Ryan Morrissey Blog

 Art, Light, & Motion Toni Dove is an artist that is able to see the artistic potential of light and motion not as a stationary exhibit but as a moving and tangible medium for expression. By utilizing LED rods she was able to make an image appear as if from thin air. This technique is extremely fun to watch as the delay in our vision causes an afterimage to appear. I was not quite as impressed by the video of the artist who mixed flashing lights into a cinematic performance. It seemed as though the use of speech was superfluous when the content was supposed to be a combination of music and lights to add effect. Despite that slightly off putting  commentary in one of the videos presented I genuinely enjoyed the information presented in Toni's zoom. Unfortunately I had to leave before the Q&A but the exhibits I did see were all fascinating and incredibly creative. I have always found exhibits that utilize light and motion to be very interesting because of all the moving ...

Medtech & Art Art has always played a major part in medical advances. These can range from imaging technologies, to designing artificial valves, to the artistic flair many surgeons develop and exhibit in their surgical techniques. The capability for replacing valves and organs has exponentially increased in the last few decades. Artists have been involved in 3D printed valves, as well as designing many intricate artificial metal and plastic pieces to replace various parts of the body.  Artists are also highly involved in the process of creating and applying prosthetic limbs and other extremities. The casting process for a prosthetic is actually very similar to casting techniques for duplicating works of art or statues.   https://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/media/images/artificial_valve5_f.jpg Imaging technology has progressed incredibly in the last few decades. After the introduction of radiation research by the Curie's almost immediately it was adapted to imaging technologi...

Space & Art  The idea of a space elevator has fascinated me since I was a child. I could always imagine slowly rising through the atmosphere before feeling the weightlessness of space. As nanotechnology is being rapidly developed, the space elevator is gradually making its shift from the realm of science fiction into an actual possibility. The formation of complex sheets and tubes of linked nanostructures will enable us to create massive structures that have a level of strength and flexibility not currently available in any of our building materials. There are many factors limiting our ability to build a space elevator and one of the biggest limitations will be the overall weight of the structure.  Using nanotechnology to develop lighter materials such as graphene will enable us to extend our reach to the sky. It will be our own Tower of Babylon by finally allowing us to reach the heavens with relative ease. Yet there will be many hurdles to jump and a project of that magn...

 Art & Social Practice Art in the social sphere can have a profound impact on both movements and individual's lives. There are endless examples of art having impacts on the social sphere and Xtine Burrough analyzed this impact as well as stressing its overall importance to change itself on a social level. I appreciated Xtine's work and recognized the value in it. I did not however understand what the individual talking about witchcraft was getting at. She introduced her work as science fiction, then proceeded to show rituals that she performed combining technology, witchcraft, and a biological component.  I do understand if she was attempting a performance art to connect radically different objects. Unfortunately it seemed as though she believed that the rituals actually possessed power which was quite off putting. I do think that communal belief in something can lend it power but the belief that an object possesses the power she described on its own is incorrect.  If...

 Nanotech & Art Dr Gimzewski did an exceptional job at breaking down nanotech in a manner that definitely allowed me to better understand what the field was all about.  The history of nanotech and its development is incredibly interesting and I was very impressed by the study of nature in order to get inspiration for nanostructures.  I was particularly interested in nanophotonics because that truly has an artistic quality to it due to the use of colors and light. Biomineralization is also incredibly fascinating because of the ability of biological structures to take on a mineral level structure and hardness. The world of nanostructures has only been visible to us relatively recently and we are constantly discovering new materials and structures that could greatly impact our daily lives.  https://nhm.org/sites/default/files/styles/featured_callout/public/2020-06/istock-541289312.jpg?h=b2aa2a36 The field of electron microscopy showed us an entire world that had pre...

 Neuroscience & Art "The people will not revolt. They will not look up from their screens long enough to know what is happening." (O'Brien during the production of 1984 film) In my opinion technology thus far has been both a blessing and a curse for humanity, particularly in regards to neuroscience and cognitive functions. The brain itself is a beautiful work of art, chemistry, and electricity.  It is a resilient yet fragile creation that sets humanity apart from the other creatures of Earth.  During the lectures this week I found one statement very interesting.  Vesna stated that most scientists have an interest in art.  This is an incredibly true statement particularly in the field of neuroscience due to the amount of creativity necessary in order to analyze the brain in living patients.  Once we acquired the ability to see the synaptic systems of organisms through microscopy it revealed just how beautiful the brain and its neurons can be. https://sta...

 Event 2 Ecology & Art Jessica Irish's film "This Mortal Plastik" was extremely informative about not only the process of creating plastics themselves but the progress of plastics as a commodity.  Something that we created to be the fourth kingdom of existence could potentially be our eventual downfall. I had heard of microplastics before but I did not realize the extent to which the microplastics had entered every single ecosystem and are in our very bloodstreams.  A wild fact that I learned was that quite soon there will be more plastic in the ocean by mass than sea life itself.  I believe that the creative minds of artists will be pivotal in the creation of techniques and ideas that can be used to clean up the plastics.  An interesting idea that I have had but don't totally know is feasible would be using static electricity to add a charge to the microplastics then use electromagnetism to draw them together.  The issue is that there is so much plasti...

 Ann McCoy Art & Alchemy Ann McCoy was an extremely insightful speaker who has had a very interesting life that give her a unique perspective as to the interaction between art, science, and alchemy.  Ann had issues with substances and ended up getting sober during her time at UCLA. This also happened to me so I relate quite a bit to the experiences that Ann had which led to her career and life.  It was incredibly interesting to me to see and hear about how she changed her experiences and dreams into actual works of art allowing her to process her life through an artistic medium.  I have currently been having issues finding an outlet for emotional expression that actually works and applies to my life. It is amazing to see someone who has successfully moved past the period I have been stuck in recently and led a successful life.  I would highly recommend listening to Ann or viewing her artwork.  It was a fantastic experience and I am very happy I decided ...

  Biotechnology And Art The entire concept of biotechnology and the potential behind it is incredibly interesting to me.  Learning about the work of artists such as Joe Davis and Eduardo Katz exposed me to an entirely new form of art that I never would have considered being a field of artistic expression.  It is honestly quite cool to be able to make animals glow or create poetry in the eyes of a fly.  Also it is important to note that the medical applications of genetic modification are unprecedented and could lead to many great achievements.  It is important to address the morality or immorality of the practice.   https://www.conncoll.edu/ccacad/zimmer/GFP-ww/images/alba2.jpg On the subject of life itself as an expressive medium I believe that there will need to be serious limitations and restrictions in place to ensure that this artistic pursuit does not break any laws or hurt anyone.  As for experimentation and use of animals for artistic expr...