Event 5 - Leonard Kleinrock Internet Heritage Site

          On June 7, I decided to visit the Leonard Kleinrock Internet Heritage Site located in 3420 Boelter Hall. My quick walk to the third floor of Boelter ended up being a really rewarding educational experience. While today we often take the Internet for granted at times, the year 1969 would become a crucial date in history, changing the way we communicate forever. After doing more research on the history of the Internet, I was amazed to find out that a group of computer scientists working right here from UCLA would for the first time establish a connection between two computers more than 350 miles apart and send the first two letters of the word "login" electronically to a Stanford Research Institute computer before the system would end up crashing (Hines).

800-pound IMP situated on the right-hand side that 
was used to send letters "l" and "o" before crashing.

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

         Despite that the Interface Message Processor crashed after it transmitted the first two letters of the message, this event would soon make the idea of ARPANET (what we know of as today as the Internet) a reality. In particular, ARPANET was a project that was funded by the U.S. military at a time when America did not hold a monopoly over nuclear weapons anymore and that any war with the Soviet Union would be nuclear; hence the aim was to develop a technology that would allow the U.S. military to have command and control over their computers remotely in case of a potential attack (Hines).

Inside Boelter Hall 3420.
(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

          Ultimately, what took place on the UCLA campus back in 1969 would end up being a catalyst for an era of accelerated technological progress. What intrigued me the most was how these computer scientists made what once seemed impossible possible. Over the years we have seen many advances in technology, whether that's in the field of medicine or even in artificial intelligence. From biotechnology, nanotechnology, and space, technology has a significant impact on our daily lives. More and more artists have also been heavily influenced by these advances and have been integrating technology into their own work. It is very fascinating to learn that a technological revolution culminated out of the birth of the Internet and how I will be graduating from a institution that was a part of this event. I would highly recommend you visit the Leonard Kleinrock Internet Heritage Site, as you have the opportunity to see the birthplace of the Internet with your own eyes. 

Me in front of Boelter 3420.

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan) 

Sources:
Hines, Nickolaus. "How the Internet Was Born." ATI, September 2, 2016. https://allthatsinteresting.com/internet-history. 

Event 4 - UCLA New Wight Gallery

          On June 6, I had the opportunity to attend the New Wight Gallery for the One Hundred: Undergraduate Senior Exhibition that features UCLA Department of Art undergraduate senior students. I had a really great time at this exhibition, as it offered so many unique and creative works that inspired me in so many different ways. 

 Angel Liang, Untitled, Ceramic, 15 x 9.5 x 5.5". 

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

          As I walked through the gallery, my attention was particularly drawn to two works that I was intrigued by. The first Untitled work was by undergraduate student Angel Liang. This work is a perfect example of art and science coming together. Made from ceramic, the piece consists of a heart positioned on a stand. Painted bone white, the heart is left open from behind, as it is meant for you to see the inside of the organ. Sitting at the center is a bloomed rose, as the artist puts emphasis by sprinkling blue glitter over it. It quickly stood out to me that the artist's intent was to show the resemblance between vines and arteries and veins. However, after spending some time viewing this work, I took away something much deeper than just a mere resemblance. It got me thinking about the meaning behind roses and how they are rooted in love and affection. Therefore, I feel like the artist is trying to convey that such a plant has the power to open hearts, and with an open heart, you are more likely to see the world in a new light and do things that make you happy. 

Lauren Nicole Vincent "Nomadio and Cantu."
(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

          The second installation that caught my eye was by undergraduate student Lauren Nicole Vincent. I actually got to personally meet Lauren and her sweet dog before the opening reception, as she was extremely kind to allow me to take a selfie with her and her dog. First, I have to say that Vincent was very thorough with her work. I was really moved by Vincent's installation because of the message she is trying to send to her viewers and that is her relationship to her culture, and image as an African American woman. Immediately noticing all of the hair tools, Vincent's focus was on personal appearance and how she perceives the world perceiving her, specifically when it comes to her own hair and body. As society associates hair with beauty, the artist gets us to think why we even perceive beauty in such a way. Moreover, the artist got me to think about where natural beauty even fits in a world of plastic surgery. Particularly interesting, the artist also incorporated a video demonstrating the laborious routines of self-care, nicely tying technology with her artwork. 

