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/.