Final Project: Pinpoint Medic

Here is a link to a PDF of my final project via a Google Drive file:

Click here

Event 3: Lawrence Hall of Science (UC Berkeley)

Lawrence Hall of Science Courtyard

For my final event, I made a visit the UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science. My visit as a college student was a bit different from the experience I had in middle school, but I was still able to explore a few concepts that we discussed in class.

The museum is a dedication to the college's Ernest Lawrence, deemed the "Atom Smasher." (Learn more history here.)

One of the concepts I observed from class was that of nanotechnology, as noticed in the way that scientists mimic a gecko's grip to create glove grip and other technologies in fabrics and instruments at a nano scale. The museum mainly accommodates to a younger class of students, so there are plenty of hands-on elements to the exhibits.

Here, I got to try different pattern layouts with magnets to learn how complex it is to design gecko-like attachment in manufacturing. I also learned more about the science behind spill-resistant fabrics through nanotechnology, like we discussed in the week five lecture.

In addition to displaying how nanotechnology is artistically in use today, I was able to observe a variety of different mathematical games and puzzles that have origins from all over the world. One game in particular that caught my eye was the game Kalah that began in what is now Egypt almost 3,500 years ago.

Here, a couple kids are using math and logic skills to bring all the game pieces to their side of the board.

Kids Playing Kalah

Another interesting--and somewhat addicting--mathematical feature in the museum was this spinning cylinder that incorporated replaceable picture sheets to depict moving images. I thought it was a neat exhibit because it showed how the angle and perception of the eye can determine what we see. Thus, making still objects like this one spin quickly gives of the impression that the pictures are actually moving.

Like the other museums I visited, the Hall of Science also incorporated some geometrically designed objects in their back courtyard, specifically for the purpose of peering across Berkeley and Oakland. Once again, these mathematical designs not only look cool but propose natural images of the city, like the one below, for the public to observe. The ever-returning feature of math proposes the magnitude of its weight in artworks beyond what we would initially expect.

To answer the question of whether or not I would recommend this museum, I would answer that it depends on the audience. This venue caters more toward a younger audience, realistically between 1st and 8th grades. It provides a variety of hands-on, bug-extensive, earthquake-replicating scenes for kids to experience that makes science fun. Thus, I would recommend parents to bring their kids, but the environment is not meant for high school age or older.

Receipt Proof of Attendance

Me in the Back Courtyard with Earthquake Replications

Works Cited and Sites Worth Visiting

 Lawrence Hall of Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/>.

"Lawrence Hall of Science Courtyard." Flickr. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8303/7944139650_25bdb16c8e_z.jpg>.

 Lawrence Hall of Science History. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/about/history>.

 Lawrence Hall of Science Math Midway. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/story/lawrence_hall_science_opens_math_midway_popular_interactive_exhibit_explores_wonders>.

 Nano. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/visit/exhibits/science_today/nano>.

 Scientist's Shoes. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/about/scientistshoes>.

Event 2: de Young Museum

The de Young museum, I thought, was one of the best museums I have ever been to. Located in one of the beautiful, foggy areas of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park across from the California Academy of Sciences, the museum is well-known in the Bay Area to exhibit some of the most captivating art galleries. Though I wasn't willing to pay the extra fee to browse the "Modernism" exhibit, I did appreciate the many famous and telling pieces that were displayed in the regular galleries.

These two paintings above were in the "Art of Illusion" gallery of the museum and opened my eyes to the real importance of shading and exposure that we talked about during the "Math + Art" section of this course. When I observed these and other paintings in the gallery, I felt like I could grab the objects, as they looked so real. I especially liked the fish painting because the artist so accurately depicted the light reflection to create the impression that one might want to plug their nose to avoid a foul odor.

One of my favorite things in life is observing the magnificence of nature. These two paintings in particular grabbed my eye, as they quite accurately exhibited the beauty of a beautiful mountain morning freshly after a rain and Niagra Falls.

In addition to the mere wonder of the artworks themselves, the de Young museum is purposefully designed to enhance the viewing experience, as natural light and vegetation accompany gallery spectacles.

