Bisceglio, Paul. “Dreamscapes.” Smithsonian May 2013:12. Print. Photographer Jerry Uelsmann beat Photoshop to the punchline. Since the 1960s, he’s been manually layering his negatives to achieve an effect very similar to digital manipulation. The seamlessly blended images often involve nature at the focus. Trees in particular are a repeating subject, as seen above in 1969’s “Untitled.” His […]
October 2014
Art of Julie Dillon
“Slumbering Naiad.” Julie Dillon Art. Julie Dillon, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. http://www.juliedillonart.com/project-view/slumbering-naiad/ Californian artist Julie Dillon specializes in science fiction art, and frequently depicts visions of technological futures. Her work imagines the future of human aging, astronauts lost to space and bionic limbs among other insights. Above is her piece “Slumbering Naiad,” which illustrates ice cube-esque blocks […]
Biotic Games
Grushkin, Daniel. “A Gaming System Starring…Microbes.” Popular Science June 2014: 65. Print. A Stanford University bioengineer named Ingmar Riedel-Kruse has completely remodeled ’80s video games. In his own “biotic games,” real paramecia are guided by players using electric fields. For it to work, he used a biotic processor to correspond a paramecium-filled fluid chamber with a hand […]
Luring Techniques of Carnivorous Plants
Stromberg, Joseph. “Deadly Glow.” Smithsonian January 2014: 16. Print. Researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute have discovered an aspect of carnivorous plants that attracts insects to their inevitable death. Immersing a pitcher plant in ultraviolet light, the team discovered that the lip of the plant glowed blue. Insects, who can see this […]
Lorenzo Nanni
O’Meara, Kristi. “Interview with Lorenzo Nanni.” The Patternbase. The Patternbase, n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. http://www.thepatternbase.com/interview-with-lorenzo-nanni/ Lorenzo Nanni makes embroidered pieces of art that could pass for microscope slides. Inspired by anatomy and nature, his textile works resemble bacteria, cells, blood, plus flora and fauna. For cohesion with his subject matter, Nanni uses primarily natural materials like silk, […]
Wearable Planters
Jordan, Colleen. “Featured Seller: Colleen Jordan.” Etsy Blog. Etsy, 15 July 2011. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. https://blog.etsy.com/en/2011/featured-seller-colleenjordan/ Colleen Jordan is making plants a fashion statement. Intended for live succulents and various plants, her Wearable Planters affix to bikes and clothing using magnets. The planter itself is made by a 3D printer, which demonstrates a unique interaction between nature and technology. At […]
Coding Fellowship for People of Color
Pérez, Miriam Zoila. “New Fellowship Prepares People of Color for Coding Careers.” Color Lines. Colorlines.com, 26 Aug. 2014. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. http://colorlines.com/archives/2014/08/new_fellowship_prepares_women_of_color_for_coding_careers.html To address the significant race and gender gap in the tech industry, the Code for Progress (CFP) fellowship was born. As a program, CFP trains fellows in a four-month long coding boot camp in Washington, […]
Sun Path
Eliasson, Olafur. “Dong Zhuang Sunpath.” Olafur Eliasson. Olafur Eliasson, n.d. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. http://www.olafureliasson.net/archive/artwork/WEK108107/dongzhuang-sunpath In 2012, Olafur Eliasson’s “Dong Zhuang Sunpath” made a visual investigation into the sun’s travels past earth. Attaching thirty-nine glass spheres to a wall (with the floor symbolizing the horizon), his art installation corresponded with the autumnal equinox in Guangzhou. The curve of the spheres followed the […]
Nine Spaces, Nine Trees
Faigin, Gary. “Review of Nine Spaces, Nine Trees at University of Washington.” Gary Faigin. Gary Faigin, May 2008. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. http://www.garyfaigin.com/reviews/2008/2008-05.html Developed by artist Robert Irwin, “Nine Spaces, Nine Trees” juxtaposes the natural and the man-made in an engaging composition. Originally placed in downtown Seattle, the work is an odd square of greenery in the middle […]
Rain-Activated Dress
Reineke, Laura. “Season 13, Episode 8: The Rainway.” Lifetime. Lifetime Entertainment Services, 12 Sept. 2014. Web. 6 Oct. 2014. http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/blogs/project-runway-blog/season-13-episode-8-the-rainway-recap Project Runway likely isn’t the first thought that comes to mind when thinking of the intersection between the environment and technology. But the invention of Brooklyn designer, Sean Kelly, changed that in a recent episode. Faced […]