Space & Art

Charles Eames said it best, "eventually everything connects." One of the main things I have loved and enjoyed about this course is that every lecture is it's own separate entity but also an addition and connection of the topic both before and after. You can't have one without the other.

Here, we have delved into the deep, dark, endless universes of space - all the while finding that the knowledge and existence of nanotechnology has been around in nature for a lot longer than any generation could have anticipated. Anticipation for an event or a breakthrough or a new invention is what humanity has gotten accustomed to too and what we spend lifetimes trying to achieve. The Space Race between the United Stated and Soviet Russia is just example of wanting to be the FIRST to discover this, the FIRST to do this. But if there is one thing that we have learned in this course it is that just because someone is believed to have been the first to do something, it doesn't mean that they really were. For example the discovery of ZERO which was really discovered hundreds of years before but no one knew because how would they?

(Edward H. White)

With advancements in how quickly news can travel and the implementation of technology into our lives, the desire for MORE continued to build within humanity and the desire to venture to space was born. Timeline aside, since space exploration has been accomplished, the number of scientists, mathematicians, artists, innovators, and engineers have double if not tripled. Thanks to NASA, these people have been given a home to explore these innovations that have led us to where we are today.

In another class of mine, I recently wrote a paper on the arts and cultural revolution that has occurred in Los Angeles County and how LA is now the largest cultural diverse and successful city in the nation. I interviewed the executive direction of the LA Art's Commission, Laura Zucker, and she emphasized that one of the main goals and investments that the commission is focused on is education. Education of the arts and integrating art programs into schools is what will keep the culture at it's artistic peak of opportunities.

This is the same with science and space. NASA was created in 1958 to bring the Space Race into the American's hands and give them an upper hand in the race. The long term effects of the creation of NASA has changed the education system from what it was into one where mathematicians, engineers, and other subjects in the science field, are given more money and attention. Just like artists, education is where opportunities are born and the imagination can run wild into directions it couldn't before. There are so many non-profit organizations and programs today that do just this. The two that stood out to me where the Artists Space and Space Arts Center - both fostering art education for adults and children.

(Huge Foolish Project - Kinetic Wind Sculpture)

Sources:
"Art in Education." Art in Education. Web. 27 May 2016. <http://artistsspace.org/programs/art-in-education>.

History.com Staff. "The Space Race." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 27 May 2016. <http://www.history.com/topics/space-race>. 

"LA County Arts Commission - Homepage." LA County Arts Commission - Homepage. Web. 27 May 2016. 

"Nanotechnology in Space." Nanowerk. Web. 27 May 2016. <http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-in-space.php>. 

NASA. NASA. Web. 27 May 2016.

"SPACE." Education. Web. 27 May 2016. <http://spaceartscenter.com/education/>.

NanoTech & Art

Nanotechnology is a word that I am fortunate to be very familiar with. Growing up in a home where we studied Kabbalah - "a spiritual, ancient wisdom that reveals how the universe and life work. On a literal level, the word Kabbalah means "to receive." It's the study of how to receive fulfillment in our lives." (https:/www.kabbalah.com/what-kabbalah) Kabbalah teaches universal principles to people of all faiths and isn't bound to one religion. Like nanotechnology, Kabbalah is based on the application of principles that are sometimes invisible to the naked eye and also uses nature as its guide to make the impossible understood to regular people like us. The ancient teachings of Kabbalah have nanotechnology written in it's pages - pages drafted way before the 1970's.

(The Tree of Life)

Nanotechnology in Kabbalah was explained to me by my mother at a young age to be a tool and form of healing technology that when applied to our lives, can help us become closer to one another as a humanity. In Kabbalah, the focus is less on the physical realm and more on the spiritual so the fact that nanotechnology, a form of study that is more believing than seeing, is embedded into the Kabbalistic teachings is very appropriate. In a book titled Nano: Technology of Mind over Matter by the founder of the Kabbalah Centre Rav Berg, the reader is shown that things that once seemed impossible and totally "out of this world" is in fact possible and inevitable. "Nanotechnology, the control and manipulation on the atomic or molecular level, is inevitable through spirutal connect and higher consciousness," says Rav Berg. The illusion of time, space, and motion that exists in the physical word is only 1% of what is really happening in the universe and through being aware that things can on an atomic level in science and nature, we too can better our lives by self-organizing at our own atomic levels in all areas of our lives. You can read more about this amazing correlation in the book below.