Me with Lauren and her Dog. 

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

          This exhibition will be available for viewing until June 15. I would highly recommend you visit this exhibition, as you will get to experience art from so many different perspectives and see art, science, and technology really coming together. 

Event 3 - The Hammer Museum

          I visited the Hammer Museum for the first time on June 4. Being that the museum is a short 5 minute walk from UCLA, I have always passed by the building on my drive back home from school. Upon entering the lower level, I have to say that I really enjoyed the environment. With greenery and plenty of tables and chairs, the museum offers a relaxing environment for an afternoon stroll viewing interesting art. One of the many things that stood out to me and that I found to be very true after viewing the different works at the Hammer is that the museum really does champion "art and artists who challenge us to see the world in a new light, to experience the unexpected, to ignite our imaginations, and inspire change" (Hammer Museum). 

"Men on the Line: Men Committed to 

Feminism, KPFK, 1972, (2012/2014)."

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

          

          My first stop was at the video installation by Andrea Fraser. Before entering, the nice young lady working there was very kind enough to warn me that the room was very dark and not to be alarmed, as the image above shows. This installation is a great example of how technological advancements have allowed for more and more artists to use technology as a medium for expressing their work. Fraser is a performance artist and has gained a lot of attention through her works and performances that integrate institutional critique with humor and pathos. Specifically for this work, she created a script from a Pacific Radio recording of four men expressing their support for women's rights. The video installation consists of a vertically long, but short width screen, where Fraser presents this group discussion by herself. In her performance, she mimics each of the four men, as she wears masculine clothing and heavily emphasizes on the men's struggles with feminism and masculinity. The intent of her reperformance is to show how our pre-defined identities that are enforced upon us by society might refrain from their gendered positions to generate empathy and care.

"Up Close in Distance (bars, flags, pools)."

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

          My attention was also drawn to Los Angeles artist Yunhee Min's installation for the Hammer lobby, titled Up Close in Distance (bars, flags, pools).While we are so used to seeing painting hanging on the walls of museums in an upright position, this installation was very interesting because it did the exact opposite, which was refreshing to see. Min's piece unfolds not vertically, but horizontally as you walk up or down the stairs of the museum's lobby. The piece is intentionally disoriented by the artist, as to increase our awareness of our surroundings. After spending some time viewing this installation, it was remarkable to see how it clearly related back to what we learned about in our unit on math and art, as it serves as a contemporary example of an artist incorporating math, in this case, different geometric shapes, such as triangular wedge shapes ("flags") and marble baseboards ("bars") into her work. 

Me with a Hammer Employee 

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

          While we often assume that museums just contain art, my experience at the Hammer shows otherwise. I believe that we can overcome this misconception only after we open our minds and stop thinking about the divide between the arts and sciences that has been so deeply engrained in our society. I believe that we then will see how technology, math, and science can be found at an art museum like the Hammer. I would definitely recommend you visit the Hammer to experience these installations and to experience the unexpected. My visit here has definitely inspired and sparked a lot of great ideas for my final paper.

Sources:
 The Hammer Museum, https://hammer.ucla.edu/.

Space + Art

"The way for man is open!" 

(https://hyperallergic.com/71262/kill-the-fly-and-save-

the-child-and-other-propaganda-at-the-british-library/)

          I could not agree more with Professor Vesna's statement that space is where it all comes together. When I think about space, the first thing that comes to mind are the planets and stars. However, this past 9 weeks have shown that space is involved in almost everything - from math to robotics, to biotechnology and nanotechnology. 

          Throughout history, space has always been an area of great interest due to the fact that much of it is unknown. Starting with individuals like Nicolaus Copernicus, who constructed a mathematical based model of the universe that placed the Sun at the center, to developments during the height of the Cold War like the space race and related space age between the two great powers, space has been at the center of it all.

"Space race propaganda poster" 

(https://www.pinterest.com/pin/525162006540331346/)

          It is fascinating how the space race entered into popular culture and allowed for what was once imagined in our minds to actually become reality (Space Exploration + Art Part II). As Roger Malina, an astronomer and member of the Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group stated, "one of the defining achievements of the twentieth century was the birth of the space age," which "was possible because for centuries the cultural imagination was fed by artists, writers and musicians who dreamed of human activities in space" (spaceart.org). Therefore, it was early 1950s sci-fi classics like Destination Moon, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and Forbidden Planet that would trigger the space age with the launching of the first artificial Earth satellite (Sputnik 1) into space in 1957, the first human being (Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin) to travel into space in 1961, and the first person (Neil Armstrong) to walk on the Moon in 1969. 

