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| Paper: |
Emergence: A Planetarium and Art Gallery Collaboration Between Artist, Astronomer, and Musician |
| Volume: |
443, Earth and Space Science: Making Connections in Education and Public Outreach |
| Page: |
215 |
| Authors: |
Beaver, J.; Waller, J. B.; Turner, M. |
| Abstract: |
We describe an unusual planetarium program and art gallery exhibition that
premiered in Menasha, Wisconsin. Emergence combines fine art and
improvisational music with astronomy and physics. The authors, Judith Baker
Waller, John Beaver, and Matt Turner, are, respectively, artist, astronomer,
and musician. All three acted as partners in planning and executing the
final production. The overall goal of Emergence is to use art, music, and
natural science each as a point of departure to learn about the others,
and to explore the interaction between humans and the natural world and the
differences and commonalities between art, science, and music. Of particular
interest, the planetarium portion includes techniques that are, so far as we
know, unique. Each night the show is different, the details chosen randomly,
but always according to the same theoretical scheme. Various elements are
parameterized, the show varying with time according to subroutines that
dictate the overall pacing and look, but with details always chosen randomly
according to prearranged probabilities. We believe that some of these
techniques could be of interest to others who wish to explore the unique
possibilities of the planetarium as educational performance space. We argue
that this provides a useful format for collaborations between artist and
scientist, as scientific content can be delivered in a way that is consistent
with the concerns of the artist. We describe some of the approaches taken
toward these ends in Emergence, and some of the lessons learned
about the process of collaboration between a scientist, a visual artist and a
performing artist. |
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