From Quark to Quasars Symposium
posted: April 23, 2004
Asheville's Media Arts Project hosted a two-day symposium at UNC-Asheville on April 23 and April 24, 2004. The event, From Quark to Quasars: The Art and Technology of Visualizing Science, was a huge success with over 200 participants attending. Our goal was to provide educational outreach to and demonstration for the local community about ways in which multimedia can be used as public interfaces for scientific research.
The event included two days of free-of-charge educational opportunities for
media artists, scientists, students of all ages and the interested public.
The public sessions were free and open to the public on a first-come first-serve
basis. There was no advanced ticketing or registration, so early arrival is
recommended. All events took place at UNCA's Lipinsky
Auditorium.Here is the description of events with bios of our special guests:
Plenary Session
Friday April 23 2PM –
4:30PM
From visualizations of DNA replication to models of nebula at the outer
reaches of the universe, scientists are relying on 3D animation, multimedia
productions and immersive displays to present their ideas to each other and the
public. You are invited to two free presentations from nationally acclaimed
science visualizers from NASA and the Hayden Planetarium. Experience vizualized
views of outer space flight into Asheville from the Symposium Auditorium during
the NASA/NOAA Earth Science Electronic Theater presentation. Journey to the Red
Planet visualized in sweeping Martian landscapes created by one of the top
astro-visualization artist in the country.
Join Dr. Hasler for a special high-definition presentation and discussion of
Earth science observations and visualizations from NASA and NOAA. Dr. Hasler’s
40-year professional career includes work with NASA/Goddard and terms at the
National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder and the Laboratoire de
Meteorologie Dynamique in Paris. He is the recipient of numerous honors and
awards including the NASA/GSFC Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal, NASA
Exceptional Service Medal and Excellence in Outreach Award. He is currently the
Chairman of the NASA/NOAA/AMS Earth Science Electronic Theater
3:30PM
Mr. Carter Emmart Hayden Planetarium, Rose
Center for Earth and Space (New York, NY)
Join Mr. Emmart for an interactive fly-through of the Digital
Universe, a three-dimensional digital atlas of all celestial objects from
our solar neighborhood to the outer reaches the universe. Mr. Emmart is the
Director of the Astrovisualization at Hayden Planetarium's Rose Center for Earth
and Space and has worked with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, NASA
and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. He has received awards
from the Environmental Protection Agency and the American Geophysical
Union.
Panel Session Saturday April 24 10AM – 1PM
Hear from regional
experts about the increasing commonality between media art and science
presentation/education. From the outer limits of technological tools like High
Definition Television (HDTV) projection, immersive 3D visual “caves,” and
interactive gaming engines, our two panels will explore a variety of techniques
and case studies.
“The Outer limits of Art for Science Visualization”
Moderated by David McConville, Black Box Studio Lorraine Walsh, UNCA
Multimedia Arts & Science Department John Payne, Wedge Gallery Carter
Emmart, Rose Center of Earth and Space
11:30AM
“Science and Media Art – Creative Commonalities”
Moderated by Dr. Ned Gardiner, Science Bulletins, American Museum of Natural
History Dr. Fritz Hasler, NASA E-Theater, Goddard Space Center Stewart Dickson,
Oak Ridge National Laboratories Craig Hobbs, Black Box Studio
Hosted by UNC-Asheville and the Media Arts Project. Sponsored by Blue Ridge
Entrepreneurial Council, an initiative of AdvantageWest, RBC Centura, and the
Asheville Chamber of Commerce. With special thanks to the Haywood Park Hotel,
Flying Frog Café, and Sweetmonkey Bakery.
The Media Arts Project is pleased to present the winners of our first online exhibition. These fourteen works, prepared for the most part by Asheville-based artists, are a testament to the local talent and creativity that resides throughout our community.
The exhibition runs April 10 - June 1, 2004
Motion Graphics &
Video
Cassini Probe
Deployment Nathan A. Ebanks
This space science visualization depicts NASA’s Cassini Spacecraft with its attached Huygens probe leaving the Earth, arriving at the
planetary destination, and deploying the probe to the surface. The actual NASA
destination for the Huygens probe is Titan, a moon of Saturn. The probe is
scheduled to arrive in July of 2004.
Format: Quicktime
Contact: nathan at
stratosdigital.com
The Wonder of Space Tiyo Hallock "I have deep faith that the
principle of the universe will be beautiful and simple."- Albert Einstein (1879
- 1955)
This piece stems from my curiosity and amazement of the universe
around me. I believe that my purpose in life is directly tied with this huge
machine which is our universe. I am in awe every time I look up at the stars,
thinking this is bigger than my vision, this is bigger than my dreams. I stayed
up 3 days making this and I have never felt more inspired, the shapes, the
textures, came together with such ease I felt as if I had tapped into some well
of energy. I hope people can feel that energy when they view this.
Format:
Quicktime
Contact: thallock at topfloorstudio.com
Life Robert
Ramirez This piece looks at the origin of life
on earth as the result of two scientific theories. One, that life was brought to
earth by a collision with a comet, and two, that life sprang up deep in the
abyss of the ocean where the intense heat from the "smokers" or undersea vents
acted as the catalyst. This is the first part of the fourth segment of a larger
piece entitled "The Ouroborus" which is a history of the universe that focuses
on the dynamic and chaotic properties of the cycles of the universe. This final
story will not be told in the traditional linear fashion of film and video.
