Monday, June 6, 2016

event #1
Leap Before You Look

In April, I visited the hammer museum where I attended the Leap Before You Look: Black Mountain College 1933-1957 exhibition. This exhibition really touched on many of the lectures covered in class but it was synonymous with the math and art lecture. Many of the works showed high levels of mathematics involved and these applications could be seen in the works themselves as light problem solving.
Me and the geodesic dome

This exhibit was very special because it displayed works from Black Mountain College- a small college aimed at liberal arts education. Upon further research, I found that a wide array of artists and even philosophers were quickly attracted to this school. Therefore, this exhibition had such works as the following: paintings, sculptures, drawings, weavings, and music. I was increasingly surprised at just how much math was involved in most of the works. It really opened my eyes on how flawlessly these works were created with the use of two completely different disciplines- math and art.

The geodesic dome from Black Mountain College

Black Mountain College was able to give its students room to be free with such disciplines and combine different cultures to create magnificent works of art. One of the works, which really caught my attention, was the mat which took about a quarter of the room. This mat was used for dancing performances, which was also commonly seen at Black Mountain College. Additionally, a geodesic dome was displayed which showed the presence of geometry in many of the works. I was beyond happy to attend this event because I was able to visit the hammer and relate the learning's from class to many of the works at the exhibition

.
Event #3
Maria Antonia Gonzalez

 Me at the lecture with art and activism displays behind me 

I recently attended Maria Antonia Gonzalez's lecture in regards to her works at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. This lecture was very fascinating to me because it focused on dealing with the big problems we face as a species and even on a more individual scale by combining humanities, arts, and sciences.

Dr. Gonzalez 

Dr. Gonzalez discussed the strengths of Biotech in agriculture and how art can be used as a form of activism. She mentioned the power that philosophy, art, and science have when combined together and this was seen when she discussed the powerful threat GMO's are making on the maize itself and even the surrounding populations. Transgenic corn has been seen as a very unhealthy crop to consume due to its relations with illness and cancer.


Furthermore, Dr. Gonzalez also went over using this art as a form of activism through exhibitions and workshops. She discussed the power these exhibitions and workshops have on the community due to their interactive qualities, which give the community a better understanding of such subjects. She also described how a community has the power to ignite change through their thinking and artistic propaganda. This lecture allowed students to see how influential the two cultures are together versus when they are standing alone.
Event #2
In Focus: Electric!

I've been able to experience many of the great museums in California since I was born and raised here; therefore I was beyond excited to attend event #2 at the famous Getty. I've been to the Getty numerous of times, but this museum holds a special place in my heart because it was the first museum I've ever attended. The Getty is one of the most visited hot spots in LA and that itself is a testament to how greatly known J. Paul Getty was and his works.



For this event, I attended the In Focus: Electric which touched many of the topics we covered including: robotics, art, and industrialization. This exhibit really highlighted how industrialization had such a large role in the relationship between the two cultures- Art and science. In fact industrialization has had such a large role in this unique relationship that we still witness and use it on a daily basis today. Inventions like photography, film and television were all a result of this unique trifecta. This unique bond is so strong that it is still prevalent today with the use of high tech cameras for photography-some of which were used for this exhibition.


Artificial illumination played a huge role in this exhibition. In Focus: Electric, thirty-nine photographs were exhibited which focused on key points in art and history. As stated before, this exhibition focuses a lot on artificial illumination and how artists used lighting to create magnificent works of art. Furthermore, the exhibition shows individuals how industrialization of electricity changed the lives of millions for the better.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Unit 9
Space and Art
http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2012/08/25/astronaut-neil-armstrong-true-life-superhero-and-first-man-on-the-moon-dies-at-82
(Neil Armstrong- first man to step foot on the moon) 

As a child nothing fascinated me more than the wonders of space, and as i grew, i became even more fascinated by the mysteriousness of space. The human race has only made a small step into space exploration. This curiosity has allowed humans to create rockets, send life to space, and even put man on the moon. The race to reach space -between Russia and the United States- was a huge motive behind putting man in space. Gargarin was the first man sent to space by Russia. Soon after, Neil Armstrong finished the race by landing on the moon on July 20, 1969. Even though humans have been able to accomplish such extraordinary feats, we continue this curiosity through missions such as Launch: 2020 which plan on putting a human on Mars. 


