SciArt Magazine Volume 28
December 2017
Table of Contents

Cover image: Detail of "67P" by Ekaterina Smirnova.
Letter from the Editor

Dear readers,
How can we repair the multi-directional relationship between science, art, and society? From the ravaging effects of postmodernism on society's relationship to art and art's relationship to science, as well as consistently low science and art literacy and funding rates, there are many aspects of this dysfunctional triad to be discussed, and thus was a question of focus during our recent conference co-hosted with The Helix Center, "Art & Science: The Two Cultures Converging." 

To answer, some proposed an approach to scientific and artistic practice which involved community input: make science and art about what people care about within specific locations. Others reacted against this idea, and the dangerous consequences that can occur when the focus of science or art is determined by a democratic public. An alternative idea for integration was voiced at the end of the conference - the notion of a "SciArt world computer," where computational power would come from people rather than electronic circuitry. Organized by science-art practitioners, and powered by the public, this connective web would act as a means to disseminate a cross-disciplinary outlook beyond academia, beyond organizations, and beyond experts into the world at large. This idea of a world computer, in which people take the place of microprocessors and circuits, is beautifully illustrated in the science-fiction work The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, which recently won the Hugo Award.

​In physics, the term "three-body problem" refers to the problem of understanding the nature of the motions of three bodies which have a gravitational relationship with one another - say, the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Aside from a few specific and theoretical scenarios, this "problem" has no general solution, which had led physicists to come up with good-enough solutions, approximations based on measurements more easily attained. Understanding how two bodies interact, for example, is well within our mathematical grasp.

While repairing the multi-directional relationship between science, art, and society may seem an enormous task, if we focus on just one aspect of this triad - the relationship between science and art - we may be able to cause a "trickle-down effect" of trust into our relationships with society. Because how can society trust both science and art, if science and art do not trust one another? While much work has been done on the "two-body problem" of science and art by people like the scientists and artists featured in this publication, the need to keep doing this work, and to preach beyond the choir, is more pressing than ever. Institutions and funding bodies are starting to pay attention - now is the time to ramp up cross-disciplinary activity. This problem of art and science can be solved.

With roughly 50% of our content now derived from submissions, we rely on you to point us to what you think is the best science-art, the most innovative educational models, and the most important third culture conversations happening out there. Thank you for your continued readership, support, and ideas as we enter our fifth year of publication. I hope you enjoy our final issue of 2017!

Sincerely, 
Julia Buntaine | Founder, Editor-in-Chief

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STRAIGHT TALK
Collaboration with Eleanor Gates-Stuart

​||Julia Buntaine
My interest in science and art began with my research during my earlier postgraduate studies at the Chelsea School of Art (now University of the Arts London), having the opportunity to explore behind the scenes at major museums and translating ideas through various artworks...

ON VIEW | INTERVIEW
"Mental Work" by Jonathon Keats at EPFL, Switzerland

​||Jonathon Keats
​With the Cognitive Revolution of the 21st century, machines are beginning to outperform the human brain, and may supplant mental power in the office and laboratory, which naturally provokes a number of challenging questions: Can humans avoid obsolescence by supporting machines computationally?...

PROFILE
Plastic Fantastic: Art, Neuroscience, and Inner Space

​||Crystal Bennet
“Billions…almost as many as there are stars in the Milky Way.” James Cohen’s evocation of the sheer number of neurons connecting in the human nervous system at any given moment draws down the sky. “That’s the crucial aspect of how the nervous system works”, he explains, “cells connecting.” A retired neuroscientist turned glass artist, Cohen is uniquely placed to map the infinite galaxies of thought that exist within each and every one of us...

QUICK VIEW
"Microcosms of the Earth" by Trinley Dorje

​||Allison Palenske
Healthcare practitioner and artist Trinley Dorje draws from her experience using medical imaging technologies to produce surreal digital paintings. For her series “Microcosm of Earth,” Dorje borrows microscopic imagery of cardiac tissue cells to depict vibrant landscapes. Despite being created digitally, the textural quality of the works are reminiscent of Van Gogh’s impasto technique, with a high-chroma color palette...

ON TECH
Unearthing Tomorrow’s Artifacts
​at North East of North Digital Arts Festival

​||Allison Palenske
The artifacts displayed behind the glass cases of any history museum offer glimpses into past lives of previous eras. Furnishings, jewelry, and tools are common items excavated by archaeologists, curated within an arrangement of displays to create a narrative of lifestyles preceding our own...

STRAIGHT TALK
Exploring comets with Ekaterina Smirnova

​||Michal Gavish
"We are all dreamers. Space always captures our dreams and imagination. I was born and grew up in Russia - one of the leading countries exploring space. Since childhood we were inspired by astronauts and saw a lot of imagery of Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit Earth. All of this played a role in developing my mind as an artist. But I had no idea that exploring space would become a big part of my artistic path....

STEAM
The Evergreen State College

​||Carri J. LeRoy & Lucia Harrison
The processes of science and art are more similar than they may seem. We often think of art and science as polarized disciplines, yet the processes of scientific and artistic inquiry are remarkably alike. Practitioners in both fields make careful observations, ask specific questions, do extensive research, use specialized tools and equipment, replicate their studies/works, and interpret their results in a broader context...

ON STAGE
Science-Opera in the U.K.

​||Ruth Mariner
Could two mediums appear to be less related than science and opera? One understood to be rational, objective, advancing humanity far into the future. The other plays with the irrational, the subjective, and overpowering emotions, and is rooted and often bound by a traditional past. Yet in recent years, spurred by a growth in opera-making and an interest in revising and furthering the form, there have been a number of operas inspired by scientific events...

CONVERSATIONAL
with Michael Burton and Michiko Nitta

​​||Joe Ferguson
...Are we at peak biology, or will our inherent plasticity be required again? That question is the premise of the at-times unsettling art of Michael Burton and Michiko Nitta. Their works presuppose a world in which humans have evolved - sometimes forcibly through the use of technology - to overcome the hurdles of a less-welcoming environment and overpopulation...

STRAIGHT TALK
with Ivan Amato of DC Science Cafe

​||Remi Leibovic
When I first started writing about science professionally, I had the good fortune of bringing in a background in chemistry at a time when the little-known field of materials science and engineering was making its way onto front pages of newspapers and covers of magazines. I was assigned to cover an enormous, poorly understood, and hugely promising advance in the field of superconductivity...

STEAM
​A View to STEAM Engagement and Education Using the Lens of Outer Space

​||Jancy C. McPhee
What is the future of space exploration? Venturing further into space requires scientific and technical ingenuity, near and long-range planning with sufficient financial and political support, and human drive, cooperation, and creativity. How will we stimulate the education, innovation and teamwork required to solve future space challenges?...

SPOTLIGHT
Under the microscope with Anastasia Tyurina

​||Anastasia Tyurina
"Not every image is art, and art is far more than just an image. Originally a technical discovery, photography has been widely used in almost all fields of human activities, acting as a research tool and as a form of artistic practice. The visual arts have become a powerful tool for alternative approaches to scientific outputs, but it is crucial that both science and art cultures are aware of their interdisciplinary capabilities and limitations...

DISCUSSION
Is SciArt the new Outsider Art?

​||Judith Modrak
"Is SciArt the new Outsider Art? While these two movements may at first glance seem dissimilar – one is of the self-taught, and one is rooted in science – they have more in common than immediately meets the eye. I would even venture that they are close kin, if not siblings. SciArtists come from all walks of life – from the formally trained, to scientists turned artists, to outliers of both disciplines...
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