Scientists have used a new technique of spectroscopy, “a new technique based on synchrotron radiation induced X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy,” to be exact, to reveal a portrait of a woman buried beneath Vincent van Gogh’s painting “Patch of Grass.” The x-rays measure the amounts of lead or mercury in each level, which then light up to reveal different patterns on the canvas, or faces in this case. They could also determine that the woman, whose identity remains a mystery, was painted in browns and reds. Apparently Vinnie was well known for painting over his own work, up to a third of the time according to all the articles about this image.
Updating the old for posterity July 30, 2008
The article taken from the BBC program “Click” talks about the digital processes used on old classic Hollywood films to retouch them and bring them back to their original glory. It sounds like a painstaking process – a human and/or a computer has to go through each film frame by frame several times — but it’s amazing what they can be done to correct stains and scratches. They describe one job in the article that would make some people all giddy with excitement from the chase and other people nauseated from boredom. I honestly am not sure which category I fall into.
Digi-art show in Singapore July 29, 2008
Ran across this interesting article about an art show in Singapore where artists and engineers collaborated to create digitally-inspired art, or art inspired by the digital age. A lot of the pieces are interactive, too.
Unfortunately this is the only picture that seems to be floating around the Internet of the exhibits at the officially called the “International Symposium on Electronic Art 2008“. If anyone else can find pictures please let me know.
In memoriam: Randy Pausch July 28, 2008
Professor Randy Pausch of “Last Lecture” fame died last week. He was not only an inspiration to millions for his incredibly good attitude about life and death, Professor Pausch was also a big proponent of the combination of art + science.
This article on MSNBC writes, “He co-founded Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center, a master’s program for bringing artists and engineers together. The university named a footbridge in his honor. He also created an animation-based teaching program for high school and college students to have fun while learning computer programming.
“In February, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in California announced the creation of the Dr. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund for university students who pursue careers in game design, development and production
I am saddened by such a loss, but I am thrilled that this man took his last few months of life to share his lessons with his children and the world.
Featured artist/technologist: Miroslav Tichy July 25, 2008
I read this profile about the artist Miroslav Tichy as part of his exhibit at the Pompidou Center in France. What was amazing to me was not only did he take interesting pictures (singularly nude women so don’t go Googling him at work), but he built his own cameras from scrap materials, “from shoe-boxes, tin cans, recycled glass and other waste materials,” according to the article. From just a brief glance of his work, I think his cameras are much more interesting than his nudes.
If you’re interested, his work is being shown at the Pompidou Center from 24 June to 22 September.
When I grow up… July 24, 2008
I read about this summer day-camp that studies animals through different art projects, appropriately named Animals and Art summer camp, and I thought it sounded like the best summer camp activity ever. It also incorporates the three things I am a big champion of: science, art, and education.
It also got me thinking about all the different jobs that are out there that combine science and art. A short list includes:
Forensic Artist
Scientific Illustrator
Dinosaur Castor
Art authenticator/historian
Science Writer
Holographer
Exhibit Designer
Archaeologist (the real version where you have to dig and do lab work)
Lighting Developer/Designer
Photographer – medical photographer, microphotographer, high-speed photographer
And of course my job, technical editor!
Unfortunately nobody really thinks about these jobs as they’re being interrogated by their high school guidance counselor as to what they’d like to be when they grow up, since most of these jobs are behind the scenes and not out there in the spotlight like an actor or an astronaut. These are also the guys and gals who need to study both molecules and Monet, but in exchange I believe they get a fuller view of the world.
Esquire will print e-cover July 23, 2008
In honor of its 75th year, Esquire magazine will publish its cover using e-paper, the same technology used in the Amazon Kindle. The battery powering the cover is only supposed to last about 90 days, and they will only publish 100,000 or so.
A lot of journalists are wondering what the implications are for the use of this technology, and my answer is: nothing – yet. There are definitely uses for this technology down the road, but if people are going to pay for a readable, reusable thin screen (which obviously they are), they want something a little more substantial; something that won’t flake after 90 days.
Also, I should note that I’m such a softy for the old-fashioned paper book I always assume that this sort of technology will take decades to catch up and catch on because nobody will want to give up paper until the electronic technology surpasses paper in its benefits. Currently, not only are the screens harder to read (although the Kindle I sampled seemed fine, but I didn’t try to read a novel off of it), but there’s something about the tactile experience of holding a book, smelling it, feeling the pages, and being able to put post-its on different pages or highlight stuff you need to remember. Plus, these things have to be durable: I’m hard on books and newspapers. I throw them into my bag pretty haphazardly and leave them lying loose in my car. I know people who get so into a book they’ll throw it across the room when they get mad at the characters. You can’t do that yet with e-paper.
I also think people are timid and don’t want to buy the very first one of anything these days. If it’s taken people this long, I suspect it’ll take people awhile to latch onto this technology. But I could be wrong.
When is Science Art? July 22, 2008
While vacationing in Europe, Cognitive Daily blogger Dave Munger stumbled upon a scientific paper that was blown up and posted in the Georges Pompidou Art Gallery (which is known for displaying “modern” art). His question was does hanging a scientific paper up on the wall officially make it art? The original posting is over a year old, but it’s still a valid discussion point, so much so that Munger recently revisited the discussion, although focusing on a second art piece in the same exhibition.
Read Munger’s original post and see the scientific “art” here (as well as read the paper). My favorite quote from this post is “Is this work saying that there’s really no difference between science and art? Or that art has become so technical and abstruse that it might as well be an impenetrable scientific tract?”
Indeed
Your DNA as Art July 21, 2008
Mary Danzer, an active proponent of combining art and technology, a fairy-wing maker and currently an English teacher in Germany (and also my friend), introduced me to this:
You now have the ability to send in your DNA (via cheek swab) to this company, who will then process your DNA, blow it up to portrait size, and send it back to you framed and ready to display above your mantle at home. This is one example. This company also offers Fingerprint and Kiss portraits. The kiss ones remind me a lot of Andy Warhol’s paintings, and are probably a lot cheaper.
My first reaction was “wow, this is so cool!” My second reaction was, “wow, this is so narcissistic.” My third reaction was, “every single tech, science, or biology person I know is going to want one of these.”
Pittsburgh celebrates robot art July 18, 2008
To correspond with their 250th year of existence, Pittsburgh is putting on a Robotics Art show. Called “Robots250,” There are all sorts of cool projects going on, from a rollercoaster to a self-made speeding camera. It goes mainly from July 11–27, but there are a few events scheduled all the way through October, so anyone in the area should check it out. Along with the official website, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a list of events going on throughout the city.