(Amazon)

Learning in lecture about how nanotechnology is incorporated into our lives in endless ways that we are not even aware of - in tennis balls, beer bottles, adhesives, and self cleaning glasses - really opened up my mind to how important nanotechnology is and how it can revolutionize the world as we know it. What resonated with me most, above its use in simple objects and as a way to reflect internally and heal yourself spiritually, is nanotechnology's power in the medicine world.

Samuel Stupp and his Stupp Laboratory focus on nanosomes used to reproduce and regenerate tissue using nanoscaled liposomes. He and his team use biomaterials for regenerative medicine of the brain like treatments of Parkinson's disease, the spinal cord to avoid paralysis, regenerative bone, cartilage and muscle, and also on targeted systemic drug delivery using nanosctrucles for cancer and regeneration of the heart after heart attacks and other cardiovascular applications.

                                 (Hybrid Polymer)       (Photocatalyctic Hydrogel for Hydrogen Production)

Nanotechnology and it's potential to change the world is very real and the future will be here quicker than any of us can imagine. Dr. Michio Kaku is a Japanese theoretical physicist, a renowned futurist, and author of the bestselling book titled The Future of The Mind. On January 29, 2015, Dr. Kaku posted a video on his YouTube channel about "The Future of Nanotechnology" and how nanotechnology has the ability to become superior to us, Artificial Intelligent robots included, and the process in which it can occur. View the short video below.

Sources:

 "About Dr Michio Kaku." Explorations in Science Official Website of Dr Michio Kaku RSS. Web. 19 May 2016. <http://mkaku.org/home/about/>.

Berg, Rav. "Nano: Technology of Mind Over Matter Paperback – March 13, 2012." Nano: Technology of Mind Over Matter: Rav Berg: 9781571896643: Amazon.com: Books. Web. 19 May 2016. <http://www.amazon.com/Nano-Technology-Mind-Over-Matter/dp/1571896643>.

"Kabbalah, Nanotechnology, Affirmations & Healing: It Is Said That Most People Only Use 10% Of Their Brain Power! - Jesse Gilbert." Jesse Gilbert. 08 July 2015. Web. 19 May 2016. <http://jessegilbert.com/2015/07/08/kabbalah-nanotechnology-affirmations-healing-it-is-said-that-most-people-only-use-10-of-their-brain-power/>.

MichioKakuVideos. "Michio Kaku (2015) "The Future of Nanotechnology"" YouTube. YouTube, 29 Jan. 2015. Web. 19 May 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwUh3NHL_3o>.

"Samuel I. Stupp." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 19 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_I._Stupp>.

"The Stupp Laboratory | Research Interests (Subgroups)." The Stupp Laboratory | Research Interests (Subgroups). Web. 19 May 2016. <http://stupp.northwestern.edu/research/index.html>.

"The Tree of Life." Kabbalah and Healing. Web. 19 May 2016. <http://www.kabbalahandhealing.com/tree-of-life.html>.

 "What Is Kabbalah?" Kabbalah. The Kabbalah Centre. Web. 19 May 2016. <https://www.kabbalah.com/whats-kabbalah>. 

Neuroscience & Art

The mind. 

The memory.

The brain.

These three have more than location in common. In fact, our memories depend on the state of our mind and the function of our brains to process them. Things begin to get a little trickier once you throw in consciousness. You don't have to be a scientist to want to know more about consciousness and what it means in relation to your body and mind. You don't have to be a doctor to want to know how your health and mental state can be manipulated by neurochemicals and/or understood by microscopic natures of neurons. And you don't have to be an artist to appreciate the "tree like butterflies of the soul" illustrated to reveal the harmony between science and art. Ultimately, if you've ever remembered a memory, dreamt a dream, or just had a moment in time where you've questioned the limits of your conscious and unconscious mind - then this topic is perfect for you.

