Event 3: Meteorite Gallery

Meteorites formed as asteroids melted
while crossing Earth's atmosphere

My third event was the Meteorite Gallery in the Geology building at UCLA. Considering that this was my second time at the event, on a day without a docent, I thought it would be lacking as there would be no expert to guide me through the exhibit. However, based on the perspective provided to me through the class, it allowed me to develop my own opinions, and connect these beautiful objects to concepts and ideas outside of the realm of just science.

A tektite, melted on impact with the Earth

The most notable part of the exhibit to me are how meteorites are created. Aside from common earth rocks, meteorites are recognizable as they are forged in different conditions, composed of different materials, and thus coming to Earth as a unique fragment of space in human eyes.


When drawing from the notion of space, it seems ironic that people are so fascinated with the notion of space, when it seems that scraps of rock are the only parts of space that humans have been physically able to interact with. When you actually think about this, it seems to bring up the question of whether people are more fond of the idea of space, rather than its contents, when looked at from a nonscientific point of view.

Proof of attendance with
one of the gallery exhibits

When working with science in art, it seems that a lot of artists have knowledge about the material that they manipulate, whereas when thinking about space, meteorites and such are saved for exhibits, rather than for sculpting or manipulation. Instead, artists working with space don't necessarily have physical access to material, but rather complete creative freedom. Instead of portraying parts of life in their perspectives, it seems powerful that artists can perceive life in a whole new realm, separate from human experiences and limitations.

Week 9: Space and Art

Development of the heliocentric model

Regarding space exploration in art, the productions seem more concerned with the possibilities, rather than just perceptions of what already exists. Even from the earliest days, when Copernicus was developing the heliocentric model for space, he was not trying to model the existing perception of space, but rather on what he views space to be. Like other topics, space provides a topic that allows artists to display their own perception, but unlike many of the other subjects we have studied, I feel as though there is much more uncertainty with the subject of space, and the artwork produced is focused on another time.
Space as a topic remains very fluid in time. It seems like one of its most appealing facets is its ability to become disconnected from human life, creating endless possibilities within the infinite unknown. 

Lack of limits allows for development
of endless possibilities, in terms of
characters and technology

 When one accomplishment is made in space, new doors are opened and exploration continues, such as the progression of how space travel began with Laika, then people in orbit, then people onto the moon. In a way, space represents what can possibly be and display one’s perception of human potential. It is a theme that warps perspective, where humans can feel like kings of their own universe, or irrelevant specks in a vast space, which thus allows artists to develop many unique images to reflect such varying perceptions.

Possible creations of space
elevators through nanotech

Yet in the domain of space, all the tools we have learned about can still be used to explore. The incorporation of nanotech allows for the possibility of space elevators, while issues with biotech may arise in the same field as testing in space may become a controversial issue. The scope of space is just so fascinating, and possibilities seem endless.

Sources:

FoustTuesday, Jeff, et al. “When Space and Art Intersect.” The Space Review: When Space and Art 

Intersect, www.thespacereview.com/article/1460/1.

Insider, Business. “From 1900 to 2013: The Evolution of Outer Space on the Big Screen.” TheJournal.ie, www.thejournal.ie/space-movies-film-history-1117934-Oct2013/.

Online, UC. “Space pt6.” YouTube, YouTube, 30 May 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYmOtFjIj0M.

Online, UC. “8 Space pt3 1280x720.” YouTube, YouTube, 29 July 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?

v=4WOqt_C55Mk.

Wassmer, William. “Using Nanotechnology to Build a Space Elevator.” AZoNano.com, 23 Dec. 2015, www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4011.