 

You see the intent behind the museum's design when you take a trip to the top floor observation deck. Here we were able to see a hefty part of the city as well as an aerial view of the courtyard with the Academy of Sciences in the distance. Again, the mathematical elements we discussed in class art heavily incorporated to provide the multitude of beauty that this museum provides.

The de Young also provided room for a history lesson, as we browsed their Native American and New Guinea art exhibits. Additionally, some pieces in the early American exhibit gallery were as old as the first century A.D. The museum works hard to accurately conserve the original format of its art pieces as seen here.

Female Shrine Figure

The last exhibit we took advantage of and appreciated probably the most was the impressionist and abstraction galleries. With pieces by Mark Rothko and Burgoyne Diller, I was captivated by the movement such "simplistic" pieces could evoke in me. I especially appreciated one large piece by Cornelia Parker called Anti-Mass, that was a space of floating, burned wood pieces. I was moved by how the cubic space that the charred remains took depicted the lost nature of the once Southern Black Baptist Church parish that was destroyed by arsonists.

 

Overall, I thoroughly appreciated the de Young museum and would recommend it to anybody who has an extra free day in San Francisco. I like that they change their main exhibits and also have Friday night events with live music for adults, families, and children to enjoy. The concepts of math discussed in lecture was the most prominent element from class that I saw displayed in various ways throughout the museum, from shading to symmetry to the building's engineering design.

Proof of Attendance

Works Cited and Sites Worth Visiting

 Architecture and Grounds. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <https://deyoung.famsf.org/about/architecture-and-grounds>.

 Conserving Louise Nevelson's "Ocean Gate." N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://deyoung.famsf.org/blog/conserving-louise-nevelson-s-ocean-gate>.

"De Young Cafe Courtyard." Zahner. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://www.azahner.com/images/deyoung5.jpg>.

 Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <https://deyoung.famsf.org/about/history-de-young-museum>.

 Friday Nights at the De Young. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://deyoung.famsf.org/programs/fridays>.

Event 1: The Getty Villa

The Getty Villa was an excellent way to start our family vacation at the beginning of this summer.  I have often heard people talking about this museum, but never had the chance to visit until my family came to visit. I was amazed by the beauty of the museum campus's architecture as well as the magnificence of the outdoor gardens.

     

During our stay, I learned quite a lot about the Getty Villa. The villa is a recreation of a first-century Roman country home, Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum, that was buried in the 79 A.D. eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Located in the luxurious Pacific Palisades, the Getty Villa is actually the second gallery J. Paul Getty made to house his bountiful European art collection. Additionally, the Getty institute, in partnership with UCLA, offers one of the best masters programs in Conservation through the Cotsen Institute of Archaelogy.

While examining the museum, I was fortunate enough to take part in the guided garden tour with my mother. It was quite inspirational and incorporated quite a lot of the concepts we discussed in the second week of class, regarding the way math is incorporated in art. As seen in the photograph above, the museum was designed with geometric purpose. The tour guide informed us that the backyard gardens were designed with the purpose to medicate the mind, body, and soul, that learning and conversation would thrive. This is why the campus's herb garden featured so many remedial plants like oregano and lamb's ear.

The original counterpart of the garden depicted below provided a tranquil and fruitful environment for children's daily lessons, as plants used for various medicinal purposes populate the entire East garden. The prominent element of geometry is being explained by the tour guide in the photo below. She was telling us how the symmetry of the mosaic epitomizes Roman architecture. As we learned in the "Math + Art" section of this course, Roman art accentuates the essential elements of the mathematical elements behind art that examples such as the Vitruvian man and Golden Rectangle depict.

  

The indoor gallery was just as spectacular as the outdoor visuals. I appreciated the head statue of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, and Hercules, Roman name for the divine Zeus' heroic son. I thought it was pretty interesting that the reason Aphrodite's nose is missing is not from deterioration that accompanies old age but because Christian groups did not appreciate the secularism that the deity represented. Obviously, art defamation is not a new concept!

