ART CENTRIC Photography, 3D Art, Technology plus Diverse Art Centric Inspirations

ART CENTRIC Photography, 3D Art, Technology plus Diverse Art Centric Inspirations




		Merging Worlds of Nature and Technology A laboratory at Stony Brook University, working with designer Dann Roosegaarde, has developed a glowing plant by merging luciferin-which is the chemical that enables fireflies to glow-with a simple plant. The result is a plant, in dirt, that glows. Naturally. And it is awesome. His concept is based on "merging worlds of nature and technology" by taking what we can learn from nature and applying that to the world through the building of technology-namely, the urban landscape. In fact, he says, this marriage of our super- and sans-natural environment will drive the perception of technology to "completely disappear" and humans will no longer rely exclusively on screens to gain information and utility. So while we humans use a massive amount of generated electricity to defeat darkness, Jellyfish create their own light deep underwater without solar panels, wind turbines, or hydroelectric dams. Instead, the organism generates power completely autonomously. The vision is realized by transforming a magnificent aspect of our human mechanical world where we can replace centuries-old, energy-guzzling street lamps with beautifully glowing trees. ~excerpt and image: http://blog.suny.edu/2014/03/future-cities-lit-by-beautiful-bioluminescent-trees/




		Wealth "How rich will we be when we have converted all our forests, our soil, our water resources, and our minerals into cash?" Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, an American cartoonist who won two Pulitzer Prizes. I am a Staff Photographer for the SantivaChronicle, an on-line news source for Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida. Being that the Chronicle "lives" on these fragile barrier islands, many of the articles report on events, issues and situations rooted in nature. Their holiday card included the above quote. It's always good to take a moment to ponder our future, whether it is our personal future or the future of our planet. original photo by dmdart




		Anhinga The Anhinga is a long-necked, long-tailed swimmer of southeastern swamps and is often seen perched on a branch above the water, with its wings spread to dry. These birds appear throughout Sanibel Island, along the many little canals and waterways. When swimming, its head and neck are usually the only part to show above the water. They are sometimes called a "snakebird" since they swim underwater to catch their primary diet of fish. original photo by dmdart




		Northern White Rhinos In October this year, a 34 year old male, Suni, was found dead in his enclosure in Kenya, presumed of natural causes. He was one of two breeding males of his subspecies left on Earth. The northern white rhinoceros is a "victim of evolution". It was a remnant population cut off from the southern white rhinoceros by the Great Rift Valley and the dense forests of Central Africa. Already isolated and occurring in low numbers, the northern subspecies got caught up in political turmoil in Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, and its numbers quickly dwindled because of poaching and habitat loss. With just one breeding male left, the outlook for the subspecies is grim. Rhinoceroses are key to keeping grasslands healthy, as they eat and keep in check particular species of savanna plants. It's not just another charismatic animal,it's also a species that has a very clear ecological role, and we need to be very worried that we have lost that. Rhino Lessons The story of the northern white rhinoceros is a fantastic lesson on what not to do, and how we need to avoid getting to this point with the other rhinos. The black rhinoceros, which has four subspecies, is doing relatively well, though widespread poaching for the animals' horns, which are used in Asian traditional medicine, continues to flourish. Conservationists are now focusing their efforts on ensuring the safety of these animals and reducing the demand for rhino horn in Asian countries such as Vietnam. But scientists aren't ready to give up on the northern white rhino. If the last breeding male doesn't mate, scientists may be able to breed the northern white rhino females with the southern subspecies. That would preserve some of the genes of the northern white rhino, even if the genes are mixed with those of their relative. ~excerpt and photo: news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141020-rhinoceros-death-suni-kenya-science-world-endangered-animals/




