Extra Credit Event #2: Jésus Rafael Soto's "Penetrable"

Extra Credit Event Blog: James Turrell's "Breathing Light"

Exploring the perceptive beauty of light amidst the power of a space seemingly without dimensions, James Turrell’s exhibition “Breathing Light” at LACMA was a life-changingly beautiful experience from beginning to end. The exhibit’s starting point departed from the norm by immediately changing my relationship with light: all natural light was blocked from the Ganz auditorium, allowing for an artificial atmosphere within which only the artist could change your perception. From this point on, no photography or use of mobile technology was allowed to ensure the artist fully captured the use of light in the space – and capture this space he did. In a stunning of seemingly breathing colors and hues, the LED light permeated the very air we were breathing, bending the boundaries of the space and changing how I understood the power of light to change my concept of form, function, and boundary.

Perhaps the most stunning take-away from this exhibition was the way that the walls of the space seemed to just melt away as one approached the central chamber. No matter how hard I looked for an edge, I could not find one, and as the dimensions seemed to thin out and open into a vast empty space, the light seemed to fill the empty air like a viscous liquid, sloshing in a vibrant milieu of color and contrast.

This exhibit (which I visited a total of three times) deeply changed the way I perceive light’s ability to fill a space. I remain extremely interested in the work of James Turrell, and will keep a vigilant eye out for his work in the future!

Image Citation

Holzher, Florian. Breathing Light. Digital image. LACMA: Breathing Light. LACMA, n.d. Web.

Holzher, Florian. Breathing Light. Digital image. LACMA: James Turrell's Breathing Light. LACMA, n.d. Web.

Holzher, Florian. Unframed. Digital image. LACMA: Breathing Light. LACMA, n.d. Web.

Event Blog: Infinity Structures, Paradoxical Space, and the "Bounded Infinite" by Robert Gero

As an entirely Styrofoam structure accompanied by an ominous and powerful sound set, the Infinity Structures exhibit really expanded the way that I conceptualize space and expansion in a bounded environment. Walking into this exhibit, the most striking feature was also among the most crucial: the sheer volume spanned by what appear to be fragmented, jutting foam bars across the room arranged in a seemingly random fashion. However, the longer I circulated the room and became familiar with the dimensions of the space, the more I began to realize that the entire structure itself was - much like the music playing in the background - an augmented reflection of the space in which it was situated. As was later explained by the artist, Robert Gero, the design for the layout of the structure in the room was determined by a computer program that took the physical dimensions of the room and the building around it and transformed them as the entire structure expanded from the outside in into a theoretical infinity. Much like a picture captures only one moment in a continuum of actions, so this piece represents only one snapshot of a theoretically infinite expansion within a bounded space – pushing the mathematical reasoning of such pillars of modern mathematics as Georg Cantor and Gottfried Leibnitz while furthering the exploration of Espinoza’s bounded infinite.

Illustrating the freeze-frame idea of the artist, these representations also integrate features of their surrounding environments - in this case, pillows found in the room before beginning assembly.

            This exhibit challenged me to think of the deeply theoretical mathematical roots underlying a very tangible artistic representation. Never before had I been able to interact with and freely conceptualize such a broad, seemingly untouchable idea! By putting what had always been a purely intellectual concept into physical form, and challenging my senses through sight and sound to grapple with the notion of a perpetually inward-expanding “infinity structure”, Gero deeply influenced my understanding of the intersection of theoretical mathematics and art – allowing me to see the application of solid-state structures in illustrating phenomenon that may not be physically possible to construct. While not directly related to my final project, I will carry this understanding of mathematical influence in artistic design to my research for the final project while continuing my exploration of art and science in the future.

Event Blog: “Do Our Rivers Have A Chance?”

My admission ticket. This was by far the most informative Hammer event that I have ever attended.

Sitting before Mark Gold, Steve Fleischli, and Dennis Lettenmaier - three of the premier experts on water management, ecosystem preservation, and California’s current water crisis - the depth of California’s water conservation, retention, and usage problem became more evident than it had ever been to me before. Speaking to each of their respective specializations (Mark hails from the NGO sector, and is a former President of Heal the Bay, while Steve the current Director of the Water Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Dennis is a UCLA Professor of Geography), these three individuals profoundly influenced how I conceptualize the endangering of our rivers and the complex politics behind water usage and conservation efforts. In addition to presenting convincing arguments for change in how we interact with rivers as sources of drinking water and hydroelectric power, each of these speakers also addressed how our worlds change when we alter the natural ecosystems around us, and how efforts to reclaim natural habitats through conservation efforts transformed urban landscapes in a positive way through allowing diverse and exotic endogenous species to thrive side to side with populated urban areas.

The talk began with an introduction by Dr. Fleischli about his memories of California water policy in his youth. From his experience, the arena of conservation has changed, with climate change and industry evolving to create new challenges.

Fleischli explaining the benefits of ecosystem conservation in our national rivers, including benefits to humans with an interest in river habitats.

Fleischli discussing the effects of algae blooms on vital river deltas, and the evolution of "swimming pool cultures" even up to the coasts of once-swimming friendly rivers. 

Although much of his talk focused on long-standing threats to river ecosystems, Fleischli did address the drought and infrastructural challenges to thriving river ecosystems, including this eyesore (the LA river). Needless to say, he is not a fan. 

Dr. Lettenmaier's presentation injected some humor along with his more generally academic style. In this picture (and supplemented by words not on the slide), he highlighted that urban misuse of water, while highly annoying in principle, actually is far from the largest problem.

Instead, Lettenmaier focused on patterns of agricultural water consumption and industrial waste factors (such as oil drilling) as mass consumption concerns, showing how these industries interacted with water use over time. Below, he also outlined a general summary of his presentation.

            The most important take-away for me from this event was the inspiration for my final project. Taking the lessons learned from this project, I will be proposing a “River House” that takes all of its water from an artificial river running through the middle of the first floor of the house. The occupying family, through maintaining the water supply from the river and interacting with this flowing body of water throughout their everyday lives, will be forced to think of water conservation and the fate of our rivers in a very personal way. Perhaps by using art to inspire tangible socio-environmental change, we can bring our society back into balance with our rivers and rethink the way we bend nature for its valuable and precious resources.

The talk was followed by a 25 minute Q&A which, unfortunately, was dominated by Mark Gold's pre-prepared questions.