Nanotechnology + Art

Nanotechnology
http://nanogloss.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/nanotechnology.jpg

When they say "the world is a small place" I think, "the world is becoming a smaller place." As trends would show, technology has kept getting smaller and smaller. 25 years ago a cell phone was the size of small computer speaker, and now we have phones that fit in the palm of our hands. The people I learned about this week changed the world and helped us make a smooth transition into the digital age.

At a Microscopic Level
http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/gold-nanotech-2.jpg

How did they change the world? How could it be done? These guys were working on a molecular level, a level we couldn't even see with a microscope at the time. As Feynman realized technology at the nanolevel changes the laws of physics. Surface tension beats gravity, and the very nature of the nanoscale objects can be used to create new effects. Not only were they working in a realm they couldn't see, but it was a realm with entirely new laws.

Earliest Atom Imagery
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/munger/atomsphotos.jpg

The projects I learned about this week seemed like they came from a Sci-Fi movie. There was a Ford assembly plant at a molecular level, a form of carbon unknown to man, atom imagery and manipulation, and more. They even discovered nanoparticles in sewage sludge. Just to reiterate my point. They couldn't see the particles, they didn't know the laws, and they embarked on impossible-sounding projects. I'm not sure if the people we learned about this week were artists or wizards, but their immense creativity and scientific knowledge shaped the portable world of today.

Nanoparticles in Sewer Sludge
http://www.ethlife.ethz.ch/archive_articles/080715-nano_in_klaeranlage/klaerschlamm-l.jpg?hires

Sources:
1. Nanotechnology. Digital image. Nano Glass. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://nanogloss.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/nanotechnology.jpg>.
2. Gold Nano-Tech. Digital image. DDMCDN. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/gold-nanotech-2.jpg>.
3. Atoms Photos. Digital image. Knox News. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://blogs.knoxnews.com/munger/atomsphotos.jpg>.
4. Nano In Klaeranlage. Digital image. Eth Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.ethlife.ethz.ch/archive_articles/080715-nano_in_klaeranlage/klaerschlamm-l.jpg?hires>.
5. Bonsor, Kevin. "How Nanotechnology Works." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.howstuffworks.com/nanotechnology.htm>.

Neuroscience + Art

Neuroscience + Art
http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/uploadedImages/Departments/Anatomy/Content/Education/Human_Brain_PSEUDO2.jpg

I had no idea artists could combine neuroscience and and art in such creative ways. The projects I learned about this week were beautiful on both a visual and psychological level. Most importantly, the projects these artists put together helped diagnose people in the long run, so they were helping out the world as well.

Franz Gall
http://image1.findagrave.com/photos/2008/110/7773_120870652743.jpg

I want to start off with Ramon Chall and Franz Gall who were one of the first people to break down and understand the brain. Gall invented the process of phrenology which tried to understand the brain by breaking down the shape of the skull. He compared the different shapes to those of animals to understand the tendencies and psychological actions of humans such as feelings, religion, and more. They laid the foundation for neuroscience to be explored.

Brainbows
http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/usr/connectome/brainbow/brainbow7.jpg

Santiago Ramon y Cajal founded neuron anatomy and discovered you could read out the connection patterns between neurons by looking at their shape. It seemed like such a simple thought for scientists yet he was the one who put it together. My favorite project though was Brainbows in which fluorescent proteins were used to show and flag specific neurons in the brain. This unbelievable project helped scientists understand the different neural connections in the brain and treat psychological disorders because of it.

Consciousness
http://www.costaricantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/consciousness.jpg

This week started us off with a question. Where does consciousness come from? While most would point to the sky and speak about religion, these scientists and artists teamed up to truly answer that question and understand human consciousness. Their ideas and projects influenced a generation to come, and helped lay the foundation for understanding and treating people.

Sources:
1. Human Brain Pseudo 2. Digital image. UIOWA. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.medicine.uiowa.edu/uploadedImages/Departments/Anatomy/Content/Education/Human_Brain_PSEUDO2.jpg>.
2. Franz Gall. Digital image. Find A Grave. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://image1.findagrave.com/photos/2008/110/7773_120870652743.jpg>.
3. Brainbow 7. Digital image. Harvard EDU. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://cbs.fas.harvard.edu/usr/connectome/brainbow/brainbow7.jpg>.
4. Consciousness. Digital image. Costa Rican Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.costaricantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/consciousness.jpg>.
5. The History of Phrenology. LHOON, 05 Mar. 1998. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <The History of Phrenology>.

Biotechnology + Art

Joe Davis
http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2011/04/gcelebrities/Joe_Davis-2.jp

This week's topic showed me a world completely unknown to me. It all started with Joe Davis who was one of the earliest pioneers of bio-art. I found it unbelievable that he created a device that could translate light into sound to study micro-organisms. His sheer creativity allowed scientists to understand and identify micro-organisms in a completely new way.

Microvenus
http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/images_genetics_culture/gc_wk_03/davis_j/microvenus.gif

Joe's micro-Venus project was both revolutionary and very far-reaching. I really liked how he chose the micro-Venus symbol stating that space was filled with men's phallic symbols and that women are the creators. He wanted to bring a gender balance to space itself through the use of bio-art. If that's not a revolutionary vision then I don't know what is.

Eduardo Kac's Fluorescent Bunny
http://www.ekac.org/albagreen.jpeg

Other scientists like such as Eduardo Kac and the scientists from the Symbiotica project, created art and processes that would teach and influence the world in many ways. Eduardo's discovery of the fluorescent GFP gene would further help doctors in identifying the movements and effects of medications on cancer cells and other treatments. Symbiotica created an entire curriculum for individuals who wanted to understand bio-art leading to projects such as the modified butterflies by Martha de Mendez. These scientists used their art to influence more than just culture, but life itself.

Orlan's Blanket
http://www.creative-mapping.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/o-Biopsy-8.jpg

My favorite piece was Orlan's blanket which used diamond-shaped patches of skin which were created to be different colors in a petri dish as a symbol of cultural cross-breeding. The way she presented the project truly blew me away. All the artists in this week lecture truly took their work to the highest social level. They presented such ethically, socially, and culturally controversial material that the world had to stand up and take notice. They changed the world.

Citations:
1. Joe Davis 2. Digital image. TrialX. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013. <http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2011/04/gcelebrities/Joe_Davis-2.jp>.
2. Microvenus. Digital image. Viewing Space. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/images_genetics_culture/gc_wk_03/davis_j/microvenus.gif>.
3. Albagreen. Digital image. EKAC. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013. <http://www.ekac.org/albagreen.jpeg>.
4. Biopsy 8. Digital image. Creative-Mapping. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013. <http://www.creative-mapping.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/o-Biopsy-8.jpg>.
5. "Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture." Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_joe.htm>.
6. "BIO ART." BIO ART. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013. <http://www.ekac.org/transgenicindex.html>.

Nick Lerman DESMA 9 Midterm

Hey everyone!

Just posting my midterm that was due today. I created a digital application website that helped connect artists around the world. Let me know what you think!

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1xvri26m015w0kt/NICK_LERMAN_DESMA9_MIDTERM.pdf