These images will be digitally cued, looped, and processed based on analog audio
input signals, and MIDI data, from a live musical performance. The music will
serve as the dialog of the story. In this way the dynamic nature of the live
performance will be reflected visually and will mimic the dynamic, cyclical and
non-linear nature of the universe. This piece will be finished and ready for
performance the first week of May of this year.
Format:
Quicktime
4:4 Spring Lisa
Shenouda
This is the first installment of a video art series that
functions as a meditative journey into the four seasons: winter, spring, summer,
and autumn. Each season is represented with different colors, music, and spatial
textures. The video has an intentionally rough pixelated image quality so as to
be effective in various viewing formats - from a small TV screen to a large
theatre screen - without any of the usual compromises.
Format:
Quicktime
Contact: lisa at dzero.org
Interactive
Three Comments on the Sciences, with
Illustrations Joe
Bowers Three contrasting epigrams from disagreeing
philosophies of science are presented within a system that allows for the
composition of three simple, orthogonal dynamics. The result of both
compositions is a tangled mess.
Format: Flash
Contact: joseph at
culturematic.net
Astrolabe
Charles P. Morgan This is an
artistic rendering of an antique astrolabe.
Format: Flash
Contact:
october_reasons at hotmail.com
Hybrid Cellular Pattern Growth Generator
(H.C.P.G.G.) Robert
Goerke The H.C.P.G.G. imitates the
reaction-diffusion patterns found in nature through the use of a computer-based
system called cellular automata (CA). The CA grows one line at a time, with each
new line being generated by a set of simple rules. As the number of lines grows
larger, the simple rules begin to yield increasing complex results and patterns
begin to emerge. This piece was inspired by Steven Wolfram's recent exploration
of cellular automata, but I wanted to take the visual exploration of the
phenomena a step further, using not just little black boxes but other shapes and
colors to create texture and explore the effect of rhythm and repetition making
the output seem more distinctly organic.
Format: Flash
Rotary Project Chris Jackson This work was
created as part of a school project. It was designed for an interactive kiosk
aimed at educating the user. I’m a student at UNCA in the Multimedia Arts and
Science department. I’ve been doing digital imaging since 1996, mostly Photoshop
and Bryce 3D at that time. I’ve moved on and branched out to Flash, Director,
Maya, Fireworks, and Illustrator. I’ve also sharpened my skills at Photoshop and
learned some video editing software. I’m skilled at using Adobe Premier and
After Effects. I am proficient in HTML, DHTML, Java, JavaScript, and am in the
process of learning ASP, Visual Basic, and Lingo.
Format: Flash
Contact:
chris at devilmotorsports.com
The Orrery Mark
Phillips /Or"re*ry/ n.; pl. Orreries.
[So named in
honor of Charles Boyle, Earl of Orrery.]
An apparatus which illustrates, by
the revolution of balls moved by wheelwork, the relative size, periodic motions,
positions, orbits, etc., of bodies in the solar system.
The Orrery is an interactive Solar System simulator. Choose a time, a place,
and what you want to look at, and generate your own pictures.
Format:
Geomview, Tcl, Perl, and HTML
Contact: mbp at geomtech.com
GEECO System: Cryogenics Training Visualizations Jennifer Seevinck
Artists and researchers from the
Old Dominion University’s enterprise center, the Virginia Modeling Analysis
& Simulation Center (VMASC), developed computer-based training aids to
enhance instruction of the Cryogenics Equipment Technician Course. This grant is
funded by the US Navy’s Center for Naval Engineering for the Cryogenics School
House Center for Naval Engineering in Portsmouth, Virginia. The training aids
consist of 2D computer graphics and 3D visualizations for the GEECO J68114 High
Pressure Oxygen/Nitrogen Producer System. An overall schematic becomes the
interactive interface from which component 3D visualizations may be selected for
viewing. The material is designed to support live classroom lecture instruction
by a course instructor. The training aids enhance the ability of the instructor
to explain the function and operation of very complex devices and processes by
showing animated graphics of the devices and processes. The ultimate purpose of
the training aids is to reduce the amount of class time required to teach these
difficult topics and to enhance the student’s understanding by creating a
conceptual picture. Format: Flash
Contact: jseevinc at
odu.edu
Space Movie Brian Ussery
Brian
Ussery is a part time resident of Henderson County North Carolina and Brand
Engineer dba beussery imagery co. Brian designs and produces high end marketing
collateral used by professional corporations, organizations and individuals
worldwide.
Format: Quicktime
Contact: beu at beussery.com
Mixed
Multimedia
The Osprey Project David
Bourne
Video Sculpture
Format: tree of heaven, oriental
bittersweet, english ivy, grass, plexiglass, plywood, trash can lid, hardware,
cloth, LCD TV, DVD, HTML, Quicktime
Contact: david at
bournemedia.com
Particles (Series) Kristi
Pfeffer This series is a study of bubble
chamber particle trails. Those images reveal particulars from a rain of cosmic
particles. To create these, I spent a day snapping and throwing paint around,
and come back later to pick out the most telling compositions.
Format:
Digital image, painting
Contact: kristi at larkbooks.com
Stars Nicole Tuggle
This piece
is a reflection upon the influence--spiritual, intellectual and physical--that
astronomy has on Man. The saw blade suggests both the action of human thought
process and the sense of movement and flux of stars during the Earth's
rotation.
Format: digital image, metal tile, wooden box, anatomical and
astonomy illustrations, found writing, paper, metal screen, beeswax, saw
blade
Contact: nicole at sigilation.com
