbow allows scientists to use a wide range of colors to track neurons and their activity to further understand complex neural systems (Cai et al. 540). An example of this is pictured below.

Art therapy is another interesting mesh between art and neuroscience as it can be deemed as helpful in treating patients with medical and/or psychiatric disorders: “Art therapy has gained popularity because it combines free artistic expression with the potential for significant therapeutic intervention” (Konopka 1). From a neuroscience perspective, it is used to try and analyze areas of the brain that are exclusively used for art-making. From a therapy perspective, it is aimed at enhancing the way that the brain processes information (experiences in their lives) and interprets internal and external data while developing new connections. This creates more “flexible” brain activity. The goal is to help patients be better able to adapt to different environments (Konopka 1).

Bibliography

"Brainbow." Center for Brain Science. Harvard Center for Brain Science, n.d. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/science/connectome-project/brainbow>.

Cai, Dawen, Kimberly B. Cohen, Tuanlian Luo, Jeff W. Lichtman, and Joshua R. Sanes. "Improved Tools for Brainbow Toolbox." Nature Methods 10.6 (2013): 540-49. Nature Methods. Nature America, 5 May 2013. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/v10/n6/pdf/nmeth.2450.pdf>.

Huang, Mengfei. "The Neuroscience of Creativity." Stanford Journal of Neuroscience 2.1 (2014): 24-26. Research and Reviews. Stanford Jourbal of Neuroscience, 2009. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://web.stanford.edu/group/co-sign/Huang.pdf>.

Konopka, Lukasz M. "Where Art Meets Neuroscience: A New Horizon of Art Therapy." Croatian Medical Journal. Croatian Medical Schools, Feb. 2014. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944420/>.

Vesna, Victoria. “Conscious / Memory (Part 1).” Lecture. 16 Nov 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DLVQIwOn7o8>

"Visual Perceptual Processing Impacts the Ability to Learn." Advanced Vision Therapy Center. Advanced Vision, 2015. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://www.advancedvisiontherapycenter.com/services/assessments/binocular_vision_assessment/visual_perception/>.

Image Sources:

"Art & Design." Art Therapy. Converse College, n.d. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://www.converse.edu/academics/school-arts/art-and-design/art-therapy>.

"Brainbow." Center for Brain Science. Harvard Center for Brain Science, n.d. Web. 17 May 2015. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/science/connectome-project/brainbow>.

Korn, Julie. "Josh & Julie Korn: First Art Therapy Session." CURE. CURE International, 17 July 2012. Web. 18 May 2015. <https://cure.org/2012/07/josh-julie-korn-first-art-therapy-session/>.

"Sfumato." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 18 May 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfumato>.

Biotechnology + Art

This week’s lecture focuses on the integration of biotechnology with art is a topic that I’m actually not familiar with at all. Bioart, as mentioned in the lecture is altering or modifying organisms at the cellular level. The pioneer of this field was Joe Davis whose innovative work with light and sound proved to be monumental in scientific study. One of his experiments was the audio microscope, “a microscope that translates light information into sound, allowing you to “hear cells, each with its own ‘acoustic signature’” (Joe Davis). This has been pursued and researched further and is looking into being used to help detect cancer as the movements/motions of the cells have been amplified, producing sound (Binns). 

As silly as this may sound, the most interesting that I found in the lecture was Alba, the fluorescent “GFP bunny”. Alba was created by zygote microinjection. A protein from a fluorescent jellyfish was manipulated and magnified (for strength) and was inserted into a fertilized rabbit for the genes to reproduce into this fluorescent bunny. According to Business Insider, similar experiments are done to create “piece[s] of conceptual art. Other animals that scientist have gotten to glow green include dogs, cats, pigs, and mice” (Ferris).

In her article “Why is Bioart Not Terrorism?,” Munster describes the accusations against Steve Kurts for producing bio-terrorist weapons and also Mark Lombardi with his work in government and mafia activities via art. “If anything links these two events at all, it is simply that in the broader sphere of public culture in the US (rather than in its more insulated art world), the political status of art is no longer determined by recourse to the politics of the artist or to the platform promoted by the work’s content. Art now becomes ‘political’ when it catches the attention of a policing agency.”(Munster). This brought about the question for me as to whether Bioart is a field of study that people should be allowed to pursue?

 

 Bibliography

Adams, Clément. "Bioart, Ethics And Artworks." Masters of Media. University of Amsterdam, 18 Apr. 

2012. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://mastersofmedia.hum.uva.nl/2012/04/18/bioart-ethics-and-artworks/>. 

Binns, Corey. "Do Cells Make Noise?" Popular Science. Popular Science, 28 Jan. 2008. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-01/do-cells-make-noise>.

Ferris, Robert. "Scientists Have Now Bred Bunnies That Glow Green." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 14 Aug. 2013. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.businessinsider.com/scientists-grow-fluorescent-green-rabbits-2013-8>. 

"Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture." Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture. Design Media Arts 98T: Genetics and Cultures, n.d. Web. 11 May 2015. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_joe.htm>.  

Kac, Eduardo. "GFP Bunny." KAC. KAC, 2000. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor>.  

Munster, Anna. "Why Is BioArt Not Terrorism?: Some Critical Nodes in the Networks of Infomatice Life." Culture Machine. Culture Machine, 2005. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.culturemachine.net/index.php/cm/rt/printerFriendly/31/38>. 

Vesna, Victoria, Prof. "BioTech-Art Lectures." Video. 5 May 2015. Lecture.  
 

Midterm Project

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xCkk73Txt-t35CB5cGg-Ig2BnTEKblGWRPw1tsK3OTU/edit?usp=sharing