~e; urls: EM art p.2/2

[brian carroll <human@electronetwork.org>]

  these works seek to define an EM context,
  to help visualize or conceptualize it in
  some way. they are like sketches in that
  the ideas are unlimited, this is one of
  many, and is manifested but also limited
  and finite in that it is still a detail
  of a much larger whole; one view of it.
  that electromagnetism is like a universe
  unto itself, there is a lot of space in
  ideas that can be navigated and not run
  into even remotely similar territory. in
  this way there are many works by artists
  that may interconnect to fill-in/fill-out
  this void, to define a larger sense of
  things EM and the ideas they encompass.
  so not to get caught in words, imagery:

sketch 1) phototransistor cross-stitch.
http://mnartists.org/work.do?rid=57894

this is somewhat funny though circuitboards
(perfboard) are much like a boards used in
needlework. there is a plastic grid that the
thread weaves paths in and out of. this basic
idea was prototyped by making an electronics
symbol in a first-attempt at cross-stitching.
it has been relegated to 'grandma crafts' it
seems, though apparently sewing had long been
the domain of useful things to know how to do.
the electronics symbols available are at times
graphically rich and can help in conceptualizing
how something works. in this case, the photo-
transistor gets a ray of light, which causes
it to switch power that passes through two of
its three legs, to a different set of two.
my guess is that the path switches from B-C
to B-E upon light hitting the photo-switch.
this was to work up to making an integrated
chip's (IC) internal logic diagram onto an
cross-stitched grid, to hang in a dwelling.
these symbols are quite stunning, and i have
scanned two for an example, one of which i
hope to start working on sometime again...

chip logic 1
http://www.electronetwork.org/temp/chiplogic1.jpg

chip logic 2 (idea that could be cross-stitched)
http://www.electronetwork.org/temp/chiplogic2.jpg

this diagram has a lot of information about
how chips work, how mathematics and logic and
electricity work, and the aesthetics are also
of value in terms of drawing, plans, diagrams.
a memory of a friend who is a graphic designer
gave me this idea, as it was her enthusiasm for
this type of perception of graphic value and of
the power of symbols to communicate that made
me appreciate these symbols and their worth.
so to make a time-intensive cross-stitch that
references circuitry and symbolism may capture
a certain value to doing this instead of the
'welcome' sign with chickens on a farmyard.


sketch 2) electromagnetism bead and wire waveform
http://mnartists.org/work.do?rid=57894

this is another sketch, very simple, of the
standard model for electric and magnetic waves
that travel perpendicular to eachother. i do
not know enough about the basic model to know
how to interpret the ideas on my own terms yet,
though i am wondering if low-tech 'beads' could
function as a type of representation for particles
and wire for waves. that's the assumption for this
and it is spawning other ideas about using beads
and wire to make other things (like custom antennas).


sketch 3) LED flashlight
http://mnartists.org/work.do?rid=58240

this is a pseudo-artifact made of clay, with an LED
embedded in it and a wire-ring. it is intended to
reference an archaeology find of some future day,
and more artifacts are in the line-up of things to
do, such as a broken lightbulb, e-outlets, etc. it
references Jasper Johns' lightbulb made in bronze.
(credit card and other EM artifacts will be made,
in addition to pseudo-coins with EM iconography,
and a clay tablet showing EM daily life in a house).

sketch 4)  Faraday Dream Catcher
http://mnartists.org/work.do?rid=59990

the correspondence between dream catchers and
the invisible electromagnetic environment was
the reason for trying this idea out. the idea
of being able to capture EM signals in a net-
like device, as if arrowheads, had me thinking
that things like electrons (amber, whose original
name is elektron and the reason electricity is
named what it is) as captured as beads in the
wire mesh. faraday cages stop signals from
entering and leaving a domain (not this thing,
though, it is conceptual) and due to lack of
resources it was woven with wire and some wire
mesh as chicken-wire was not found at the time.
magnetic beads are magnetism, etc. photons are
crystals, and strange signals are caught too.
it looks more vibrant (and full of light) than
in these photographs, when light is hitting it.


sketch 5) electromagnetic mind
http://mnartists.org/work.do?rid=60392

i was gifted two mannequin heads by a generous
local artist and they had their heads flattened
and chins gone, to work as shelving supports. the
idea of looking into the head, as if it was the
visible-human project, with a brain scan was the
idea that got this larger idea going. thus this
is a composite of MRI/CT/PET scan imagery i found
via images.google.com and painted, including colors.

sketch 6) electromagnetic body
http://mnartists.org/work.do?rid=60409

this is the second head, which was a counterpoint
to the internal brainscan mindscape, with an also
hidden external EM landscape of geomagnetism, as
imaged by magnetic satellite and magnetic sensor.
the e-infrastructure was added (like sculptures
where a building (temple) sits atop the head) to
give a meaning to the EM landscape, why the map
of magnetism is the way it is. again, composite
of imagery and colors.


sketch 7) electromagnetic mind-body
http://mnartists.org/work.do?rid=60456

this is the larger concept/idea of these last two
pieces, the reviews 'statement' attempts to describe
how it aims to address the paradoxical condition of
virtual representation where something exists at
once both inside the brain and outside the brain.
and this having been separated out in dualities,
which have been shown to be false with studies of
monkey's minds and electrode control of paralyzed
people by EM thought alone, seeks to a continuum
exists in this context, (ref. idea of 'the land').


other works in queue include models of ships masts,
which a recent 12hr ISBN photograph by bbrace has
reminded me of- that if taking a marina full of
yachts masts, and just looking at a certain view,
they look like distribution poles all amassed as
one. so too, have been researching early ships
and the first boats/masts to make models of early
sculptures, to propose them as distribution poles
versus the cross. also researching the early cross
(christian, other) symbolism and may make something
regarding these as distribution poles. other ideas
include making other 'rabbit' ear antenna, such as
'antler' antennas, to explore that idea. who knows
yet it is fun to get back to making things again
and i've been wanting to share some of it on list.
critiques and conversations are welcome as always.
thanks. brian

  the electronetwork-list:  electromagnetism and culture...
  archives: http://archives.openflows.org/electronetwork-l/
  un/subscribe: http://www.electronetwork.org/list/