Hey guys.. so these are the newest, a total distraction if you ask me. Apparently, they are designed to attend to ADHD? I am looking into this, they are all over the schools like the plague. Ughhh, just like flipping water bottles.

I’ve been thinking about artist Greq Dunn and more about his work. I tried to incorporate some electric colors (similar to his works) and depict motion and fluidity. All of these works are India inks on transparencies, except the circular blue one on the lower left corner, that is acrylic on canvas. I have been trying to design multiple brain scans in relation to my visualizations for Kevin’s class.

X-rays usually are not necessary for IEP diagnosis but I think I am interested because Xrays are absorbed in different amounts depending on the density of the material they pass through. And although they pass through the entire body they are not necessary for diagnosis.

Originally I was playing with colored acetate, but I feel the transparencies were more successful.

New Sumi.. thinking about brain waves and frequencies~!

https://www.nybg.org/event/chihuly/

I just heard about this show at the botanical garden- through October! Wouldnt it be great if we could go !!

I have been admiring and studying the work by Greg Dunn (artist and neuroscientist). In 2011 he finished his doctorate in neuroscience and now is solely dedicated to painting. He describes working as full time artist as working as an experimenter. His art draws connections between science and nature as he provides us with a large microscope for investigating the beauty of our brains. His motto defines problem solving, as he often begins a work as an experiment,  forms hypothesis and then develop theories…

His artwork radiates human consciousness and he is devoted to representing all brain functions and neurons in the most raw of states.  Below, his works titled Self Reflected, emulate expressive beauty and delicacy, consisting of organic patterns that makes me feel like I’m watching electricity flow. His work is so expressive and organized, it’s almost as we are observing a light show . Viewing these works show the brain in all states of activity, almost like your walking through a maze of cellular architecture.

 He draws inspiration from the simplicities of Asian art; Japanese scrolls are among a favorite inspiration. The Asian art of Sumi-e is also an inspiration in which he describes capturing the object using minimal strokes. His current subject choices for Self Reflected range from brain streams, forms of neurons, cerebellum regions, and parietal gyrus.  These works very intriguing as these they offer insights to understanding the behavior of brain neurons through micro etchings. I would like to investigate this process of lithography further and will write more tomorrow-  I was very into printmaking in my undergraduate studies, particularly lithography as I wish to investigate his process further.

This is a single brain scan – done on top of painted acrylic paper. My color choice was intentional, the brain is grey as gray matter inside our brain is made up of about 100 billions neurons,  white matter is made up of dendrites and 75 % water.  I wanted this piece to be fluid and appear natural. I used pen and collage to represent the complex organ and the linear designs in the background represent networks of neurons…. the large blobs of paint represent human energy and movement. As I proceed with my research,  I have become more interested in abnormalities and diagnosis related to imaging. I would like to continue with these studies, and maybe consider doing as series of images for the final show- investigating further MR spectroscopy and MR perfusion.

A student pulled this up on her phone first period today, we have been discussing Alex Grey’s work this past week. Pretty inspiration, thought Id share

Hey guys.. so has anyone ever tried to teach a lesson using toothpicks as a material? I came across a donation from the cooking teacher here, I would like to introduce this next week.. any thoughts? Wood glue successful? I found this guy below, he has actually deasigned the entire San Fran bay using over 100, 000 toothpicks if yu wanted to check him out.!Thanks

https://youtu.be/-IXVSN7OjM

Jenn, a great artist that maybe you would enjoy is Emily Carr… I used her alot for reference when I was teaching native american art. She is most known for her for forest scenes but she is also know for her studies and paintings of aboriginal people/ villages in while living in Vancouver island… I think you both share the same themes within your art- nature. She also combined charcoal with her watercolor to create dramatic shadow… have you considered this? I know you really enjoy experimenting with a variety of medias…. just wanted to share with you!

I will definitely re-visit this one; acrylic on paper. I was thinking a lot this morning about that saying, my brain feels like mush. Since it is the first official day back from break, everyone seems to be walking around in a fog, very lethargic and out of it, myself included. What exactly is our brain experiencing in this unfocused and hazy state? I am feeling pretty disconnected to my body and thoughts today perhaps, I’ve depleted some unknown vital nutrient necessary for cognition? Nothing seems to make sense today. I would like to draw directly onto this surface, and document some thoughts and sketches using sharpie or ballpoint pen… record some of my thoughts?