http://www.darkpolitricks.com/2012/08/watch-live-nasa-curiosity-rover-landing-on-mars/
(Drone landing on Mars) 

There is no question that art and space have a great deal in common and that in many ways they inspire one another. Space is a huge inspiration behind many works of art. Many paintings, sculptures, and even science projects are a result of the two subjects clashing. Works of art such as the Raygun Gothic Rocket ship allow artists to display their talents and imaginations while encompassing realistic elements to make it all the more better. Todays pop culture and media world allows only add to the audience's imagination through movies like Star Wars, Star Trek, and many other Sci-Fi big names. 

https://cnet2.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2015/11/19/a899c919-8f1d-446f-a74c-5615651677d9/thumbnail/770x433/69ca4fb7e716e784d36b08fed0dbe92f/star-wars-poster-1977.jpg
(Star Wars is the most successful American epic space opera)

Art in many ways can inspire space exploration by giving scientists ideas through encompassing many of the mythological aspects that are involved in art. Scientists and entrepreneurs like Elon Musk wish to accomplish great explorations like sending a human to Mars by 2026. Interestingly enough Elon Musk is a huge proponent of art and used various artistic elements to create Tesla - the most modern energy efficient car. Its very clear that Musk is an artistic entrepreneur and has envisioned the idea of putting a human on mars maybe somewhat inspired by his artistic personality.  

Sources: 

"Space Craft: 21 Works of Art Inspired by the Cosmos." Make: We are all makers,. Web. 29 May 2016. 

Vesna, Victoria. "8 Space Pt 1" YouTube. UC Online, 29 July 2013. Web. 29 May 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "8 Space Pt 2" YouTube. UC Online, 29 July 2013. Web. 29 May 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "8 Space Pt 3" YouTube. UC Online, 29 July 2013. Web. 29 May 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space pt 4" YouTube. UC Online, 29 July 2013. Web. 29 May 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space pt 5" YouTube. UC Online, 29 July 2013. Web. 29 May 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space pt 6" YouTube. UC Online, 29 July 2013. Web. 29 May 2016.








Sunday, May 22, 2016

Unit 8
Nanotechnology and Art

I found this week's lecture to be very interesting because not only does nanotechnology relate to art but it also has profound effects in medicine and the tech industry. Dr. Gimzewski dives deeper into the subject and states its true potential, one that can potentially change the world. Nanotechnology is special in that its way too small to be seen with the naked eye, therefore individuals use technologies such as a microscope to see things at such a small level. This enables individuals to witness art at a nano scale level. 

https://labofnano.gmu.edu/
(nano tech disabling dangerous cells) 

As stated previously, nanotechnology has profound effects in medicine allowing treatment to go to a microscopic level. This new technology involves nanoparticles-many of which are- currently under development to be manufactured and used in today's medical world. These applications have the potential to plunge deeper and more precisely than ever before with the use of Nano-robots to repair damage at the cellular level. Richard Feynman, a Nobel prize winner coined the idea of "swallow the surgeon" which may allow for an army or Nano-robots to enter the blood vessel and essentially travel anywhere within the body to look around and treat damaged cells with drugs. 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/29/tech/mci-nanobots-eth/
(An army of nano-robots healing cellular walls at a microscopic level) 

Nanotechnology has also been successful in the nanotech industry, regarding computers. Microelectronics refers to the technology that has allowed for the advancement of 'Micro' technologies within computers and CPU's. With the use of nanotechnology, MIT researchers discovered how to use nanotech to drastically shrink computer chips, which in turn makes them cheaper and even more powerful. MIT researchers believe that if you can potentially speed the chip up while shrinking it, you will most certainly see a performance bump. One reason in which artists and scientists find nanotechnology so interesting is due to its absolute small size which is invisible to the human eye. Therefore, this new tech allows for a wide array of advancements in medicine, art, and the tech world. 

