Event 4: California Science Center
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 Blue Morpho butterfly is due to the particular arrangement of the nanoparticles in its wings, it could be possible to not only use nanoparticles in art to create iridescence, but influence the way nanoparticles self-assemble to create artworks with changing iridescent colors.
As we moved on we passed through exhibits on electromagnetic radiation, and how the universe looks through different wavelengths of light. While people can only perceive wavelengths from 390-700 nanometers, they are unable to perceive infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths with their naked eye. Artists can make use of this phenomenon to create artworks that changed when viewed in visible light, infrared, or x-ray light. An example of art that takes advantage of this phenomenon is black-light art, wherein artists use fluorescent material that glows when exposed to blacklight.
Finally, we visited the Space Shuttle Endeavour, a U.S. Space Shuttle that was retired in 2011. The shuttle was NASA's first foray into reusable rocketry, meant to significantly reduce the cost of going into space. The shuttle program was a crucial element of building the international space station, giving humans a permanent presence in space and broadening our imaginations as to how humans can survive and expand in space. The shuttle was also crucial in informing a culture where human space travel was a regular occurrence, and shuttle launches were a worldwide cultural draw. This was no more evident than in the Challenger disaster in 1986, where the entire world was reminded of the perils of spaceflight.
References
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 Blue Morpho butterfly is due to the particular arrangement of the nanoparticles in its wings, it could be possible to not only use nanoparticles in art to create iridescence, but influence the way nanoparticles self-assemble to create artworks with changing iridescent colors.
As we moved on we passed through exhibits on electromagnetic radiation, and how the universe looks through different wavelengths of light. While people can only perceive wavelengths from 390-700 nanometers, they are unable to perceive infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths with their naked eye. Artists can make use of this phenomenon to create artworks that changed when viewed in visible light, infrared, or x-ray light. An example of art that takes advantage of this phenomenon is black-light art, wherein artists use fluorescent material that glows when exposed to blacklight.
Finally, we visited the Space Shuttle Endeavour, a U.S. Space Shuttle that was retired in 2011. The shuttle was NASA's first foray into reusable rocketry, meant to significantly reduce the cost of going into space. The shuttle program was a crucial element of building the international space station, giving humans a permanent presence in space and broadening our imaginations as to how humans can survive and expand in space. The shuttle was also crucial in informing a culture where human space travel was a regular occurrence, and shuttle launches were a worldwide cultural draw. This was no more evident than in the Challenger disaster in 1986, where the entire world was reminded of the perils of spaceflight.References
uconlineprogram. “Nanotech Jim pt5.” YouTube, 21 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=232&v=4OWc8nmHJmY.
Harris, Tom. “How Black Lights Work.” HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 8 Mar. 2018, science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/black-light.htm.
Howell, Elizabeth. “Challenger: Shuttle Disaster That Changed NASA.” Space.com, Space.com, 11 Dec. 2017, www.space.com/18084-space-shuttle-challenger.html.
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