Sketch 4: Possible Environments

So this past week I've been evaluating ideas of environments and logistics of the project in the direction I'm taking it. As for the environment ideas, there are 3 possiblities of cellular environment/behaviors, space, or eco disasters.

Initially I was thinking cellular environments inside and/or outside cells. I was looking at protozoans, amoebas, and even the sol-gel processes. The challenge with this is that cells are very well known and documented, so it leaves little room for interpretation/freedom on the space, thus making the artistic decisions more challenging.

Another idea was creating space environments on what it would look like on another planet. Planets are documented, but not as well as cells are. This leaves more artistic interpretation and freedom on creating the planetary environments. Also, I could take this a step further and possibly make it what it would look like if life lived on it, or how the planet looked like billions of years ago (like Mars having water).

Carol also made the suggestion about doing eco disasters, which would be an interesting political challenge. Going this route will give a strong political and maybe controversial stance to the artwork, but maybe will help memorialize and caution future development by giving an artistic representation to the eco tragedies like bp or exon oil spill, gas leak at bhopal or the nuclear disasters such as chernobyl or 3 mile island.

To be honest, the ideas I'm most drawn to are space and the eco disasters and it's hard to choose between the two. I hope after the individual meeting I can come to conclusion which idea to go with.

As of logistics, I figure I may be able to get 1 environment done for the semester. As for supplies, I have an old (25 gallon?) fish tank, and depending on the environment I choose, I'll start gathering testing more supplies in addition to the studies I've already done. I plan on using the portable light kit from the lab, and for space I may have to use arc ranch. I need a space that's indoor, protected from weather, and hopefully can block out most light.  It also needs to be close to a sink as well so I can change out the water in the tank or w/e supplies I will use. I'll be using my camera to do photography and possibly video as well.