                                       (Neuroculture)                                   (Butterflies of the Soul)

Throughout lecture we learned about the discovery of the conscious state from Aristotle and confirmed its location to be in the brain with the help of Ramon y Cajal and Franz Joseph Gall whom both were able to connect human behaviors to specific locations in the brain. Localized functions if you please. Although everything this week was intriguing and interesting - I have chosen to focus on experimentation as a means to understand what is still being understood and draw light upon our dreams in relation to memories and of course, I can't leave LSD out of this post either.
reams for example, a subject that we know so much about yet don't really understand factually.

(The Secret World of Sleep)

Our dreams and memories are intertwined, influencing one another, blurring the conscious mind with the unconscious - creating a secret world of sleep. At some level, we are all aware of our dreams while we're dreaming them (whether we remember them or not.) They can be fragmented, illogical, and sometimes feel VERY real. This ever-changing pattern of dreams is what keeps them from being undefined and only adds to the magic. Many like Freud would claim that dreams are made up of forbidden desires and things we want to materialize in real life while others believe dreams have no preconceived notions and no obvious explanations at all. Personally, I believe that a lot of what happens during my day carries on into my dreams and that they are extensions of my conscious thoughts. The dreams don't need to seem realistic for them to feel very relevant to memories in my mind. Next time you dream, wake up and write down what you remember and I promise you that your memory will help make sense of it.

Next, LSD is just one example of an [illegal[ neurochemical that when used responsibly and purposefully, can enhance all aspects of the conscious and unconscious mind. Albert Hofmann was the first person to synthesize LSD and enter a "dream-like-state" filled with "kaleidoscopic colors" but he was definitely not the last. LSD became one of the strongest drugs in medicine used to remedy mental disorders and cure addictions like alcoholism through psychedelic psychotherapy. Psychedelics are also known to help heal trauma through reflections of unexplored, wounded consciousness.

This new era sparked and enhanced the minds of so many and it is no surprise that some of the most revolutionary, innovative, and highest of heights were able to be reached by individuals whom used LSD on a regular basis. Three prominent people in our history that stood out to me were: Steve Jobs, Ray Charles, and Francis Crick.

(Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple who owes much of it's innovation to LSD)

(Ray Charles, recorded most of his greatest hits while on LSD)

(Francis Crick, discovered the double helix of DNA on LSD)

Sources:

 "Aristotle." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 14 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle>.

""Butterflies of the Soul"" The Beautiful Brain. 8 Feb. 2010. Web. 14 May 2016. <http://thebeautifulbrain.com/tag/butterflies-of-the-soul/>.

Lewis, Penelope A. "What Is Dreaming and What Does It Tell Us about Memory? [Excerpt]." Scientific American. 18 July 2014. Web. 14 May 2016. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-dreaming-and-what-does-it-tell-us-about-memory-excerpt/>.

Roberts, Jeff. "The Truth About LSD: Research Reveals Many Therapeutic and Medicinal Benefits." CollectiveEvolution RSS. 8 Nov. 2013. Web. 13 May 2016. <http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/11/08/the-truth-about-lsd-research-reveals-many-therapeutic-and-medicinal-benefits/>.

"The Interpretation of Dreams, 1900 by Freud." The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) by Sigmund Freud. Web. 14 May 2016. <http://www.sigmundfreud.net/the-interpretation-of-dreams.jsp>.

"20 Most Notable LSD Users of All-Time." College Life, News, Sports, Girls & Entertainment. 14 May 2011. Web. 13 May 2016. <http://coed.com/2011/05/14/20-most-notable-lsd-users-of-all-time/>.  

BioTech & Art

The convergence of BioTech and Art has been beautiful, astonishing, shocking, and ethically controversial when it comes to advancements in science. Professor Vesna began lecture disclaiming that this lecture is perhaps the most controversial area that we will explore during this course and so far I must say that I agree.