    
    

One of the last photos I took that day was actually of the floor design inside the museum I thought it was so cool that I even had it as my phone's wallpaper for while. The design ties in a final element of mathematical prominence within the museum, depicting the ways in which lines can create three-dimensional appearance in two-dimensional atmosphere.

   

Though I did not take a picture with the curator pictured above, the picture below  is proof that I was at the museum. I would highly recommend that anyone staying in Los Angeles visit this luxurious art center, as it sincerely provides the feel of a European environment. The tours are also quite fascinating, as they teach about the purposes and uses with the various designs and plants within the museum's facilities. I had a wonderful time and hope to return again sometime next year!

 Works Cited and Sites Worth Visiting

 Dartmouth College. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <https://www.dartmouth.edu/~matc/math5.geometry/unit7/unit7.html>.

 The Getty Villa. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://www.getty.edu/visit/villa/architecture.html>.

 The Getty Villa. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/exploring-the-herb-garden-at-the-getty-villa/>.

"Outer Peristyle." The Getty. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://www.getty.edu/visit/images/gtc_2013-07-26wald0001_sm.jpg>.

UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014.
     <http://www.ioa.ucla.edu/conservation-program/introduction>. 

 University of Georgia Mathematics Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Aug. 2014. <http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/emat6680/parveen/Math_and_Art.htm>.

Week 5, Space + Art

Forty-five years and a week ago was one of the most proud and memorable moments for our country. Neil Armstrong announced the famous words, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind" as he became the first human to step first on the moon.

Neil Armstrong on the Moon

Space has always been one of the most interesting topics for people through the ages, largely because the majority of its nature is unknown.  In fact, before Nicolaus Copernicus in 1543, Western culture held the geocentric viewpoint that all the planets and the sun revolved around the earth. As with most interesting and unknown areas of life, humans have incorporated art and experimented with different elements of space.

Ptolemy's Geocentric Model

Leo the Lion

 Off the bat, we notice the way societies have grouped the stars of the night sky together to form constellations, often named after common mythological figures.

Additionally, the natural state of space having an absence of gravity provides an environment to experiments with a number of things, including paintings inspired by the work of Jackson Pollock, an artist who uses gravity to create unique impressions on his artworks.


We see the heavy influence of space in our culture with its involvement in television shows and movies, such as The Jetsons, Star Wars, Gravity, and 2001: A Space Oddysey. This whole subgenre of science fiction pushes society to think of what would happen if space travel was facilitated to the point of daily use or even to the level of long-term life. As technology continues to grow at astronomical speeds, outer space's frontier is certainly one of the next main steps in pursued real estate.

In this article, we learn that even in the next year, NASA plans to work on life-supporting space systems in addition to its space station and many other advances in studies for life and exploration apart from earth. Along with the fact that SpaceShipOne broke the barrier for private space travel, I am excited to see what great discoveries will be made for space travel in my lifetime. I think it would be fantastic to be able to visit another planet, especially if James Cameron and Google co-founder Larry Page's asteroid mining venture works out as they envision here.

Works Cited

"Geocentricism." Wikimedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Bartolomeu_Velho_1568.jpg>.

 Guardian Liberty Voice. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://guardianlv.com/2014/07/nasa-2015-budget-reveals-ambitious-plans-for-future-space-exploration/>.

"Leo the Lion Constellation." Red Orbit. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.redorbit.com/media/uploads/2004/10/10_5ab7105d15bcfbf19515ddfb1cbab1c12.jpg>.

"Neil Armstrong Stepping on the Moon." Soda Head. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001512601/4424624505_moon1_answer_7_xlarge.jpeg>.

 Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.space.com/15395-asteroid-mining-planetary-resources.html>.

"Star Wars." Wall St. Cheat Sheet. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.wallstcheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Star-Wars.jpg?bc759b&bc759b>.

 Universe Today. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.universetoday.com/36487/difference-between-geocentric-and-heliocentric/>.

Week 5, NanoTech + Art

When I was younger and involved with a variety of sports, I often wondered why tennis balls, unlike basketballs and footballs, never needed to be inflated. Dr. Gimzewski opened my eyes to this answer along with a number of other fascinating inventions and discoveries, all due to the world of nanotechnology.