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/man-in-clean-room-holds-up-computer-cpu-microchip-stock-footage/105960799
(Intel's most powerful CPU created with the use of nanotechnology) 

Sources: 

Gimzewski, Jim,. Victoria Vesna. The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of fact & fiction in the construction of a new science. Web. 22 May 2016.   http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications/02-03/JV_nano/JV_nano_artF5VG.htm

Gaudin, Sharon. MIT uses nanotech to shrink chips to 25nm. Computer World. Web . 22 May 2016. http://www.computerworld.com/article/2534680/computer-hardware/mit-uses-nanotech-to-shrink-chips-to-25nm.html

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt 1." YouTube. UC Online, 21 May 2012. Web. 22 May 2016.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt 2." YouTube. UC Online, 21 May 2012. Web. 22 May 2016.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt 3." YouTube. UC Online, 21 May 2012. Web. 22 May 2016.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt 4." YouTube. UC Online, 21 May 2012. Web. 22 May 2016.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt 5." YouTube. UC Online, 21 May 2012. Web. 22 May 2016.

Gimzewski, Jim. "Nanotech Jim Pt 6." YouTube. UC Online, 21 May 2012. Web. 22 May 2016.








Sunday, May 15, 2016

Unit 7
Neuroscience and Art

Neuroscience is a huge part of the curriculum in my studies as a psychology major. Neuroscience is more focused on the nervous system and the brain, whereas psychology is more focused on specific behaviors that can have unconventional and sometimes even predictable affects on the brain. Concepts such as perception and interpretation play a major role in both psychology and neuroscience. These complex inner workings of the mind are perfectly bound together in a flawless artistic manner.
Brain waves
http://psychandneuro.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/imgcog-neuro1.960.360.c.jpg

I personally could not agree more on the fact that the human brain is the most powerful organ in the body. And this, in many ways, not only allows human beings to witness and understand art, but in many forms this understanding is an art. I personally found this to be very interesting so i did some further research on it. The question that struck me with this research was why do humans find the works of Van Gogh, Picasso, and Dali so intriguingly beautiful. Questions like how did Pablo Picasso's "Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O)" sell for more than 179 million dollars struck me very strongly. 
 Pablo Picasso's "Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O)" 
<http://www.artnet.com/magazine_pre2000/features/decker/decker11-4-9.asp>

Upon further research I found that our minds know exactly when and if there's a clear representation of familiar aspects of everyday life. This allows us to relate ourselves on a deeper level with art and even allow us to interpreting meanings from the arbitrary. Our brains are also designed to scan and look for human like qualities in art. Take a painting for example, the brain scans it within seconds and tries to find faces even out of discrete patches of color and this can trigger emotional responses. These findings- although surprising- allowed me to understand this unique relationship between the mind and art more respectively.

Human mind making facial recognition from art
http://tarnoffartcenter.org/the-ams-community-gallery/brain-art-exchanges-discussions-and-art-critiques/

Sources: 

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience pt1. "UC online. YouTube, 17 May. 2012. Web. 15 May. 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience pt2. "UC online. YouTube, 17 May. 2012. Web. 15 May. 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience pt3. "UC online. YouTube, 17 May. 2012. Web. 15 May. 2016.

Landau, Elizabeth. "What the brain draws from: Art and neuroscience." CNN., 15 Sep 2012. Web. 15 May. 2016.

Miles, Kathleen. "How Art Is Crucial To Understanding The Human Mind." Huffpost . Web. 15 May. 2016.


Sunday, May 8, 2016

Unit 6
Biotech and Art




This week's lecture focused on biotechnologies and its unique relationship with art. However, this relationship is not a new one and in fact it dates back hundreds of years to when farmers and animal breeders used artificial selection to modify their desired plant or animal species. Artificial selection is the intentional reproduction of individuals in species of populations that have desirable traits.
http://nikisperou.com/images/3.NikiChimeraSeries.JPG
Living tissue 



http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/images/lines/le_dogs2.gif
artificial selection

Kelty makes a great point regarding science and its domestication in the common household. The Bulletproof Skin project is a great example of this idea because it was planned and started in a normal house. This bioart project caught the eyes of many because it does exactly what the name states it does- block bullets. This reinforced laboratory created human skin is mixed with one of nature’s most powerful substances- spider silk. The results were so amazing that the modified skin was able to stop bullets.

http://1vze7o2h8a2b2tyahl3i0t68.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/03181-220x300.jpg
(Bullet proof skin made from living tissue and natural substances found in nature)

Although i find the mix between biotechnology and art fascinating, there's something about it that also scares me. The fact that life is used arbitrarily without consent or even the moral issues of containing/manipulating life leaves me questioning it. At the same time, I strongly believe that the altering of DNA and living tissues lies at the central core of biotechnology; It has allowed for a positive amplification of medicine, research, and general biology.

