Albuquerque Wonder Cabinet: Tamarind Institute

May 28, 2018 7 Arts, exhibits, STEAM, STEM, technology, Uncategorized

Precision and Imagination, a weekend-long Wonder Cabinet, pitched squarely along the borderlands between Art & Science.

PARTICLE PHYSICS AND NATIVE AMERICAN COSMOLOGIES
April 20-22, 2018

This session featured Taos-based artist Agnes Chavez, who is currently collaborating with CERN to create an installation to visualize data from the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, with Greg Cajete, a Tewa Indian from Santa Clara Pueblo and the director of Native American Studies at The University of New Mexico, in a conversation about Chavez, her work, and its resonances with Native American cosmologies.

learn more

Origination Point Installation at The Harwood Museum

April 28, 2016 19 Arts, exhibits, particle physics, science, technology

Current exhibit

February 12- May 1, 2016

Origination Point is a generative interactive projection installation originally exhibited at the 12th Havana Biennial in Havana, Cuba as part of the collective exhibit Entre, Dentro, Fuera/Between, Inside, Outside.

As part of Agnes Chavez’s Projecting Particles series and inspired by her research stay at ATLAS@CERN in Geneva Switzerland, this work explores new concepts about space, our origins in the universe and how matter was created after the big bang through the newly discovered Higgs field. In Origination Point, Chavez contemplates humanity’s shared subatomic origins in relation to her Cuban-American origins to express that we are more than the physical bodies and socio-cultural identities we construct.

Through a collaboration with artist Marcel Schwittlick, who programmed the code, Origination Point features images of self-generating ‘rocks’ that are transformed in real time exploring the evolution of matter and our wave/particle duality. The images are projected onto a wall of hanging fabric strips creating mesmerizing movements in rhythm with an interactive soundtrack. The interactive composition designed and programmed by sound designer Robert Schirmer includes sounds from NASA’s field recordings of outer space accompanied by terrestrial nature sounds. Through an interactive sensor the visitor moves rocks in and out of a circle on the ground. This process adds layers of water, space and earth sounds designed to shift one’s perception and emotional response to the projected visuals.

Agnes Chavez is a new media artist based in Taos, New Mexico. Inspired by particle physics, nature and technology, Chavez experiments with data visualization, sound and projection art to create participatory environments.

Marcel Schwittlick is a visual artist living in Berlin, Germany examining new possibilities of modern technology. He is interested in digital culture and its inclinations on society and is working in strong connection to various fields in the arts, forging a connection between physical and digital media.

Robert Schirmer is a sound designer and musician living in Berlin,Germany. His approach to sound and music is driven by improvisation and reduction. He’s often using field recordings and home-grown foley recordings.

ATLAS at CERN + The Harwood Museum expand Physics and Art at Taos High School

March 16, 2016 21st Century Resources, Arts, exhibits, particle physics, STEAM, STEM

ATLAS at CERN partners with Agnes Chavez, Quarknet and The Harwood Museum to bring a unique physics + art opportunity to Taos High School students. This event is sponsored by ATLAS Experiment, The Harwood Museum and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Special thanks to Carla Chavez, Biology teacher at Taos High School and Megan Avina Bowers, teacher at Taos Integrated School of the Arts (TISA). On March 18 and 19, students participated in the International Masterclass to delve into particle physics as a kick off to the 3-day Teen-Led Projecting Particles workshop. The week long event culminated with students coordinating and documenting a physics-inspired projection. They then presented on their experience as part of an Artist Talk at The Harwood Museum, which showed the physics-inspired installation, Origination Point, by Agnes Chavez, Marcel Schwittlick and Robert Schirmer. In addition, lead students visited TISA to do a presentation to younger students sharing what they learned about art and physics.

What is the International Masterclass?

From the CERN website, ‘Each year in spring, research institutes and universities around the world invite students and their teachers for a day-long program to experience life at the forefront of basic research. These International Masterclasses (link is external) give students the opportunity to be particle physicists for a day by analysing real data from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This year’s edition will attract more than 10,000 high-school students from 40 countries, celebrating the 10th edition of the initiative. As part of this workshop, Taos was conferenced in with students from Medellin, Colombia, Santiago, Chile and Notre Dame, London to compare the results of their investigations.

