At the SPE (Society for Photographic Education, as "Art In The House of Science." This was one of the longer presentations, approximately 2 hours, and time well spent. One of my takeaways was looking at methods other than paper, frames and mats to install photographs which, I believe, helped me in my Art 380 class Experimental Concepts, usually taught in the spring, and I highly recommend.
Conference presenters for "Art In The House of Science" were:
Rebecca Cummins explores the sculptural, experiential and sometimes humorous possibilities of light and natural phenomena, often referencing the history of science and optics. Current works involve scientific / medical imaging systems. Exhibitions include The Pacific Science Center, Seattle; The Biennial of Seville, Spain; Shenzhen Institute of Fine Art and the Shanghai Biennial, China. She is an associate professor at the University of Washington, Seattle. http://rebeccacummins.com/cummins_flash.htm
J.D. Talasek is the director of Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. He has curated numerous exhibitions, including Visionary Anatomies, Absorption + Transmission: work by Mike and Doug Starn and The Tao of Physics: Photographs by Arthur Tress among others. He was also the organizer editor of the international on-line symposium, Visual Culture and Bioscience. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvM9ajsOWLo
Justine Cooper investigates the intersections between culture, science and medicine. Her work is internationally recognized and exhibited and she has been artist in resident at the American Museum of Natural History, NY; the Key Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, Sydney University; and the Center for Medical Simulation, Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was born in Sydney, Australia, and currently resides in New York. http://daneyalmahmood.com/justinecooper.html
Pamela Winfrey (Curator since 1986, Artist in Residency Program, Exploratorium: the Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception, San Francisco) curates music, visual art and performance art. She recently served as the lead curatorial consultant for Creative Capital in the field of emerging art forms and has served on the Ars Electronic panel for interactive art. In addition she is a practicing playwright, has a new musical called "All at Sea", and is currently in residence at the Climate Theatre in San Francisco.
I hope future photography classes can be taught incorporating campus science and math departments and inviting guest speakers who work outside the photography main stream.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Bullies At Work - NY Times May 9, 2009
It's a dog eat dog world out there for graduates and if the economic downturn were not enough a survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute (http://workplacebullying.org) found that while most of the bullies are men, women make up a good 40 percent of the bullies.
The difference? Male bulling is equal opportunity, mowing down both sexes, women bullies target other women more than 70 percent of the time according to the survey. For women it can be a no win situation, to be promoted some feel you have to be aggressive, but where is the fine line between aggressive and bulling?
According to a State University of New York researcher most aggressive behavior at work is influenced by a number of factors including issues related to frustration, personality traits, perceptions of unfair treatment and other stresses and strains in our current environment of lean mean work settings.
Men tend to mentor other men, maybe it is the result of learning team work during school years, however women are less likely to mentor another woman out of fear that it would jeopardize their own career.
What would a high school or college course on mentoring look like, or a course in Bulling 101.
The difference? Male bulling is equal opportunity, mowing down both sexes, women bullies target other women more than 70 percent of the time according to the survey. For women it can be a no win situation, to be promoted some feel you have to be aggressive, but where is the fine line between aggressive and bulling?
According to a State University of New York researcher most aggressive behavior at work is influenced by a number of factors including issues related to frustration, personality traits, perceptions of unfair treatment and other stresses and strains in our current environment of lean mean work settings.
Men tend to mentor other men, maybe it is the result of learning team work during school years, however women are less likely to mentor another woman out of fear that it would jeopardize their own career.
What would a high school or college course on mentoring look like, or a course in Bulling 101.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
National Endowment for the Arts - How would you run it?
Fortunately I attended public schools (1956-1968) when art and music were required in elementary schools and I participated in concert choir through high school, yet I know these days the first to go is usually the art or music teacher and sometimes both. I found this out first hand this past Friday when I was showing 3-5 year old's at an early learning school the fine art and importance of handwashing. A video and music were involved and we were in a music room, but I don't think it qualified as "art."
There were 25-35 kids in each of the four sessions, and between sessions the music teacher would describe her day and about rock n' roll Fridays when the kids could really cut loose and how some would play air guitar and slide across the floor as if on a stage. There were hand instruments and songs on flip charts written out with text and pictures, but it was the child size rectangle table in the corner that you couldn't help notice. Taped to the table on all four sides was a paper representation of a piano keyboard, now I remember using something similar to practice hand position and finger exercises, however my elementary school did have upright pianos and lessons available.
As the kids came into the room her eyes would light up as she greeted them, and they obviously loved the teacher as they took turns giving and getting hugs from her. She said that for some of her students school may be the only place where they received a hug. There was an art teacher last year, but it wasn't in this years budget and as you might expect some kids responded to and preferred art while others music.
