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While natural history museums may not seem like "art museums" at first, their ability to capture the imaginations of children and adults alike through the technical skill of taxidermy cannot be written off. The displays serve as a symbol of human ability to preserve the representation of life long after it has passed, an illustration of the way we can utilize medical technology to create exhibits which educate and inspire. Additionally, the museum's temporary exhibits on Los Angeles art illustrated the beauty that arise from the mixing of cultures, and explores themes related to robotics and industrialization.  The exhibits on display in the Natural History museum serve to give people an up-close idea of what animals look like in the wild. Upon seeing the exhibits I immediately thought of Body Worlds, the exhibit which utilized the technique of plastination to create fascinating exhibits of the human body. While different from the Body Worlds exhibits, which display

If artists aim to develop a third culture that fuse science and technology to inspire new artworks, artists need to be educated in scientific principles. After visiting the California Science Center, I was surprised to see so many elements of our coursework on display, and in touring the exhibits I gained a better understanding of the scientific processes which inspire these works of art. Entering the "creative world" exhibit I noticed the displays on nanotechnology, and was immediately reminded of the ways artists utilize nanotechnology. On display was the Blue Morpho butterfly illustrated in Dr. Gimzewski's lectures, which utilizes structures of nanoparticles in its wings to reflect iridescent blue light (UConline). The exhibit emphasized the ubiquity of nanoparticles in our everyday lives, from self-arranging particles in computer chips to antibacterial particles in children's toys. Given that nanoparticles can arrange themselves, and that the iridescence of the

What traits allow some animals to succeed and others to be endangered? How do animals adapt in an age of machinery and urbanization? These are the questions and themes explored in Sarah Rosalena Brady's "Coyotes in Two Directions". Inspired by the dichotomy between biology and machinery, Brady's piece evaluates how animals can be represented by sculpture in the 21st century. The centerpiece of Brady's exhibit is an automata of 6 aluminum-cast bald eagle talons, connected to servos which allow them to move. Inspired by the endangered status of the bald eagle and themes of reanimation, the talons move in quick and symmetrical fashion, illustrating both grace and protectiveness. The eagle is flanked by a bronze-cast sculpture of a rattlesnake tail on the left, and coyote paws on the right. This exhibit exemplifies the possibilities that the combination of Robotics and Art can bring. In my week 3 blog, I evaluated not only how people can portray robotics through

If art is a means to broaden our horizons and expand our perspective, it's hard to think of a theme better paired with art than space travel. Enticing our imaginations ever since ancient civilizations saw stars as constellations, the vastness of space mirrors the infinite possibilities for artistic expression. While primarily expressed in the form of film and literature, as opposed to visual art, the combination of space and art has expanded our worldviews and inspired generations of future explorers. Though rooted in competition and wartime supremacy, the Space Race sparked a whole genre of fantasy and artistic expression: Science-Fiction. Books like Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey and shows like Star Trek allowed creative artists to envision dramatic new worlds, fascinating alien creatures, and fundamentally human stories of love, conquest, and exploration. (uconline) Science-Fiction takes these themes, which have been explored through art for centuries, and applie