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 Space & Art Exploring this week’s resources has been both enlightening and inspiring! With the extreme and revolutionary developments in space travel in the past 60 years, space has influenced society in unimaginable ways. Beginning with the relatively simple invention of the telescope in the early 17th century, people were able to visually explore space and study astronomy from the comfort of their own home.  Furthermore, with the space race between the United States and Soviet Union, revolutionary developments in space exploration and even space travel began to guide society’s attention to what possibly could be discovered in our immense universe.The mysteries of the universe have captured the attention of both educated astronomers who work to make new astronomical discoveries and everyday society, whose imaginations drive the theories that people long for confirmation of. Simmons, Dave, “The new space race”, The Economist, 18 Jan 2018, https://www.economist.com/leaders...

 Nanotechnology & Art Prior to this week’s content, I had no idea what nanotechnology was, let alone how nanotechnology can be used in the artistic world. “Scientists have tried to explain this disparity by comparing the nanometer to the thickness of a human hair: the average thickness of a human hair is —5 x 10-5m, which is (50,000) nm. Or, the little fingernail: around 1 cm across, which is equal to ten million nanometers.” (Gimzewski & Vesna 6) Nanotechnology, in the scientific context, is described as a science concerned with controlling and manipulating atom/molecule scale matter or the nanoscale . Dr. Jim Gimzewski’s (a nanoscientist at the California Nanoscience Institution), describes nanotechnology in his lecture as a new form of technology that could change the world. Nanotechnology is a term typically used to refer to something very tiny, although its scientific impact would eventually affect many, if not all, aspects of our everyday lives. “Nanoscience + Engine...

 Advanced Light Microscopy I attended the Advanced Light Microscopy Symposium in the CNSI (California NanoSystems Institute)  Scott E Fraser, Provost Professor of Biological Sciences & Biomedical Engineering at USC, delivered a lecture about his research about methods and uses for advanced light microscopy.  Traditional light microscopy uses a combination of lenses and light sources to create magnified images of biological samples that would otherwise be impossible to see with the human eye. Fraser mentions the various limitations of traditional light microscopy within his diagram of the “pyramid of frustration”, where he states the limitations imagers are stuck within.  Traditional light microscopy is limited in its efficiency due to its resolution restrictions. These resolution limitations are often referred to as the diffraction barrier, leaving many smaller biological samples unable to be seen.  Fraser then introduces the solution to these limitations, “...

 Ethical Bioengineering This week’s material has changed my perspective on certain ethical considerations in biology. After learning about bioengineering projects and their artistic implications, I began to question how invasive these experiments can become and remain ethical. Many bio-artists have tested this consideration and have different perspectives on what is considered life, what is considered property, and what experiments are considered art. “These artistic efforts include the identification of basic components of life and reproduction, exploration of entities that straddle boundaries, and the consideration whether animals or body parts, such as genes, should count as property” (Levy 2)’ Eduardo Kac, a famous bio-artist whose work involves genetically engineered organisms, performed alongside geneticists to create a “glowing” species. By inserting fluorescent genes into different organisms, causing them to have an internal luminescence, he inspired other bioengineers and ...

Cybernetics and Art The 1st event I attended was the “COLOR LIGHT MOTION” event, featuring Ryszard Kluszczyński. Ryszard W. Kluszczynski is a professor of the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Lodz, Poland, and their Chair of the Department of New Media and Digital Culture. Throughout the event Kluszczyński discusses the cybernetic and digital media community, as well as some valid concerns about art in cyberculture.  My experience at the event was extremely insightful! For my project, since I have considered using the topic of AI technology and its impact on artists, the discussion of cybernetic issues provided me with the limitations as well as strengths of using cybernetic systems.  Cybernetics is the understanding of how things and systems communicate and are controlled. In the context of cybernetics within art, many artists are inspired by the aesthetic of cybernetic data and theories, while others use cybernetic systems to create art such as AI algorithms. Reicha...

 Medical Technologies and Art A personal experience with medical technology I can recall is when I received an x-ray and MRI scan for an ankle injury. Although I was sure I had injured myself badly enough to receive medical attention, I received an x-ray that showed no diagnosis. Later, an MRI scan was done that showed my torn achilles tendon, which was not visible in the previous medical scans performed. My experience with medical technologies shows how significant the development and use of medical technologies, such as MRI, CAT Scan, and X-rays. On the medical side, the introduction of medical technology and non-invasive imaging techniques has allowed for a further understanding of the human body anatomy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an essential development in medical technology, allowing for all soft tissues to be visible and precise diagnosis. In the case of my injury, I would not have received the correct diagnosis or treatment without this technology. MRI has...