So, if art and music is the first to go and they have been proven to help kids in other areas of studies why doesn't the National Endowment for the Arts spend more on public school funding of the arts? Why isn't there a "entertainment tax" on music, theatre, movies...that specifically goes to funding public school arts programs. Better yet since the real money is in the sports programs of schools why doesn't the NFL, NBA, MLB fund sports programs in school freeing up money for arts programs.
You can click on the February 27, 2009 LA Times link photos to see what contributors (I didn't seen any sports figures) had to say about how they would run the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA, whose 2008 budget was approximately $144 millon, will receive $50 million out of the $787 billion stimulus package. I believe that former President George W. Bush's Fiscal Year 2009 budget request for the NEA to the House Interior Appropriations Committee was $128.4 million.
How would you fund and/or run the NEA?
There were 25-35 kids in each of the four sessions, and between sessions the music teacher would describe her day and about rock n' roll Fridays when the kids could really cut loose and how some would play air guitar and slide across the floor as if on a stage. There were hand instruments and songs on flip charts written out with text and pictures, but it was the child size rectangle table in the corner that you couldn't help notice. Taped to the table on all four sides was a paper representation of a piano keyboard, now I remember using something similar to practice hand position and finger exercises, however my elementary school did have upright pianos and lessons available.
As the kids came into the room her eyes would light up as she greeted them, and they obviously loved the teacher as they took turns giving and getting hugs from her. She said that for some of her students school may be the only place where they received a hug. There was an art teacher last year, but it wasn't in this years budget and as you might expect some kids responded to and preferred art while others music.
So, if art and music is the first to go and they have been proven to help kids in other areas of studies why doesn't the National Endowment for the Arts spend more on public school funding of the arts? Why isn't there a "entertainment tax" on music, theatre, movies...that specifically goes to funding public school arts programs. Better yet since the real money is in the sports programs of schools why doesn't the NFL, NBA, MLB fund sports programs in school freeing up money for arts programs.
You can click on the February 27, 2009 LA Times link photos to see what contributors (I didn't seen any sports figures) had to say about how they would run the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA, whose 2008 budget was approximately $144 millon, will receive $50 million out of the $787 billion stimulus package. I believe that former President George W. Bush's Fiscal Year 2009 budget request for the NEA to the House Interior Appropriations Committee was $128.4 million.
How would you fund and/or run the NEA?
Friday, March 6, 2009
Documentary Photography Project
I came across calls for proposals at the Open Society Institute site if there are any documentary photographers out there.
Also take a look at the work of 5 photographers at Moving Walls 8. The first memory that popped into my head when I saw the title "Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission" was reading George Orwell's 1984, however in this case the purpose of this commission is to remember and not rewrite. I would love to see the other 1,725 photographs that these were chosen from. For me the first photo of the Peru series, Ashaninka, women is incredibly powerful and moving.
Need more? Look at Moving Walls 15 especially photographer Shehzad Noorani's photo gallery.
What the hell do we have to bitch about..........
Also take a look at the work of 5 photographers at Moving Walls 8. The first memory that popped into my head when I saw the title "Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission" was reading George Orwell's 1984, however in this case the purpose of this commission is to remember and not rewrite. I would love to see the other 1,725 photographs that these were chosen from. For me the first photo of the Peru series, Ashaninka, women is incredibly powerful and moving.
Need more? Look at Moving Walls 15 especially photographer Shehzad Noorani's photo gallery.
What the hell do we have to bitch about..........
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Will Beijing Be The Creative Capital?
The latest buzz word from China is "creative industries" which is defined as "individual creativity, skills and talent that generate wealth, increase employment, and improve the overall living environment". Commercially this includes advertising, architectural art, artworks, antiques, fashion design, films, interactive software, music, performing arts, publishing, and television and radio broadcast. Also included is tourism, museums, art galleries, cultural heritage and sports. Sports? I wonder what the Cowboys would think if they were lumped in with the arts.
Could China redefine what is art?
Could China redefine what is art?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Who's Influencing the NEA
Out of the $787 billion stimulus package Congress voted for $50 million has been allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts. President Obama's choice to head the NEA is Michael Dorf, a Chicago attorney who helped shaped art policy in Chicago and nationally in addition to teaching university courses on art policy and has been an early supporter of Obama's political career. Dorf also has the support of union leaders from the Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity and the American Federation of Musicians.
I admit I do not understand why unions should be influencing the choice for NEA chairman while art and music teacher positions are being eliminated in public education from early education on up.
Of the $50 million stimulus approximately 40 percent for the arts will go to state arts agencies and the country’s six regional arts agencies, which in turn will then redistribute those allocations via their existing funding channels. It is expected that 25 percent of the funding will go toward cuts made at the state level.
Looks like art teachers for our public schools will still be looking for work.