The Visiting Guest Teachers

Michael Wadness, a high school physics teacher from Medford High School near Boston with a doctorate in science education, lead the exciting International Masterclass at Taos High School on March 18,19.

Sally Seidel is a professor of physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico and presently works on the ATLAS experiment in high energy physics. Sally came from Albuquerque on March 19 to do a presentation and lead a discussion with students on particle physics concepts and ATLAS.

About the Sci-Art integration

After a two day immersion with experts in particle physics, students began the exploration of projection art as a medium of expression and communication. The three-day workshop March 22-24 was led by three teens that participated in the workshop in December 2015. They lead a group of new students to explore a projection art iPad tool called Tagtool. Together they will storyboard, design and document a live projection on to a building inspired by the physics concepts. Special thanks to Markus Dorninger, collaborating partner and developer of the Tagtool app.

Learning by Teaching

During the workshop students presented a PowerPoint to share their experiences as part of an Artist Talk at The Harwood Museum along with artist/facilitator, Agnes Chavez. Students visited Taos Integrated School of the Arts (TISA) and presented to over 70 students from different classrooms. They shared what they learned about particle physics and how it informed their art. These new additions to the Projecting Particles workshop deepened the students understanding of the physics concepts and developed valuable leadership and communication skills.

Thank you Sponsors!

March 30, 2015 11 Arts, exhibits

To all the sponsors that have supported the Havana Biennial project so far….Thank you!!! We still need to raise $5600 to reach our goal so please share.

UNM CFA Office of the Dean
ATLAS Experiment at CERN
Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, Republic of Austria
STEMarts Lab
Sube, Inc.
The Paseo
Social Media Workgroup
Americorps VISTA
OMAi GmbH
Josh and Kate Comfort
Mary H. Burns
Andrea Szekeres
Barney and Ursula Berkowitz
Matt Thomas and Richard Spera
Anita McKeown

Mark Speight

Shelli Bergmann

Help make it happen. Donate here.

February 11, 2015 33 Arts, exhibits

DONATE HERE

ONLY $3135 TO GO!

Deadline May 15, 2015. We have raised $9700 so far. The budget will cover programmer and workshop stipends, materials for installation and team travel expenses.

I have been invited to the 12th Havana Biennial in Havana Cuba where I will collaborate with a team to present an indoor projection installation and youth workshop. To learn more about the project see this post, then come back here to choose your sponsor plan. See the full pdf proposal here. $100 makes you a Pabellon Sponsor and gets you an original 4″ x 5″ color drawing that is part of the installation design for the Havana Biennial. Or maybe you would like to be the Habanero Sponsor and come to Cuba with us? Join the team for the opening and dinner and a private tour of the Havana Biennial by the curator. Check out the sponsor plans below and contact me for more information at learn@sube.com. All rewards will be delivered by end of June, 2015.

Azucar Sponsor $20

Show your support and receive a thank you card with a special line drawing from me!

Mojito Sponsor $45
(100 maximum-99 remaining)

Receive: A signed limited edition (1/100) 5″ x 8″ print from the Havana Series. All artwork will be delivered by June 30, 2015, after the Havana Biennial.

Pabellon Sponsor $100
(50 maximum-49 remaining)

Receive: An original 4″ x 5″ study for the actual installation. Each drawing is part of a unique 1 of 50 numbered collection and created on the fabric that will be used for the actual projection. Each piece is handcrafted, dry mounted and ready for framing. (Photo gallery coming soon). All artwork will be delivered by June 30, 2015, after the Havana Biennial.

Malecon Sponsor $500
(10 maximum- 9 remaining)

Receive: One signed limited edition print or one original art piece from the “Particle Window” series (appx 20′ x 25′). One signed official Havana Biennial poster. One signed official catalog of the “Between, Inside, Outside” exhibit. Studio visit in Taos after the exhibit for a recap and behind the scenes tour of the artists work. All artwork will be delivered by June 30, 2015, after the Havana Biennial.