Sources: 

Kelty, Chris. "meanings of participation: Outlaw Biology?." Outlaws, Hackers, Victorian Gentlemen, Web. 8 May. 2016.

Pasko, Jessica M. "Bio-artists use science to create art" USA today. Web. 8 May. 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 Bioart Pt1" YouTube. UC online, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 08 May 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 Bioart Pt2" YouTube. UC online, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 08 May 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 Bioart Pt3" YouTube. UC online, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 08 May 2016.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 Bioart Pt5" YouTube. UC online, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 08 May 2016.


Sunday, April 24, 2016

Unit 4
Medtech and Art

http://www.localpulse.net/exam-results/medtech-board-exam-results-september-2014-list-passers-3411/

Having done my pre-med courses, I am very familiar with the close connection of medicine and art. This lecture allowed me to look at plastic surgeons, general physicians and orthodontists as more than just medical professionals, but as artists. This lecture also gave me a more artistic perspective on the human body. Bodies- an exhibit portraying the human body as art- dissected down to the human muscular system and allowed for an emotional/artistic look at us. This exhibit is a great example of how med-tech can flawlessly be combined with art. 
http://www.innovation-for-extremes.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Orthodontic-Gold-Coast-1.jpg

Prosthetic technology is another perfect example of this weeks lecture on medicine, technology and art. Prosthetic body parts are made using exact measurements and modern sensors. All the while maintaining amazing aesthetics. Additionally, prosthetic body parts are evolving with the advance of new technologies in many ways relating to the evolution of art. 
http://inhabitat.com/these-beautiful-customized-3d-printed-prosthetic-legs-are-made-to-be-seen/ 

As stated before, medical professionals can be thought as artists in many different ways. Plastic surgeons reconstruct the face or body to create a more aesthetic look for individuals. Likewise, orthodontists use their tools and training to reconstruct a more desirable smile for patients. Additionally, professor Vesna's lecture stated that many medical equipment’s- X-ray's and MRI's -are in many ways forms of art. 

Sources

Vesna, Victoria."Medicine pt2." UC online. YouTube. 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

Vesna, Victoria."Medicine pt1." UC online. YouTube. 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

Vesna, Victoria."Medicine pt3.". UC online. YouTube. 21 Apr. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

Casini, S."Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts." Configurations 19.1 (2011). Project MUSE, Web. 24 Apr. 2016.

"At Apexart, Aesthetics of Plastic Surgery." The New York Times. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.


Sunday, April 17, 2016

Unit 3
Robotics and art
http://archive2.cra.org/ccc/visioning/visioning-activities/robotics

Every electronic, mechanical and industrial device as we know it would cease to exist if not for the industrial revolution. In fact, industrialization is partially responsible for combining robotics and art so successfully. It has also given birth to mass production, which was introduced by Gutenberg- allowing for fast and mass development of any product. However, just like anything, too much of one thing can have a negative effect. In the "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" by Walter Benjamin's, Benjamin points these negatives out and states how mass production can diminish arts "aura." He goes on to state that mass production of art takes away from its originality and creativity. Personally, I can somewhat agree with Benjamin's statements towards art and mass production. Almost every music album published today has the same reoccurring electronic drop that most consumers tend to predict within seconds of listening. 

https://www.retreatnetwork.com/event/bass-coast-electronic-music-art-festival/
(Electronic music combining electronics/robotics with art) 

Benjamin had a great point when it came to the negative effect of mass production on art, however, mass production is synonymous with economic growth. In today's world, mass production is essential when it comes to many of the basic things needed for survival. 
https://art511.wordpress.com/front-page/artist-pages/modern-techs/
(car mass production made possible my machines and essential in today's world) 

Additionally, we can see many examples in which art has influenced robotics and technology. In the book Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury predicted many of the electronic devices used today long before they were invented. Devices such as headphones and small music players in the book may have helped spark ideas for large companies in creating IPods and wireless headphones. 

sources
Benjamin, Walter. "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction." New York, 1936. Print.