"Destination Moon" 

(https://scifist.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/destination-moon/)

          The space age not only had an impact on filmmakers, artists, and writers alike, but also gave rise to agencies like NASA, which would allow for more scientists, astronomers, and artists to get involved in space exploration and research. For example, the Cosmic Dancer, the first 3D geometric artwork that was created by artist Arthur Woods to assess the integration of art into space, would be launched to the Russian Mir space station in 1993. On the Mir space station, the sculpture was freed from the force of gravity, as it freely floated and could be seen from any angle. The crew members were able to interact with the sculpture and noted the importance of having it included in their environment, as one cosmonaut indicated the joy the sculpture brought to him and his fellow cosmonauts, which danced "freely on its own" to music and "circled around us for some reason...that we can really call dancing!" (cosmicdancer.com). While Wood's space sculpture looks more like what you might expect to see in a museum, its launch marks a turning point for artworks in outer space by showing how art can provoke new ways of understanding the universe. 

"Cosmonaut Alexander Polischuk and the Cosmic Dancer" 

(https://www.cosmicdancer.com/cosmic_dancer_contact.php)

          Aside from artists integrating artwork in space, scientists have also been involved in a wide array of research and projects to develop new technology that will provide new capabilities for space exploration. For instance, NASA has been working on launching Astrobee in space, a new free-flying robot system, that will work alongside astronauts as they help advance research. The Astrobee system will help assist crew and perform duties on spacecraft, such documenting experiments, taking inventory, and moving cargo around. This in turn will increase astronaut productivity while at the same time helping us learn more about the future of robotics in space (NASA Ames).
   

"Astrobee" (https://www.nasa.gov/astrobee)

          To date, the integration of art and technology into space has yielded so many creative projects and works that have aided in helping both scientists and artists to better understand outer space. While much of space remains unknown today, the merging of these disciplines will be instrumental in our quest for mastering this frontier.  

Sources:
Vesna, Victoria. "Space Exploration + Art Part I." YouTube, 29 July 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=6ZIqTR332l8.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space Exploration + Art Part II." YouTube, 29 July 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=hLZMDpoP-u0.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space Exploration + Art Part III." YouTube, 29 July 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=4WOqt_C55Mk.

Vesna, Victoria. "Space Exploration + Art Part IV." YouTube, 30 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=J5ClKO6AJPo.

Leonardo Space Art Project Working Group. MIT Press, 1996. Assessed May 24, 2019. https://spaceart.org/leonardo/vision.html.

Woods, Arthur. "Cosmic Dancer - A Space Art Intervention by Arthur Woods." Greater.Earth. Assessed May 24, 2019. https://www.cosmicdancer.com/. 

Chen, Rick. "Here's Looking at You! Astrobee's First Robot Completes Initial Hardware Checks in Space." NASA Ames Research Center, May 17, 2019. https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/ames/here-s-looking-at-you-astrobee-s-first-robot-completes-initial-hardware-checks-in. 

NanoTech + Art

          While being a fairly recent development, nanotechnology has already had an impact on almost everything - from energy and technology to food and agriculture, and to almost every aspect of science (Introduction to Nanotechnology for Artists Part I). From this week's lecture materials, I found it very interesting to find out that art has been influencing the nano-world and in turn increasing our accessibility to this new science.

https://www.masterdc.com/blog/what-is-nanotechnology/

          

          Two unique and innovative works that serve as great examples for showing the benefits of  collaborative sci-art projects and that I found very intriguing is the Nano-Scape and Nanomandala ("Art in the Age of Nanotechnology" 2010). Created by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau, the Nano-Scape is a wireless magnetic force-feedback interface that gives users the ability to interact with nano particles through touch ("Art in the Age of Nanotechnology" 2010). By wearing magnetic ring interfaces, users move their hands over installed tables and are able to feel "strong magnetic forces, repulsion, attraction, and even slight shock" ("Art in the Age of Nanotechnology" 2010).