I believe that everything in nature - from us humans, to plants and trees, and to animals - all have souls and each should be treated with equal respect and love. Altering and modifying living systems can get tricky and ethical lines are crossed all the time. Don't do to animals what you wouldn't want done to yourself is how I've always lived my life. However, in this case, I am not biased and rather have opened my mind to thinking from a different perspective: the perspective of a lover of both science and art and a those who perform on animals what they would in fact actually perform on themselves - for the expansion and knowledge pertaining to BioArt.

I found true appreciation for this topic not in info-genes, zygote microinjections, or SYMBIOTICA; rather in the evolutionary, painless, and least unethical "performances" of BioArt. Firstly, The Primo Posthuman, a project proposing the future of the human body by Transhumanist Natasha Vita More, stood out to me because of its purpose and intentions behind the design. Concerned with human lifespan, health, and the prevention of disease, this Primo Posthuman will overcome disease and aging - adding years of life to the average person.

(Primo Posthuman)

The next artist to resonate with me was horticulturist Edward Steichen and how he bred different types of delphiniums by hybridizing them. Plant modification using biotechnology is a great way to combine science with art. The delphiniums he bred were beautiful and a perfect example of how the love of nature can draw artists towards the science fields to create their art.

(Edward Steichen & His Delphiniums)

Next we have Natalie Jeremijenko, another nature lover and the director of xDesign Environmental Health Clinic at NYU - a creative health clinic for the environment. Her projects are all directed towards greenery and adding more greenery to places lacking in that color but what stands her apart from the ordinary gardener is that she adds greenery in unconventional ways only made possible using biotechnology. One project that stood out to be was an installation called Tree Logic where she suspended six sugar maple trees upside down forcing the trees to grow in reverse to their natural growth.

(Tree Logic Installation)

Lastly, we have Gary Wenk, a specialists on the effects that drugs have on your brain author of Your Brain on Food: How Chemicals Control Your Thoughts and Feelings. Our brain needs certain chemicals and nutrients from foods to stay balanced and keep us focused and using neuroscience has allowed us to understand which chemicals effect our brains and in which ways. The concept of turning a bad day into a better one just by eating certain foods is wild and pretty awesome if you ask me. I personally always turn to holistic and herbal forms of nutrition and medication rather than over the counter drugs to make me feel better and now knowing that neuroscience is behind these claims as well only reaffirms my choices and practices.

         

                 (Amazon)                                                                (Food For Thought)                      

Sources:

Berkowitz, Bonnie, and Laura Stanton. "Is Your Brain Missing Something?" Washington Post. The Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2015. Web. 08 May 2016. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/health/is-your-brain-missing-something/>.

Hartmann, Celia. "EDWARD STEICHEN ARCHIVE: DELPHINIUMS BLUE (AND WHITE AND PINK, TOO)." InsideOut. MoMA, 8 Mar. 2011. Web. 08 May 2016. <http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2011/03/08/edward-steichen-archive-delphiniums-blue-and-white-and-pink-too>.

More, Natasha Vita. "Primo Posthuman Future Body Design." Primo Posthuman Future Body Design. Apr. 2004. Web. 08 May 2016. <http://www.natasha.cc/paper.htm>. 

 "Natalie Jeremijenko." Natalie Jeremijenko. Inspiration Green. Web. 08 May 2016. <http://www.inspirationgreen.com/natalie-jeremijenko.html>.

Wenk, Gary. "This Is Your Brain on Food." This Is Your Brain on Food § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM. SEED MAGAZINE, 13 Sept. 2010. Web. 08 May 2016. <http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/this_is_your_brain_on_food/>.

Yetison, Ali K., Joe Davis, George M. Church, Ahmet F. Coskun, and Seok Hyun Yun. "BioArt." Trends in BioTechnology. Cell.com, Dec. 2015. Web. 8 May 2016.

Person, and George Dvorsky. "7 Bio-Artists Who Are Transforming the Fabric of Life Itself." Io9. 24 June 2013. Web. 08 May 2016. <http://io9.gizmodo.com/7-bio-artists-who-are-transforming-the-fabric-of-life-i-558156053>.