And SONIC FABRIC
Offset print unfolded poster: 20 x 15 inches folded box: 6.5 x 9 x 2
The Universal Raisin Cake Theory is an artists’ book in the form of a cake mix box inspired by a passage from Peterson’s Field Guide to the Stars and Planets. This passage comparing the expansion of the universe to a giant loaf of raisin bread rising struck a chord with me – the idea that the entire universe can be explained using something as simple and commonplace as bread is, to me, a great example of how to make science not only accessible and comprehensible, but quite literally digestible as well!
Universal Raisin Cake Theory: The Universal Raisin Cake Theory is a real metaphor that astrophysics use to describe the way in which our universe is expanding. Imagine our universe as a lump of dough with raisins distributed throughout. Each raisin represents a galaxy. As the dough rises, the raisins are carried along in the dough, becoming further and further apart from one another. Another way to visualize this phenomenon is to draw dots on the surface of a balloon. As you blow up the balloon, the dots become further apart. All of us are floating along together on a giant cosmic raisin (our galaxy) – where we’re headed, no one knows for sure! The Universal Raisin Cake Theory is a way to help us use our imaginations to think about the possibilities and develop theories that can be tested analytically…creatively.
Sonic Fabric is an audible textile woven from cassette tape that has been recorded with a range of sounds and music collected from around the world. Examples of works made from this material are used as PHILOSOPROPS (a descriptive term invented by Alyce) to start discussions about the properties of sound, the inherent sonic nature of matter, and ways that sound can be made visible. In our workshops, we listen to and discuss the sounds contained in various editions of SONIC FABRIC, and demonstrate its audible properties using a “reader” made from a hacked personal cassette player.
Alyce Santoro
My name is Alyce Santoro, and I am an interdisciplinary conceptual and sound artist with degrees in both art and science. I worked as an oceanographic research assistant for several years while earning a graduate degree in scientific illustration. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to make art about science…though now I use lots of mediums aside from drawing (such as sound, video, sculpture, and writing) in my "illustrations".
Skills Applied
QUANTUM PHYSICS
ASTRONOMY
CHEMISTRY
ARTIST SUGGESTION
I am extremely interested in quantum- and astrophysics, and read extensively on these subjects. I have gathered information for “The Universal Raisin Cake Theory” project from visits to observatories and science museums. This project also required research on breads used in various traditions around the world.
What is the definition of a book? Must a book have pages, or even words? Here I have created a book in the form of a box – it looks like something you’d be more likely to find a grocery store than in a library. I am constantly thinking about ways to liberate science from laboratories and textbooks, and about how science can be expressed as something wonderful that is all around you as part of your everyday life. You can visit the “Universal Raisin Cake Theory” and research the concept of “social sculpture“. Explore my creative process. Students can research “artists’ books” or to learn how to make an 8-page book out of one sheet of 8.5″ x 11″ paper. Alyce
Stemarts Design Tool
Explore the site to come up with your idea. Pick an artist or topic.
This artist is one of 20 ISEA2012 artists featured in this curriculum. Explore them all to see which you would like to use as a model for your project. It could be a combination of different artists and topics that inspire the work. Print out the STEMArts Design Tool which outlines these steps and use it as a guideline in your process. Visit the Wiki-Resource on each artist page to see tutorials, activity ideas, read articles about the medium that the artists explored and other resources to help you find something that peaks your interest. Click on the Artist Interview button on each page to read a personal interview with each artist. The artist was asked questions to share their creative process, talk about the medium they work with, and to share tips and advice for you as you begin your design process. In this phase, you are looking for inspiration for an project that is meaningful to you. Get a journal and start sketching and writing notes on your process.
Brainstorm and come up with ideas for your art piece.
