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Picking up belatedly where I left off, at the overlap of art and science…
Index by Ariana Page Russell c. 2005
I came across this article about an artist who triggers an allergic reaction on her skin in different patterns, then photographs the resulting rash. Ariana Page Russell has dermatographia, which means her skin is highly sensitive to minor scratches. It doesn’t hurt, and the rash goes away within about 30 minutes for most people. Russell has extended the artwork to creating stencils, stickers, and repeat patterns for wallpaper by photocopying the rash on her skin. Very interesting stuff.
A quick search on Flickr turned up other people with dermatographia who use their skin to create ad hoc art.
[via The Telegraph]
by Beth on April 12, 2009
Discover Magazine had a post recently about Tiffany Ard’s artwork. She does watercolor and pen and ink childrens drawings of the laws of physics and other science-y stuff. Which reminded me that I have a backlog of art-as-science/science-as-art links. I started getting interested in this connection about 10 years ago when I stumbled on a book of poetry called Verse and Universe. Then when genetic sampling came down in price a couple of years ago, someone started a company to make artwork of your DNA. So if you’re science-minded and appreciate art in its many forms, here’s some eye candy.
- Andrea Dezso embroiders images of parts of the human body like the heart shown here.
- Almost two years ago Carl Zimmer wrote one innocuous blog post wondering if scientists get tattooed with their science. There was such a huge response that he now collects science-themed tattoos and created the Science Tattoo Emporium.
- Lee Tracy took brain scans and created a multi-media installation.
- DNA11 is just one of the companies that now makes artwork from DNA.
- Lynn Fellman makes artwork related to your DNA as well, but adds a more representational narrative about your genetic origins.
- Electroplankton is a Nintendo DS game that lets you manipulate marine plankton icons designed by artist Toshio Iwai to create ambient music.
- Jewelry designed to look like the periodic table of elements is for sale at It’s No Name.
- Toybreaker makes ties with images drawn from scientific diagrams and technology.
Heart © Andrea Deszo “Heart Embroidery”
Ties © Toybreaker
Three months ago I found myself with a major crush on Panda Black Licorice Chews. I’m not a licorice eater, but there it was confronting me at the end of the cereal aisle–the pieces shaped like a Gatling gun aimed right at me–and, boy did it sound like a good idea to eat as much as I could.
Three months ago I was also 40 weeks pregnant, so the idea of eating anything in excess wasn’t strange, but why licorice? Four days and two boxes later,
I had my answer: licorice is associated with preterm birth, perhaps because it stimulates production of the hormone prostaglandin, which prepares the cervix for labor. For people who are full-term with their pregnancies, licorice may simply kick start what nature is about to do in the next few days. Somehow my body was smart enough to sniff out a natural and tasty labor stimulant.
After giving birth my craving subsided. Since then I learned that licorice has a dark side. Even a little bit eaten regularly—about the equivalent of one of my boxes each day for a week or two–can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, even liver toxicity. It’s also recently been shown to block the efficacy of a drug used by organ transplant patients so that their bodies don’t reject the organ.
Last week I remembered that I still have an unopened box in the glove compartment. Since I’m also an organ donor, maybe I should lay off…
by Beth on March 31, 2009
People Magazine is my seriously guilty online pleasure and Ed Westwick is a curious creature–I can’t tell if he’s handsome or cruel or creepy. Anyway, the caption for this photo of him on the catwalk describes him wearing “a traditional Scottish kilt.” Are those snaps I see? The telltale exposed seams of an inside-out garment? Not one but four patterns of plaid? And, ahem, where’s his pouch? No, that’s not a traditional Scottish kilt. If anything it’s a post-modern American MUG.
Photo credit: Sara Jaye Weiss/Startraks
by Beth on March 29, 2009
If you’re a railroading buff or a fan of The Office, you’ve heard of Scranton. But this mild-mannered university town—and new home to the Yankees’ minor league affiliate—offers more than television trivia and trains. Here’s an itinerary for the first-time visitor. Two stops on the tour are best reached by car, but the rest are easy walks from the suggested hotel.
9:00 a.m.
Sixty years old and actually created from parts of a glider, the Glider Diner serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner around the clock. A pile of French toast, juice, and a bottomless cup of coffee come in under $6.00. For some classic North East PA comfort food, order the French fries and gravy.
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by Beth on March 20, 2009
The climate change debate reminds me of Pascal’s Wager.
Climate change deniers and proponents argue about who’s right, cite studies, parade evidence, and call each other names. Evidence on either side might be compelling and the arguments can be persuasive (or can at raise doubt). Unless you’re a scientist actually involved in a study, you’re left shrugging your shoulders, thinking “Well, I guess that could be right. I don’t know first hand what’s actually true and what’s not.”
Enter Pascal. Pascal proposed that we gamble. He was talking about the existence of God, but we can use the same idea for climate change. Instead of trying to prove it, gamble.
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by Beth on September 26, 2008
I went to the drug store last week for some sinus medicine and came face to face with what I can only describe as the foreign health-and-beauty-aid ghetto. It appeared out of nowhere, replacing the Metamucil section (moved but not forgotten). Wha..?
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