Final

Event 5: Lives of Perfect Creatures. Dogs of the Soviet Space Program at the Museum of Jurassic Technology

My experience at the Museum of Jurassic technology was unlike that of any other museum experience I have ever been on. Much of the collections and exhibits seem unrelated to each other and the atmosphere of the museum seems very homey and almost wonderfully haunting. The collection of most interest to me was that concerning the Soviet Space program. I was expecting to find detailed history about the Soviet Space program, which I did, however it was told completely through the perspective of the dogs of the program. Unfortunately, the museum did not allow the use of photography.

My entrance ticket

Myself posing outside
of the museum.

           

Because of Professor Vesna’s lecture on Space and Art, I was ecstatic to realize that I would already recognize one of the names in the exhibit: Laika! Upon entering the room, one immediately notices a quote painted on the wall by Constantine Tsiolkovski, the first advocate for human space exploration- “All the universe is full of the lives of perfect creatures”. Tsiolkovski believed in the philosophy of panpsychism, which states the mind is a universal feature of all things.

Belka and Strelka- The first dogs to go into
space and return alive.
<http://americangirlsinmoscow.blogspot.com
/2010/05/belka-and-strelka.html>

            The exhibit mentions other dogs that were launched into space after Laika, many of which returned living and even bore pups after their return from space.

Veterok and Ugolyok- The first dogs to go past the Van Allen radiation
belt and return alive with no signs of damage from radiation.
<http://www.zoomroomonline.com/dogs-in-space.html>

            Overall, my experience at the museum helped me understand the important desire for space exploration, and how important these dogs were in serving as initial trials of sending life into an unknown world. I would recommend this museum to anyone interesting in learning about the Soviet Space program from a different perspective. At the end of the exhibit, the curator’s dog welcomes and greets you, and you have the opportunity to have tea and cookies! This museum is definitely a different, yet fun experience.

Event 4: Natural History Museum Los Angeles County

I truly enjoyed my experience at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles County. Two exhibits really stuck out to me in light of the course: the first being the gem and mineral hall, the second being the display on seashells.

The exhibit featuring gems and minerals highlighted the scientific importance of rocks and minerals. It focused on the use of rocks as raw materials. It helped me understand the depletion of these wonderful resources and explored ways in which these resources could be conserved.

My sister and me.

Immediately, as I stepped into the gem and mineral room, I was overwhelmed by the vast amount of beautiful rocks the exhibit contained. A staff member informed me that the museum has over 150,000 types of gems and minerals. It is evident that I am not the only one who finds the vast array of art, because the museum also showcases several artists’ incorporation of these rocks.

I had no idea California was a
jackpot for minerals!

Since accent times, Native Americans have carved
animals out of both shell and rock. Today, the Zuni
Pueblo call them Zuni fetishes.

Hard to pick, but my favorite rock from
the exhibit.

Amazing gem stones, when owned (in this form
or in jewelry) signify status and wealth
in many cultures.

Candlestick holder carved from Jade in
China in the 19th or 20th century.

Vase carved from Jade. Also from
China in the 19th or 20th century.

Upon seeing the shell exhibit at the museum, I immediately thought back to Professor Vesna’s lecture discussing how shells were representative of the mathematical Fibonacci sequence. The exhibit showcased nearly 200 different types of shells, as I was later informed. While extraordinarily beautiful, the exhibit informed that contrary to popular belief, you cannot, in fact, hear the ocean from a sea shell. They are incapable of generating sound, but sound waves get trapped in the shell when you hold to your ear. Along with echoes from the outside of the shell, these sounds together form a sound much like ocean waves.

This mold from a cast screams Fibonacci sequence!

I recommend this museum to anyone who is interested in seeing a vast collection of either gems or seashells. (As a side note, be forewarned that it is generally advised to have a California sportsfishing license to collect mollusks, as one staff member informed me.)

Event 3: James Turrell: A Retrospective at the LACMA

As a neuroscience major, I fell in love with James Turrell’s work with light and perception at the LACMA. Turrell’s exhibits primarily worked with light and how we our brains are able to perceive it as an actual physical, tangible object.