Vedado Sponsor #1 $1,000
(SOLD OUT)

Receive: If you get yourself to Cuba: Artist will give you a private tour of the exhibit, “Between, inside, Outside”. Join the Particles team for a fun dinner and evening out in Havana. Copy of the digital program for fun viewing at home. One signed limited edition large scale print (24” x 36”) from the artist’s Havana Biennial series. One signed official Havana Biennial poster. One signed official catalog of the “Between, Inside, Outside” exhibit. All artwork will be delivered by June 30, 2015, after the Havana Biennial. If you can not get to Havana: Studio visit in Taos after the exhibit for a recap and behind the scenes tour of the artists work. Copy of the digital program for fun viewing at home. All artwork will be delivered by June 30, 2015, after the Havana Biennial.

Vedado Sponsor #2 $1,000

Receive: An original large scale art piece from the “particle window” series, (appx 24 h x 48w). Studio visit in Taos after the exhibit for a recap and behind the scenes tour of the artists work. All artwork will be delivered by June 30, 2015, after the Havana Biennial.

Habanero Sponsor $2,500 (SOLD)
(1 maximum)

Receive: Visa to travel to Cuba for the Havana Biennial (does not include flight or travel expenses). Reservations at hotel for Biennial guests (*Not including Hotel fees). Private tour of the Havana Biennial led by Royce Smith, co-curator of the 2015 Havana Biennial. Invitation to the opening dinner for our collective exhibit, “Between, inside, Outside”. Name of individual or company logo on the official banner outside of the Havana exhibit hall. Name of individual or company logo in the official catalog of the “Between, Inside, Outside” exhibit. One signed limited edition large scale print (24” x 36”) from the artist’s Havana Biennial series. One signed official Havana Biennial poster. One signed official catalog of the “Between, Inside, Outside” exhibit. All artwork will be delivered by June 30, 2015, after the Havana Biennial.

Budget

$12,900 Total Budget $ 9765 Raised

$ 3135 Remaining (as of 05/5/15)

The budget will cover programmer and workshop stipends, materials for installation and travel expenses.

Havana Biennial 2015

February 10, 2015 3 Arts, exhibits

Time is accelerating as we prepare for participation in the 2015 Havana Biennial in Havana Cuba opening May 22, 2015. We have been invited to participate in a collective exhibit, “Between, Inside, Outside” which will take place in the Pabellon building in the district of Vedado. In this blog we will be documenting about the experience and sharing photos and videos from Havana (as internet allows)

The project that was accepted is called pARTicles: Merging projection art and particle physics. I am collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of programmers, artists, scientists, students and educators to investigate how we can create art and education interventions to explore emerging particle physics theories that are radically challenging our understanding of ourselves and our universe.

We believe that a personal understanding of new concepts about space, time, matter, and light can have a profound impact on the way we visualize and interact with the world around us. We are interested in this research personally, artistically and as a medium for positive social change.

Interactive Installation

In collaboration with visual artist/coder Marcel Schwittlick, we will produce an indoor installation that combines interactive components and projection art (see xtrees). In this piece I will explore my own experiences as a 1st generation Cuban, through the lens of particle physics.

Education

In collaboration with Austrian artist/Tagtool app developer, Markus Dorninger we will offer a 3-day Projecting pARTicles youth workshop in Havana with eight high school students. Students in the Projecting pARTicles workshop will have the unique experience of an art/science exploration. Using iPads and the Tagtool App students create physics-inspired projection art and together we will engage the public in a series of projection interventions in the streets of Havana for the opening event.

Youth Mentorship

In collaboration with the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I will teach a course called International Practicum: Havana Biennial, which will allow four graduate students to become part of this project and event. They will assist me in Havana with photo/video documentation, the youth workshop and the projection interventions on opening night. Malu Velara will lead the photo/video documentation.

Research
In preparation for this work, I have been invited to collaborate with Dr. Steve Goldfarb, physicist and educational outreach coordinator, at the ATLAS Experiment@CERN physics laboratory in Geneva. I will participate in a 2-week research stay in March 2015, which will inform and inspire the pARTicles series and the interactive design of the art installation.

Become a sponsor!

Events