		Sun's Sizzling X-rays An "X-ray eye" designed to study distant galaxies and black holes has turned its attention to our own star and snapped a remarkable portrait. Nasa's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (Nustar), launched into orbit in 2012, views the universe in very high-energy X-rays. Because of its very high sensitivity, Nustar could solve some long-standing puzzles, such as whether "nanoflares" exist. These proposed smaller versions of the Sun's giant flares could help explain why its outer atmosphere is many times hotter than its surface-a decades-old question. Nustar will give a unique look at the Sun, from the deepest to the highest parts of its atmosphere. As well as probing the Sun, the Nustar team will also use the mission extension, which runs to 2016, to continue studying more far-flung objects including black holes and supernova remnants. ~excerpt and photo from www.nustar.caltech.edu/




		On this Christmas Day I bring you a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Published in 1850, the year he was appointed Poet Laureate. It is recited throughout the world at this time of year. It is partially an elegy to a friend of Tennyson's, but also brings a feeling of renewal and hope: the spirit of Christmas. *** Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more, Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind. Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws. Ring out the want, the care, the sin, The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out thy mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in. Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be. original photo by dmdart




		A Great Christmas Eve Article I wrote a blog entry on 12/18 about The Cynja, which led me to more research into the people who have put that project together. Being that I am a founding partner at Zebis, a Solution Development firm, I am involved with Internet security as we deal with that issue for our clients everyday. My reading led me to an article, "More than reindeer games", that is written by one of The Cynja team members, Chase Cunningham. Because I'd like you to take the time to read the whole article, it's entertaining and addresses Internet security, I am including the first 2 paragraphs here, with the hope this will be an enticement: "Dear Santa, As CEO of XMAS Inc., the leading manufacturing and shipping enterprise, you face extraordinary pressure to deliver joy on Christmas morning to billions of kids around the world. In fact, it's hard to think of any other top business leader who is responsible for so many children's dreams each year-and whose executive compensation package consists entirely of cookies and milk. With only a single workshop located in a hostile climate, a limited number of legacy employees, one used vehicle, no financing and an extraordinary supply of sugar you've been able to accomplish more than what any of your competitors-all with far greater resources-will achieve over the course of their entire careers. But Santa, regardless of your unimpeachable track record, the news headlines we all hear-the ones about Sony, Staples, Target or the Home Depot compromise-are, sadly, all too real and devastating. These attacks demonstrate that believing in Christmas magic, sugar plum fairies or laying your finger aside of your nose are no longer an effective security strategy. You, of all people, know better than many corporate leaders, that the cyber naughty list is growing longer each year. The link for the article is: http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=2190 This article is art. It catches the attention from a writing perspective, has an entertaining story-line, while delivering important thoughts about Internet security. Perfect combination. Keep your Internet interactions safe this holiday season and Happy Christmas Eve.




		Improvisational Bead Embroidery I often start a project with no outline. I choose items that inspire me: shells, stones, turquoise, specific colors, bead types. I place one item and go from there. This piece now lives on the front of an old (some would say vintage) Coach purse. The purse was unused for over 20 years. I think perhaps it was waiting for the perfect embellishment, because now it's back in frequent use and provides constant delight. It is a piece that speaks to me of my home on Sanibel Island. It includes many elements that are found here in nature, along the beaches and flying through our skies. There's a touch of travel thrown in: trade beads from Africa, turquoise from New Mexico and a little lapis bird to make us think of soaring. Beading is not something you do quickly. A project of this size takes time, so it allows for much reflection, meditation and certainly it provides a challenge. original beadwork and photo by dmdart




		Ancient Cave Art A new study dates these Indonesian handprints to at least 40,000 years old. The world's oldest cave art may not lie in Europe but rather halfway around the globe in Indonesia, according to a new study of the long-known art. Thousands of years ago, people on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia spray-painted stencils of their hands on the walls and roofs of caves by blowing red paint out of their mouths. They also painted strange-looking pigs in red and mulberry hues. Archaeologists assumed the paintings, discovered in the 1950s, were less than 10,000 years old. Now, a team of Australian and Indonesian researchers has found that the paintings are startlingly ancient. The hand stencils are at least 40,000 years old and the animal paintings at least 35,400 years old. That makes them about the same age or even slightly older than the famous cave art in Europe, which was until now the most ancient in the world. The discovery has important implications for how and when humans developed the ability for symbolic expression. There is much more information about this art and other ancient art at: news.sciencemag.org/archaeology/2014/10/indonesian-cave-art-may-be-worlds-oldest