Derousseau , Ryan.  "4 Facts to Consider When Buying Ford Stock" US News. US News, 30 Dec. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2016. 

Lim , Angelica. "What Roboticists Can Learn From Art, and What Artists Can Learn From RobotsIEEE. Xplore libraries, Web. 17 Apr. 2016. 

Vesna, Victoria. "Robotics". YouTube, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.

Tsukayama, Hayley "10 Ray Bradbury predictions that came true" BDN nation, Web. 17 Apr. 2016. 


















Sunday, April 10, 2016

Unit 2 
Math and Art

As a psychology major, my course work does not depend heavily on mathematics. However, psychology is a science and I have now come to understand the close relation of art and science. This week’s lecture jumped into math and art, which allowed me to get broader view of the relation of the two. Similar to professor Vesna, I too had a bad experience with math teachers early on. This pushed me towards art, and i began to fall in love with it. Thinking about it now, i never really understood the relation of the two when i drew. However, i began to see the relation more and more as I grew up and was able to see it much more clearly because of this weeks lecture. 


(Technology using math to create art)  


This week's topic dove into how math and art relate to one another. In fact they not only relate together but also in many ways rely on each other as well- artists using mathematics to create art. In lecture, i was able to obtain an even deeper understanding of the two cultures and come to learn about artificial and natural perspectives. This perspective allows for a more realistic and accurate drawing of living things and other objects. Leonardo da Vinci was one of the biggest contributors in this movement of combining the two cultures and the Vitruvian man shows this. The Vitruvian is the perfect example to learning about the Golden ratio. The Golden ratio defines human aesthetics and uses math (geometry) and art to do so. 


(Science, geometry, and art coming together) 




M.C. Escher is another huge contributor to combining the two fields together perfectly. He was able to master this by using geometry and incorporating other artistic components to create art. The combination of math, science and art allows for the creation of beautiful art. 

(building depicting Math and Art) 


   Nikko. Math Art Head. Digital image. Interactive Math. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.intmath.com/vectors/math-vector-art.php>.

    Chi, Kim. Science Edu Art. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web.              <https://leconfident.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/nylander-spidroball-large.jpeg>.

25 World Famous Buildings. Digital image. Creative Blogq. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.creativebloq.com/architecture/famous-buildings-around-world-10121105>.

Vesna, Victoria. "Mathematics-pt1-ZeroPerspectiveGoldenMean.mov." Cole UC online. Youtube. Web accessed. 10 Apr. 2016.

Abbott, Edwin. "Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions." N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2016.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Week 1
Two cultures

As Snow stated, my studies in psychology are heavily dependent on chemistry, neuroscience, and even physics. Even though my studies and focus remains to be in the scientific category, my interests have also peaked into literature. As a psychology major, these two cultures have managed to fit perfectly with each other even though they are completely different disciplines. Snow discusses this when he states that different studies are fixed to their areas. As difficult it was to see at first, i began to witness this idea as i walked to class and discuss it with fellow students. 

science meets art
http://balsawood1234.blogspot.com/2012/08/art-and-technology.html

This concept can be seen throughout UCLA. As i mentioned before, i began to notice the close connection between the two cultures -science and humanities- as i continued my studies into my senior year. And although Brockman argued that there is a strong separation when it came to the two studies, many believe that the two can coexist wonderfully together. 

a scientific mind and artistic mind coexisting 
http://www.funticles.com/the-art-of-body-painting/

Furthermore, UCLA's campus is the perfect example of the separation of the two cultures. This can be seen geographically. North campus offers the linguistic/humanities studies, and South campus offers the sciences and computer classes. This separation makes it difficult for students to interact with other students in different studies. 
 UCLA's campus at night
http://www.ucla.edu/visit

sources

Brockman, John. The Third Culture. N.p.: n.p. 1995. Print.

HADAS. Combining Science and the Art of Body Painting. Digital image. Funticles. N.p., n.d. Web.            <http://www.funticles.com/the-art-of-body-painting/>.

Robotic Art. Digital image. Wood. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://balsawood1234.blogspot.com/2012/08/art-         and-technology.html>.

Snow, C. P. “Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution.” Reading. 1959. New York: Cambridge UP,          1961. Print.

UCLA. Ucla Campus. Digital image. Visit Ucla. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.ucla.edu/visit>.