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DESMA BLOG – WEEK 8 Nanotechnology + Art This week’s topic about nanotechnology helped to further convince me that science continues to play a key role in creating new forms of art.   Nanotechnology is about the manipulation of matter smaller than 100 nanometers, which is about the same size of a tennis ball in comparison to the earth.  This rapidly growing field took off in the early 1980s and has since been changing the way we approach science, consumer products, and how we treat cancer patients.  In 1981, a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was developed to view three-dimensional images of samples at the atomic level.  The “age of the immaterial was truly inaugurated” (Gimzewski and Vesna).   In 1986, the first STM was produced for commercial purposes. There are a wide variety of products incorporating nanotechnology that are available to consumers.  Nanoparticles are one of the largest segments in the commercial marketplace today.  Everyday items such as socks an

DESMA BLOG – WEEK 7 Neuroscience + Art As a student athlete, I adhere to a fairly strict workout schedule.  Because I’m so physically active throughout the day, I am a deep sleeper and I believe that I dream a lot while I sleep.  I also do yoga and meditate as part of my exercise routine.  I have been curious about neuroscience and how our mind and body interact.  Is it possible to train our brains to alleviate pain?  Can we dictate the outcomes of our dreams while we are dreaming?  According to Mark Wheeler in his article, “How to Build a Bigger Brain”, he states that meditating helps to focus better, strengthen the immune system, and create more control over emotions.  MRI scans of the brain have shown that people who meditate have larger gray matter in their brain.  Additional studies need to be done to determine if regular meditators are developing a specific “wiring” pattern that is creating these differences when compared to non-meditators.     Meditating reduces stres

Event #2 U Still Up? By Christina Yglesias I attended Christina Yglesias’ “U Still Up?” art installation at Broad Arts on May 2.  I had an inkling that the exhibit would be focused on texting since the title of the event was written in “text-speak.”  Upon entering the exhibit, I was instantly distracted.  There was a lot of noise coming from different sets of people having conversations on four video screens.  The screens were hanging on each wall.  In addition, there was a stack of papers containing print-outs of thousands of text messages on a table.  Headphones were also available for visitors to listen in on the video conversations.   I did not initially appreciate that this exhibit was a form of art until after I stood in the room for several more minutes.   While my ears were full of noise from the video screens, my eyes were glued to the pages of text messages.  I suddenly realized that this installation was a microcosm of how technology has evolved in encouraging and

Week #6 – BioTech + Art I have always been curious about biotechnology and its latest developments and scientific breakthroughs.  It never occurred to me that art had a place in biotech but after studying this week’s materials, I am convinced that not only is there a place for it, but there is also a need for it.  Initially, I was impressed after seeing photos of Alba, Eduarco Kac’s transgenic glowing bright green rabbit.  I thought it was cool that an albino rabbit was genetically modified with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a jellyfish and that it glowed when illuminated under a specific light.  However, after thinking further, I grew uncomfortable and wondered what other living organisms were undergoing transgenics and being intentionally mutated?  While genetic manipulation can make for some beautiful art, are we going too far?     Alba, the transgenic fluorescent rabbit, was created in 2000 Edward Steichen, a horticulturist in the 1930s, genetically modifi

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