I admit I do not understand why unions should be influencing the choice for NEA chairman while art and music teacher positions are being eliminated in public education from early education on up.
Of the $50 million stimulus approximately 40 percent for the arts will go to state arts agencies and the country’s six regional arts agencies, which in turn will then redistribute those allocations via their existing funding channels. It is expected that 25 percent of the funding will go toward cuts made at the state level.
Looks like art teachers for our public schools will still be looking for work.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Do We Care?
If you think Mexico and war zones are the only place where reporters, editors and yes photographers are killed think again. In recent years, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, four journalist were murdered in the US, the most recent and well publicized, you might recall, was Little Rock, Arkansas anchorwoman Anne Pressly, 26, who was murdered in her home in October of 2008.
You might not remember the editor of the California, Oakland Post who was shot three times with a sawed-off shotgun after leaving a McDonald's resturant on August 2, 2007. His name was Chauncey Bailey. Within days Devaughndre Broussard, a former dishwasher at Your Black Muslim Bakery would be charged.
Bailey's murder might not have been solved if it were not for the work of a group of retired and out of work reporters who formed the The Chauncey Bailey Project with the help of foundations and the University of California, Berkeley. The group continued with an investigation of the bakery that Bailey had started and in the process they uncovered a link to the lead investigator in the case, Sgt. Derwin Longmire who had been close to Yusuf Bey IV and the bakery for years.
Several questions pop into my mind, maybe unfairly, why more national media attention was not given to Bailey's murder, he wasn't a pretty blonde, he was a black man looking into a once prominent business in Oakland's black community in the late 1960's that provided jobs to young African-Americans. Then there's the name of the business, Your Black Muslim Bakery, can any story be objectively reported that includes the word Muslim, and there is also questions of a connection within the police department and the bakery's owner.
I did locate a 60 Minutes broadcast on February 2008 and the publish date on this most recent followup story by New York Post writer Tim Arango is February 22, 2009, but do we really care?
You might not remember the editor of the California, Oakland Post who was shot three times with a sawed-off shotgun after leaving a McDonald's resturant on August 2, 2007. His name was Chauncey Bailey. Within days Devaughndre Broussard, a former dishwasher at Your Black Muslim Bakery would be charged.
Bailey's murder might not have been solved if it were not for the work of a group of retired and out of work reporters who formed the The Chauncey Bailey Project with the help of foundations and the University of California, Berkeley. The group continued with an investigation of the bakery that Bailey had started and in the process they uncovered a link to the lead investigator in the case, Sgt. Derwin Longmire who had been close to Yusuf Bey IV and the bakery for years.
Several questions pop into my mind, maybe unfairly, why more national media attention was not given to Bailey's murder, he wasn't a pretty blonde, he was a black man looking into a once prominent business in Oakland's black community in the late 1960's that provided jobs to young African-Americans. Then there's the name of the business, Your Black Muslim Bakery, can any story be objectively reported that includes the word Muslim, and there is also questions of a connection within the police department and the bakery's owner.
I did locate a 60 Minutes broadcast on February 2008 and the publish date on this most recent followup story by New York Post writer Tim Arango is February 22, 2009, but do we really care?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Photographer vs Artist
You've seen the poster, the Andy Warhol-ish image of President Barack Obama with HOPE underneath designed by Shepard Fairey a Los-Angeles based street artist who, according to the February 5, 2009 Washington Post story, has a history of breaking rules. Fairey admits that he found the photograph, taken in 2006 by photographer Mannie Garcia who was on assignment for the Associated Press, using Google Images.
The AP claims it owns the copyright, credit and compensation is due, Fairely's attorney, Anthony Falzone, executive director of Stanford University's Fair Use Project argues otherwise. Other copyright and intellectual property attorneys are also weighing in pro and con.
What do you think?
The AP claims it owns the copyright, credit and compensation is due, Fairely's attorney, Anthony Falzone, executive director of Stanford University's Fair Use Project argues otherwise. Other copyright and intellectual property attorneys are also weighing in pro and con.
What do you think?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Can't Never Did Do Nothing
What really drives individuals to grow and prosper is telling the two year old inside each of us "you can't."
Two stories, the first from the February 16, 2009 NY Times Technology section: "Could You Go to Jail for Jailbreaking Your iPhone?" Jailbreaking (I guess it's supposed to be more intimidating than hacking) simply put is centered around adding third party applications to a device. Apple's issue is that their copyright on the cell phone's software is violated when mere mortals, iPhone owners, find ways to go around the technical barriers meant to keep them from changing the phone's software. So, if you have paid your hard earned money ($100-$500+) for this must have gadget does Apple have the right to tell you how you must use your new toy through a user agreement? The story points out that user agreements would be governed by contract law, which would force Apple to sue users and prove actual damages, and the user could incur fines and jail time, resolution of this could eventually make its way before congress, and we know how well they solve problems.