In this phase, you will need to sketch, doodle, contemplate, or journal, in order to start allowing ideas to formulate. Search the Wiki-Resource under keyword “brainstorming” to explore some techniques and articles. The artists in the Artists Interviews also share their personal brainstorming techniques. Read through all these resources and do some research yourself. Then set aside some daydreaming time and get started. Think big and let all the ideas you have hit the page without editing them. Get in the flow and write or draw in a journal any ideas you come up with that you would like to explore further.
How are you going to turn the idea into a reality? Research.
Brainstorming and researching go hand in hand. You will be going back and forth between the two until you come up with a plan. Once you brainstorm some great ideas for an art piece you will need to research to learn more about the topic or medium. In turn, that leads to more brainstorming. How are you going to turn the idea into a reality? What materials do you need? Can you build it yourself or will you need help? In your journal make a list of any questions or concerns that come to mind. Search the Wiki-Resource under the keyword “research tips” for ideas, and explore on your own to find the answers to your questions. If you need to collaborate on this piece, decide who that will be and make plans to work together.
Start your design plan.
You have everything you need now to start creating. Refer to your journal to review your process up until now. Review the STEMArts Design Tool. Research online if you still have a question about anything. Ask your teacher for help. Now, it´s time to make a materials list and sketch out your plan of action. Or perhaps you prefer to dig in and start building something? There are many ways to approach it and every artists has their own style. Each artist shared their own design approach in the interviews. Look back over them and see which approach suits your style. Start creating!
See how it works, test and re-test until you get what you want.
The design process always involves testing out your ideas in the real world, and building prototypes to see if it works. You also may find that once you start building it, it is not what you had in mind. This is part of the process. It helps to document everything you do in your journal. This is the hardest stage because it is easy to get discouraged. Read about what the ISEA2012 artists say about this phase. Ask for help when you need it. If you get stuck, go back to the brainstorming phase for new ideas. Get feedback from your teacher, your friends, and experts. We created a Troubleshooting Guide to help you evaluate and critique your work in case you are stuck on your design.
Practice presenting in order to get feedback for your finished piece.
You have probably explored options for presenting your work but this is the time to work out the details. Your venue will often determine the presentation format. Now is a good time to present your work to friends and peers to get some feedback. Our Feedback Survey poses questions that will help you critique your own work, and provides tips on receiving constructive feedback from others. It will also help to look back on your design process to see if you are where you want to be with your art piece.
Bringing it all together. Time to share it.
Sharing your work can be scary and thrilling at the same time. Hear what artists have to say about the importance of sharing their work with the public. Do you want to share it in your community? Is there a venue interested in what you have created? Will you use Vimeo, YouTube, a blog? Search under keyword “Share tools” in the Wiki-Resource for some links and ideas.
STEMarts Wiki
Search this open source wiki for links to learn more about the type of art, medium and STEM topics explored in the The Universal Raisin Cake Theory and Sonic Fabric. We suggest starting with making a book using the link that Alyce sent in. You could make your book about some of the theories or STEM concepts that Alyce’s work explores. This activity not only introduces you to a simple technique for making a book but gives you a way to collect your ideas and what you have learnt artistically.
You will also find links to articles, images, video, tutorials and more to provide a starting point for your research in creating an art piece or project inspired by the The Universal Raisin Cake Theory and Sonic Fabric.
If you have find anything interesting on your own please consider sharing it in this open forum. Remember the resource is an open forum sharing links and ideas that others have found – always check your sources and give credit where credit is due. The open source movement generously shares its knowledge and relies on users and sharers feedback – so if there’s something really good or doesn’t work let others know.
Art Artists' Books Artists Books Artists practice Astronomy Astrophysics Audio Art audio editing Audio software Book Art Data Visualisation DIY DIY / Self Publishing DIY Art Electroclash Electronic Music Electronic Textiles Future Textiles Knitting Music Musique Concrete Open Source Particle Physics Performance Professional Practice Research Responsive materials SMART Materials SMART Textiles Sonic Art Space science Star Formation Textiles Universe View All Wearables
NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARD
Core Idea ESS1: Earth’s Place in the Universe
ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars
ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System