https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-

age-of-nanotechnology#7

          On the other hand, the Nanomandala is an 15 minute video installation by media artist Victoria Vesna, in collaboration with nanoscience pioneer James K. Gimzewski and Tibetan Buddhist monks. The installation consists of a 8 feet wide circle of sand that visitors can touch as projected images enlarge in size. These images evolve from the molecular structure of a single grain of sand to the image of the complete mandala, which was achieved with a scanning electron microscope ("Art in the Age of Nanotechnology" 2010). This work is evidence for showing how a collaboration between art, science, and technology can produce something unique and meaningful for society. 

https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-

age-of-nanotechnology#12

          While nanotechnology comes with many benefits, it is still poorly understood due to the fact that it is a much more recent development and has not been studied to a great degree. Therefore, the public should still be wary with the nano-world, especially when it comes to the products we use on ourselves and what we consume. For example, Loreal Paris is one of the major nanotech companies in the world and some sunscreen brands also rely on nanoparticles (Introduction to Nanotechnology for Artists Part VI). However, not knowing today if these "small ingredients pose big risks" means that we have to do more research before making them available for use (Introduction to Nanotechnology for Artists Part VI). Moreover, I found it very frightening to hear that nanotechnology also exists in our food and agriculture. For example, I have always been skeptical with diet shakes, energy drinks, and sodas that advertise low or zero sugar, but still are able to have a very sugary taste. An example of this is the "Slim Shake Chocolate," a very low-calorie diet milkshake that uses silica nanoparticles coated in chocolate to increase taste while at the same time having a low sugar and chocolate content (Introduction to Nanotechnology for Artists Part VI). However, with very limited research, the health risks of silica nanoparticles remain poorly understood and consumers should be cautious with such products. Therefore, there is a need for much more research in this area to understand more about the health and environmental impacts of nanotechnology.

https://www.whybiotech.com/2017/05/12/

is-gmo-food-dangerous-to-your-health/

Sources:

Gimzewski, James K. "Introduction to Nanotechnology for Artists Part I." YouTube, 21 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jM6-iqzzE.

Gimzewski, James K. "Introduction to Nanotechnology for Artists Part IV." YouTube, 21 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&time_continue=400&v=oKlViSKkPd0.

Gimzewski, James K., and Victoria Vesna. "The Nanomeme Syndrome: Blurring of Fact and Fiction in the Construction of a New Science." Technoetic Arts Journal 1, no. 1 (May 2003): 7-24. http://vv.arts.ucla.edu/publications/publications.htm.

Gimzewski, James K., and Christian Joachim. "Nanoscale Science of Single Molecules Using Local Probes." Science 283 (1999): 1683-88.

"Art in the Age of Nanotechnology: A Perth International Arts Festival Exhibition." Art.Base, March 11, 2010. https://art.base.co/event/2104-art-in-the-age-of-nanotechnology#4.

Neurosci + Art

          There is a very fascinating relationship between the mind and art. The brain is a vital organ that is responsible for necessary life functions like breathing, blood flow, and heartbeat. The brain also regulates our alertness and responsiveness to the world. For thousands of years, many scholars would attempt to figure out the mystery of the brain, but without any proper tools to examine the organ, attempts would be abandoned early on (Neuroscience and Art Part I). For example, Aristotle would classify the brain as a mere cooling mechanism for the blood, but this definition still appeared to leave the mystery of the brain unsolved (Neuroscience and Art Part I).

https://www.thecentriclab.com/people-and-the-

workplace-content/an-evolution-of-work

       
          Later, physiologist and neuroanatomist Franz Joseph Gall would be the first to come up with the study of phrenology, which is the field of thought that examines the shape and size of the skull to determine one's character and abilities. Gall theorized that the brain was divided into 27 individual organs and each section would be associated with different human faculties, such as individuality, language, self-esteem and others (Neuroscience and Art Part I). Ultimately, Gall's idea of localized functions would indeed be correct when a French surgeon would later show that a speech sensor in fact did exist in the brain (Neuroscience and Art Part I). Therefore, Gall's theories contributed substantively to the field of medicine, as he found that the brain does not operate as a whole, but rather has numerous parts that function differently. 