		Winter Solstice Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will begin today, Dec. 21 at 6:03 p.m. EST. Officially the first day of winter, the winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. This is the longest night of the year, meaning that the days get progressively longer after the winter solstice until the summer solstice in June. The bougainvilla image above shows the flower of one of the most profuse winter flowers on Sanibel Island and areas in similar temperate zones original photo by dmdart




		Under the Bridge on a Rainy Night As the sun set on a rainy evening, a sliver of sunset appeared and it was vivid. Boating around the causeway islands and under the Sanibel bridge is a wonderful way to watch the daylight turn to dark. Even in the mist and rain, when the wind is calm it is a peaceful ride. And when the reward is a lightening of the sky that turns the water golden and delivers such a sunset color, we understand this place is indeed special. original photo by dmdart




		Earthship From whatever direction you travel on Route 64, west of Taos, NM, as you approach the Greater World Earthship Community, you could think you are entering another world entirely. The structures seem organic, as if they are growing right out of the ground. The colors are earthy and light glints off the cans and bottles used in the construction. Staying overnight in an Earthship is enlightening. This is off-the-grid living. To many, it is surprising that there are no compromises. The structures are wonderfully light and colorful, with excellent furnishings, design and all the amenities you'd want, along with a view of the mountains that will inspire. Earthships are primarily designed to work as autonomous buildings using thermal mass construction and a natural cross ventilation that is assisted by thermal draft to regulate indoor temperature. They are designed to be off-the-grid ready homes, minimizing their reliance on both public utilities and fossil fuels. They're made of earth-rammed tires, cement, steel, bottles and cans. It is the epitome of sustainable design and construction. No part of sustainable living has been ignored in this ingenious building. Visit the Earthship web site for many photographs and in-depth explanations. Earthships are being built throughout the world and the Earthship organization is currently raising funds to build in low income and impoverished areas. original photo by dmdart




		The Cynja Since I work in the technology field, I am constantly researching what's out there. Personal and business security is a very major focus and we find we are fighting malware, mis-information and malicious attacks daily. It was amazing to me that "a recent survey showed that children are 51 times more likely to become targets of identity-stealing thieves." This was in a report published by Richard Power, Distinguished Fellow of the Carnegie Mellon CyLab. The report is compelling reading: https://www.cylab.cmu.edu/files/pdfs/reports/2011/child-identity-theft.pdf Then I stumbled upon an article in one of my technical journals and I was entranced with the idea of bringing our children in on the fight for Internet security. Three people have written, designed and illustrated a print and e-book for children that explains the wild cyber world of worms and zombies and Trojans and show how awesome this world really is. It also introduces an important life lesson: we now live in an era of digital crime. It's a cool story about cyberspace that grabs a kid's imagination, teaches them about being safe online, and possibly will inspire the next generation of security professionals. Visualization is a real challenge and the creators wanted to illustrate The Cynja in a way that would enable people to understand the gravity of being stuck in an infected network or encountering malicious malware. There is much more information at the web site of Cynja and I encourage you to go there and read about this amazing and timely book: thecynja.com Perhaps this will help teach children and adults alike to fight the cyber criminals who infest our digital lives. ~excerpts and graphics from TheCynja.com




		Cayo Costa: a Landscape Photographer's Dream Previously I have written about and posted a photograph relating to this wonderful island. I returned from the trip I took with Captiva Cruises in the early Fall with a wealth of wonderful photographs and over time I plan to share them with you. Cayo Costa is a small island just north of North Captiva Island, Florida. It is accessible only by boat. With nine miles of soft white sandy beaches and 2,506 acres of pine forests, oak-palm hammocks, and mangrove swamps, the Florida State Park has a wealth of photographic topics. Rent a boat or join a Captiva Cruises trip. The trips leave from McCarthy's Marina on Captiva and provide a lively and informative narrated voyage. Once you arrive you can wander the shores searching for shells and/or photographs. The southern end of the island is filled with the remains of trees damaged by Hurricane Charley. With the Gulf of Mexico as the background, wander this island and be inspired. original photo by dmdart