Second story, The Register, February 16, 2009 19:42 GMT: "Apple sued over iPhone smooth scrolling" Picsel Technologies, a Glasgow, Scotland based firm specializing in mobile software solutions, is suing Apple claiming Apple is illegally using the display technologies Picsel developed and is infringing on its US patent. Hey, looks like karma to me.
My point in selecting these two stories is not to diminish the importance of copyright laws or protecting what one has created, after all I would not want anyone using my photos without my permission or better yet payment. However, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or any developer worth their salt has hacked or if you prefer jailbreaked because they saw something better, were possibly told it couldn't be done, or revolted against restrictions and limitation and like so many before them took the risks necessary to make things happen.
Can't never did do nothing does not solve our problems, take risks, provide new jobs, create new/improved products or hopefully make life better for everyone.
Two stories, the first from the February 16, 2009 NY Times Technology section: "Could You Go to Jail for Jailbreaking Your iPhone?" Jailbreaking (I guess it's supposed to be more intimidating than hacking) simply put is centered around adding third party applications to a device. Apple's issue is that their copyright on the cell phone's software is violated when mere mortals, iPhone owners, find ways to go around the technical barriers meant to keep them from changing the phone's software. So, if you have paid your hard earned money ($100-$500+) for this must have gadget does Apple have the right to tell you how you must use your new toy through a user agreement? The story points out that user agreements would be governed by contract law, which would force Apple to sue users and prove actual damages, and the user could incur fines and jail time, resolution of this could eventually make its way before congress, and we know how well they solve problems.
Second story, The Register, February 16, 2009 19:42 GMT: "Apple sued over iPhone smooth scrolling" Picsel Technologies, a Glasgow, Scotland based firm specializing in mobile software solutions, is suing Apple claiming Apple is illegally using the display technologies Picsel developed and is infringing on its US patent. Hey, looks like karma to me.
My point in selecting these two stories is not to diminish the importance of copyright laws or protecting what one has created, after all I would not want anyone using my photos without my permission or better yet payment. However, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or any developer worth their salt has hacked or if you prefer jailbreaked because they saw something better, were possibly told it couldn't be done, or revolted against restrictions and limitation and like so many before them took the risks necessary to make things happen.
Can't never did do nothing does not solve our problems, take risks, provide new jobs, create new/improved products or hopefully make life better for everyone.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Innovation Meets Fashion
With all the reports and talk about job loss and the "sky is falling" scenarios these two stories give me hope about our future and remind me that it's not the government or the multi-national businesses alone that drive our economy, its the independent thinkers, inventors, entrepreneurs, and immigrants that create change. That is why I selected two stories on innovation from the Christian Science Monitor
The first story focuses on how the game of football has and can change as a result of new technology. "According to some inventors technology can make the game faster, more fair, and less dangerous for players."
TV viewers are already familiar with seeing the laser beams, the electronic version of the sticks and chains, how about a goal post that lights up when a touchdown is made, or a ball with a tracking device (imagine what that would do to point spreads and betting).
The first story focuses on how the game of football has and can change as a result of new technology. "According to some inventors technology can make the game faster, more fair, and less dangerous for players."
TV viewers are already familiar with seeing the laser beams, the electronic version of the sticks and chains, how about a goal post that lights up when a touchdown is made, or a ball with a tracking device (imagine what that would do to point spreads and betting).
Other sports, baseball, hockey and basketball are also testing new technologies to improve their games, but who would have thought basketball would have something in common with fashion. In Australia a team is testing uniforms that display game information on small panels sewn onto the fabric and connected to an iPod-sized device. The uniform could show how many points a player has scored and track his or her personal fouls.
What does that have to do with fashion? A T-shirt from thinkgeek.com detects nearby wireless Internet signals, and the logo on the front of the shirt changes as Wi-Fi connection strength waxes and wanes, but requires you to tuck a AAA battery box under your belt (this could be a little dicey).
Younghui Kim worked in telecommunications for years and had "a really strong need to design something that could be felt or touched," she uses her background to design like a software engineer only using sewing machines and fabrics to bring fashion, technology and art together. Another fashion designer Anke Loh, from Chicago, collaborates with Philips to create textiles that emit and reflect light.
Technology is so much a part of our everyday lives we forget that these ideas would not have been possible five or ten years ago. The first portable computer I bought, around 1976, was a Compaq and it weighed 20-25 pounds. I carried it around to businesses who did not have a computer and setup databases to track inventory or did word processing for them.
My parents generation, World War II era, may be the only generation to see and experience such an excellerated pace of change which I find both exciting and sad at the same time.
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