https://study.com/academy/lesson/franz-joseph-

gall-phrenology-theory-definition-lesson-quiz.html

       
          Moreover, Santiago Ramon y Cajal, a Spanish neuroscientist specializing in neuroanatomy, made a critical contribution to the scientific community by offering a different understanding of the nervous system. Considering neurons as mysterious butterflies of the souls, Cajal observed the wings of the butterflies as passive integrators of synaptic information (Neuroscience and Art Part I). With his love for drawing at a very early age, Cajal used art as a medium for expressing his scientific advancements. Therefore, Cajal is a great example of an artist and scientist bringing the Two Cultures together, as his famous drawings can be found in textbooks today. 

https://publicinsta.de/hashtag/Cajal

          Similar to Cajal and his idea of the butterfly, artist Suzanne Anker's engagement with MRI scans would give rise to what she called the FMRI butterfly. Being drawn to studying the interaction between art and neuroscience, the motivation behind Anker's project was to specifically highlight the meaning of image production (Frazzetto and Anker 817). Only working with 15 similar brain scans, Anker placed an image of a butterfly at the center of the scans and also superimposed different Rorschach-test-type inkblots (Frazzetto and Anker 817). This all contributed to the creation of an optical illusion for the viewer, making it appear as if the butterflies were different when in fact they were all identical.

https://mappingthemarvellous.wordpress.com

/2009/07/21/natural-affinities/

       
          As this week's lecture materials have shown, the connection between art and neuroscience is manifold and very impressive. I find it very intriguing that an organ like the brain can be used as a medium for sparking artists' creativity, curiosity, and giving rise to art work that allows society to view the human body in a new light.

Sources:

Cohen, Mark S. "Neuroscience." YouTube, 12 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=eDq8uTROeXU.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience and Art Part I: Consciousness/Memory." YouTube, 17 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=TzXjNbKDkYI.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience and Art Part II: Unconscious Mind/Dreams." YouTube, 17 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFv4owX3MZo.

Vesna, Victoria. "Neuroscience and Art Part II: Neurochemical." YouTube, 16 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5EX75xoBJ0.

Frazzetto, Giovanni, and Suzanne Anker. "Perspectives." Nature Reviews Neuroscience 10 (2009): 815-21. Accessed May 16, 2019. doi.org/10.1038/nrn2736.

Event 2 - The UCLA Meteorite Collection

          I visited the UCLA Meteorite Collection for the first time on May 10. Having had several classes in the Geology Building, I have passed by this gallery on my daily en route to class, but I never actually entered inside to view the collection of meteorites from close-up. Having said that, I found it very intriguing to find out that this collection of meteorites is the largest on the West Coast and the fifth largest in the United States, and it is located right here on campus, open and free to the public (UCLA Meteorite Collection). 

"Old Woman iron meteorite."

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

          The collection opened my mind to the unlimited number of possibilities in which the sciences and arts are interconnected through the medium of space. While looking through the gallery and having C.P. Snow's idea of "Two Cultures" at the back of my mind, this collection of meteorites reinforced my understanding of just how a field of study like geology, the science that focuses on the earth's physical features, can have an artistic side to it. Specifically, the collection had a piece titled "Old Woman iron meteorite," the second largest meteorite from the United States, weighing at 177.4 pounds. I found this meteorite to be very interesting, not only because of its size and aesthetic appeal, but because it resembled a sculpture that would be placed as a piece at an art gallery.

"Back-Lit Pallasites from the Schlazer Collection."

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

          My attention was also drawn to the case containing the "back-lit pallasites from the Schlazer Collection." Adding a backlight gave the pallasites an artistic touch and reminded me of how artists today are also playing around with different lighting technologies to enhance their artworks. This goes to show that science, technology, and art surely are intertwined and end up producing remarkable and educational ideas when combined all together. Being that we have been given the opportunity to visit the Meteorite Collection right here on campus, I would definitely recommend you visit this gallery and learn more about meteorites and their history. Ultimately, this experience has inspired and given me some great ideas for my final project. 

Me with a 357 pound Iron Meteorite from

 Canyon Diablo, Coconino County, Arizona.

(photo © by Mariana Mkrttchyan)

Sources:

UCLA Meteorite Collection, https://meteorites.ucla.edu/.