Because nanotechnology takes place on a scale smaller than atom level, the inventions, art, and productions made with nanoscience is fantastic and phenomenal.  In this TED lecture by Paul Rothemund, we see how modern technology has facilitated nanotechnology creation.

Rothemund shows us that we can make both cool things, like smiley faces a tenth the width of a hair on a drop of water from DNA strand linings, as well as groundbreaking creations like using DNA strands to make much, much larger physical objects. An example of one of the more amazing creations the video shows is algorithm-infused molecular computers self-replicating the computers we have around us. This opens up the possibilities for the future of nano artwork and perfecting the processes to make more precise designs and tools.

Like the tennis ball, nano technology's consistent involvement in our lives often escapes our vision. For example, the self-cleaning and water-resistent slacks and windows are usually never questioned. But when it comes to more serious areas of our life, like food, it makes me wonder if people are aware of the manipulation that has been performed on what they are ingesting.



There is infinite potential to the possibilities of nano-scale creation with foods, but if such cloning is being performed on foods, I side with the International Union of Food and other organizations that these foods should be labeled as modified. 


Putting health issues aside, I think it is phenomenal that edible wrappers and plates can be created in whichever shape and color is desired. For art purposes, this is fantastic and opens many doors. At a Perth International Art Festival, a piece was exhibited displaying the way that bones can be used as speakers. Of course, nano-scale examination and integration is necessary to amplify these inner bone vibrations.
                 
Because there are endless possibilities to the ways nanotechnology can be used, it is important to distinguish between the helpful and harmful uses. When scientists artfully coat cancer cells with nano-sized antibodies that kill the cancer cells around infrared light, we see the wonderfully positive uses of nanotechnology. But we must be careful not to abuse our capabilities. Some things are meant to be kept natural while some are meant to be tweaked.

Works Cited

 Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.artabase.net/exhibition/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology>.

Gimzewski, James. Nanotech Jim pt3. By Uconlineprogram. YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHCuZetAIhk#t=287>.

"Nano-Cloned Tomato." The Ecologist. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.theecologist.org/siteimage/scale/0/0/105559.jpg>.

"Nanoprotect." Dickinson Blogs. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://blogs.dickinson.edu/mindmeetsmatter/files/2010/11/nanoprotect-ag-is12.jpg>.

Paul Rothemund: DNA Folding, in Detail. TED. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_rothemund_details_dna_folding#t-891015>.

"Wilson US Open2." Cara o Wapax. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 July 2014. <http://sagatheball.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/wilson-us-open2.jpg>.

Week 4, Neuroscience + Art

Phrenology

Though we have barely scratched the surface of the true nature of the human brain, studies have uncovered a massive amount of information regarding the way in which the brain works in connection with the lives we live. Of course, with such a fascinating subject, we notice the many ways in which our brains are played with, studied, and altered to experiment and discover what we do not know. During this week's lecture, we learned about phrenology, the study of the localized functions of the brain with their specific functions. I find it fascinating that we can pinpoint the part of our internal organs that causes us to form acute desires toward certain subjects like music genres.

Neuroscience is especially interesting to me because it involves areas of our life that are not only fantastical but uncontrollable as well, such as with our dreams. With dreams, people have tried to consciously control their not-so-conscious fantasies while sleeping with lucid dreaming, as seen in the movie Inception.

Inception Lucid Dream

LSD Projection

Limitless

Alongside the attempt to control the unconscious with lucid dreaming, the more common form of brain altering is seen with psychedelic and mind-enhancing drugs, specifically with LSD, acid, and cocaine. As professor Vesna discussed in lecture, there was a time when these drugs were legal for recreational use. Though these hard drugs are illegal today due to their detrimental effects of the drugs, famous intellectuals such as Aldous Huxley have published multiple writings regarding the mind, psyche, and various philosophical ideas which were to some level spurred by hallucinogenic drugs. Users claim to experience an extraordinary experience or "trip" of remarkable imagination capacity to enhance their artistic abilities to think outside their everyday box. While I learned about the history behind some of these drugs' use, it made me wonder at the possibility of more purposeful drugs to be created, as seen in the movie Limitless with Bradley Cooper. This might be an exceptional combination of neuroscience and art that could be used to positively assist society.