 

Like many of the artists we have encountered this quarter, James Turrell’s work has be greatly influenced by his love for science. In particular, Turrell incorporates the complex nature of the human brain’s ability to perceive. He uses its actual incorrect ability to perceive to his advantage and creates work of art that leave the viewer believing that light is a tactile object.

This is an example of Turrell's work with light taken from the brochure the
museum provided.

The light seemed to show a 3- dimensional ,
touchable box, but upon closer look,
it is evident that there is actually a hole in the
wall where the light is shining. Senses deceived!

            

Turrell has also worked extensively with “Dark Spaces”, which are his projects where there is an absence of light. I was fortunate enough to get to experience this at the museum. I first entered a dark corridor, using the left wall as my guide. I then realized that I had been placed inside a dark room. I could hear other people speaking softly, and eventually my eyes came to adjust to a very dim incandescent bulb. It was an interesting experience because I could never really fully adjust to everything that was going on in the room- the other people, the size of the room etc. What I took away from the experience was how poor our perception really is, yet how dependent we have become on it for experiencing everyday life.

            The epitome of my experience at the James Turrell exhibit was the Ganzfield. I had the wonderful opportunity of being able to step in to a room that was saturated with a single colored light. This light-unless someone steps in your way- completely fills your entire field of vision, and the walls ambiguous and the room seems ever-expanding.  The experience was mind-altering, and it is difficult to describe unless you yourself experience it!

Photos were not allowed of the Ganzfield room,
but here's one from online.
<http://architecture.mapolismagazin.com/james-turrell-ganzfeld-piece-wolfsburg>

            I would highly recommend this exhibit to anyone interested in how our brains perceive light, anyone who is willing to have their definition of light turned around, and anyone who has an open mind to doubting their senses for a bit of time.

The lovely "shoes" I was provided
before entering Ganzfield.

Event 2: Influence of the Atomic Age on Popular Culture- National Museum of Nuclear Science and History

While visiting my hometown of Santa Fe, I was able to stop by the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Museum provides an excellent historical background on the atomic era, going all the way back to the discovery of radiation given off by uranium in the 1800’s.

Outside of the Nuclear Science and History Museum, proudly displaying
an atomic structure on the left

 

The exhibit that I found of particular interest was one discussing the huge impact the atomic age has had in popular culture. The atomic age influenced almost everything in popular culture, from books to television, games to toys, and even appliances to food! Overall the work that was emerging from popular culture during the atomic age shows both the fear and anxiety experienced at the time and the joy of atomic discovery serving as a solution to all of America’s problems. Interestingly enough, towns that were used or the mining of Uranium were called "Yellowcake Towns". They gained instant publicity during that atomic age and even had streets of building named like Atomic Blvd. and Uranium Theatre. Having grown up in Los Alamos, New Mexico (the birthplace of the atomic bomb), I can attest that there is a restaurant in Santa Fe called the Atomic Grill that serves "Uranium" burgers. The populations of these towns quickly doubled or even tripled. Some  of these towns even held Miss Uranium pageants!

An example of a "Miss Uranium"
can be seen here, wearing a
mushroom could.

A family game that emerged from the atomic age!
<http://imgfave.com/collection/62255/funnies>

This cartoon book entitled Barefoot Gen was written by
Keiji Nakazawa and is semi autobiographical about his and his family's
survival of the Hiroshima bombings. 

Also, did you know that The Jetsons was created to show the hypothetical development of a futuristic atomic- run city?

I find that my experience at the museum was extremely significant because it showed me that though there may seem to be a disconnect between art and science, the two are related at least by how pop culture is affected in response to scientific discovery.

I would recommend this museum to anyone visiting New Mexico. It serves as an excellent opportunity to learn about atomic history highlighting the role New Mexico played in the creation of the atomic bomb. Additionally, the museum discusses the science behind nuclear technology in a simple, comprehensive manner, and displays how nuclear technology is being used today as an alternative source of energy.