KatherineMcNamaraDESMA9

 Katherine McNamara  Space & Art      Space is similar to that of the ocean on Earth because there is so much out there we don't know about. I think the fact that humans have not explored all of space and there is a lot still to learn brings an element of wonder to it. This wonder not only leads to an intense search for ways to explore the unknown but also allows people to imagine what else is out there.  Space Art! Vortex by Morysetta     The Power of Ten video we watched was a great way to show that the universe is greater than what we can see. It was super interesting to see the universe's development from an ordinary place on Earth. We were all through space and back inside the human body within a few minutes. This video is a great depiction of science and art working together to excite human curiosity.  Screenshot from The Power of 10     This week we investigated the world's adventures into space and the chase to be the fi...

 Katherine McNamara  Event 3: COLOR LIGHT MOTION: Mark Pejian COLOR LIGHT MOTION: Mark Pejian     The third event I attended this quarter was COLOR LIGHT MOTION with Mark Pejian speaking on David's collection and foundation. I liked Mark's introduction to the collection because he mentioned that David started it out of curiosity and it blossomed from there. The first piece of the collection has a fierceness and metallic presence that is impossible to miss. As Mark says the selection of the first piece sets the tone for the rest of the collection because it is the first one people see. I liked how Mark explained the importance of the first piece for those unfamiliar with the strategy of art collections.  First Piece of the collection!     The second piece, Heinz Mack Light Dynamo # 1 from 1966, was a cool transition into kinetic art. While it provided a nice connection to the first piece, I thought it added another dimension of possibility for the rest ...

Katherine McNamara  Nanotechnology and Art  Inside a Diamond      Nanotechnology is an intricate form of science that creates and investigates objects on an extra miniature scale (nanometers). Everyday products sunscreen, superglue, car paint, and computers all use nanotechnology. It is insane how much detail is required to use nanotechnology because the scale of atoms and objects is so small. Our lectures this week helped me grow more appreciation for all art created through nanotechnology. I enjoyed Dr. Gimzewski’s explanation of the makeup of diamonds and other rocks. It was cool to see the inside structure of objects that I see regularly. Additionally, diamonds hold great prestige in our society which made the comparison of their structure to other rocks and objects interesting.  The inside structure of diamonds appeared relatively similar to other materials besides being more compact. It makes me wonder why diamonds are considered the most beautiful as...

 Katherine McNamara  Event 2 Assignment LASER  Mapping Futures: Sculpting Narratives of Culture, Ecology, and Digital Aesthetics Confirmation Alinta (top left), Santiago (top right), Sean (bottom left), Jenny Strickland (ASU/Leonardo)     For my second event, I attended a LASER talk through Leonardo and Arizona State University. This event showcased the projects of three fellows in their program and ended with a Q and A. The three fellows who presented were Dr. Alinta Krauth, Santiago Reyes Villaveces, and Sean Conelly. Each of them had unique ideas that tied science together with art! Alinta discussed her research of animal communication and Artificial Intelligence's potential to bring it into human language, Santiago showcased the "acoustic fossil" device that  creates a feedback loop of vibrations to connect to a struggling ecosystem, and Sean played his compelling film about Hawaii's role in our society's technological advancement.  Map from Sean's...

 Katherine McNamara  Neuroscience & Art      Neuroscience and consciousness play huge roles in art because the expression of emotion is essential to powerful art. Artists use what is happening in their brains to create projects and work personal to them. Artists can express almost any emotion through painting, film, music, literature, etc. For many, people need to use art as their therapy or formulation of feelings.  Depiction of depression through art.      For one of my general education classes at UCLA, I took Psychiatry 79 which was neuroscience of productivity and wellbeing. This class was taught by a neuroscientist, Alexander Korb, and was designed to help students learn to reverse the "downward spiral" of depression and be more productive.  His class and work are extraordinary examples of art and neuroscience because they tell people how to help themselves. Alexander has a book called The Upward Sprial which teaches the basic...