Greg Dunn Microetching: Brainbow Hippocampus

I find it fascinating that we have been able to analyze the workings of the brain on a microscopic level to discover in detail the way in which we think, a concept we do not normally conceive to become visual. Dr. Greg Dunn, a scientific art designer, has devoted much of his time to visually depicting the neural landscape of the human brain with handmade lithographs he and his friend, Dr. Brian Edwards, have invented, called microetchings.




These images are brilliant, yet it makes us wonder how much we will know in ten years, since scientists say we truly know nothing about the brain's nature. David Deutsch reveals this in his lecture on the history of how societies have evolved in the way they have perceived knowledge and how we form our beliefs and convictions. Art has been integrated with science, especially over the past few centuries, to derive our assertions and factual discoveries about the world around us.

Works Cited

David Deutsch: A New Way to Explain Explanation. YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

Dunn, Greg. "Brainbow Hippocampus." Greg A Dunn. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

"Limitless." Generation Film. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

"LSD Forest." Deviant Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

"Lucid Dreamer Controls Dream." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

"Phrenology." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

Week 4, BioTech + Art

George Gessert's Hybridized Iris

In today's environment of the rapidly evolving capacity of technology, questions and concerns have been evoked alongside the methods used to produce forms of sci-art, where both science and art prominently collaborate. These compositions and practices often times are seen as different and weird, but the questions many people ask when confronted with such obscure practices of genetic modification, mutation, and breeding primarily address the humane and safety elements of the procedures. With such discoveries and experiments, scientists have produced a variety of contributions to sci-art, some beautiful and some harmful in nature.

One of the more beautiful examples of genetic modification is the hybridized "works" of George Gessert. Gessert has strategically bred plants since the 1970s and has been exhibiting his hybridized creations and documented the breeding projects over the last 14 years. Because of the constructive nature of these plants' beauty, Gessert faces little complaint against his artwork. He explains his surprise at this, saying, "When I first exhibited plant hybrids as art I expected to have to defend my work against criticism that plants were not art, but no one, then or now, has raised that question..." [1].

On the other hand, most of the genetic modification that happens today is highly disputed. We see this especially in the use of GMO (genetically modified organism) integration in commercial foods. The videos below explain how GMO's are being used today and the detrimental effect they can have on those who consume such foods. 

 People have an issue with genetically modified foods often times because the process is simply unnatural, making way for serious damage toward the nutritional elements of plant genomes. With that said, it makes sense that people would be uncomfortable eating foods infused with herbicide-resilient bacteria and viruses. Yes, these plants are cost-effective, as they can resist adverse weather conditions and growing environments, yet they introduce reason to be cautious of ingesting unnatural foods into our bodies.

The topic of purpose is discussed in a blog that addresses the emotion behind the two areas of study. In the post, design scientist consultant, Lizzie Crouch, is referenced. Art, the blog contends, is used to "tap into the emotional core" [2] of its audience that provokes action and thought. Thus, we should continually regard the purpose behind art work, especially when abnormal practices are used in scientific discoveries. One such controversial area of study is seen with mutational experiments on animals, as seen with the rat pictured here.

Personally, I see these topics as interesting, since they have the potential to provide medical discoveries and aid those born or imposed with severe physical disabilities. The main problem I see with the genetic modification is when it transforms the natural elements of living beings to the point that it harms them. Using rats solely for "science" while impeding their immune systems and longevity is an example of where I question the necessity of such methods. 

Works Cited

"Bio-Artist Tests Music on Bacteria." CBS News. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

"Ear on Rat." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

Effects of GMO. YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

[2] "Emotion in Science and Art." Sci Art Sci. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

[1] Gessert, George. "Trondheim Regrets." Trondheim Matchmaking. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

 Viewing Space. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .

What is Genetically Modified Food? YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. .