		Old Forida I just returned from a car trip through central Florida. Deciding not to use the Interstate, with it's harried and hurried drivers, I chose the less traveled road from south to central Florida. In earlier days, Route 27 was known as the "truck route". There are still the occasional 18-wheelers full of oranges or other items needing transport, but now it's mostly cars. The driving pace is slower and you can still get a feel of the Florida of the past: towns have names like Alva, La Belle, Lake Placid; moss drapes live oaks that shade herds of cattle; unpainted structures are frequent; and the feel is just "older". The image here is from an off-the-beaten-track road in Florida. The flowers bloom, the house slants and there is a certain nostalgia for those of us who grew up seeing "old Florida" outside our doors. original photo by dmdart




		I am going to be away for a few days. This link: saganseries.com : includes 10 videos in The Sagan Series, a collection of tribute videos dedicated to the late, great Carl Sagan. The Sagan Series is an open source project intended to promote scientific literacy. Please take the time to view the videos on this link. Not only is the photography phenomenal, but the music and the narration is inspiring. Viewing all the videos should hold you until I return. The videos are: The Frontier is Everywhere Life Looks for Life A Reassuring Fable Per Aspera Ad Astra Decide to Listen End of an Era: The Final Shuttle Launch The Long Astronomical Perspective Gift of Apollo The Humans The Pale Blue Dot Carl Edward Sagan (November 9, 1934-December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, science popularizer, and science communicator in astronomy and other natural sciences. He is best known for his contributions to the scientific research of extraterrestrial life, including experimental demonstration of the production of amino acids from basic chemicals by radiation. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and was author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books. Sagan always advocated scientific skeptical inquiry and the scientific method, pioneered exobiology and promoted the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). He spent most of his career as a professor of astronomy at Cornell University, where he directed the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. excerpt from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan Have fun viewing! original photo by dmdart




		The Watts Towers Sabato Rodia was born in Serino, Italy in 1879 and arrived in the United States around 1894. He came to Watts in 1921at age 42. The Watts Towers of Simon Rodia, his masterpiece and the world's largest single construction created by one individual, was his obsession for 33 years. He called it "Nuestro Pueblo" or "Our Town". It is located on a residential lot in the community of Watts in South Central Los Angeles, California. The Watts Towers structure consists of seventeen major sculptures and was created out of steel covered with mortar and embellished by the decorative finishings of mosaic tiles, glass, clay, shells and rock. There is no welded inner armature. Rodia wired rebars together then wrapped this joint with wire mesh and hand packed it with mortar and his mosaic surface. Two of the towers rise to a height of nearly 100 feet. In 1959, the International Conference of Museum Curators resolved that Rodia's Towers are a unique combination of sculpture and architecture and the paramount work of folk art of the 20th century in the United States. The Towers are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, are a National Historic Landmark, a State of California Historic Monument, a State of California Historic Park and, in March 1965, the Watts Towers were officially designated as Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Monument Number 15. ~excerpts and photos from: www.wattstowers.org and www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=613




		Kasha-Katuwe The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument on the Pajarito Plateau in north-central New Mexico, includes a national recreation trail and ranges from 5,570 feet to 6,760 feet above sea level. The cone-shaped tent rock formations are the products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 to 7 million years ago and left pumice, ash, and tuff deposits over 1,000 feet thick. Tremendous explosions from the Jemez volcanic field spewed pyroclasts (rock fragments), while searing hot gases blasted down slopes in an incandescent avalanche called a "pyroclastic flow." The area offers prime hiking with slot canyons leading to a 360 degree view at the top. ~excerpts from www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/rio_puerco/kasha_katuwe_tent_rocks.html original photo by dmdart




		Under the Bridge Bridges disappear into the fog when it's thick. The moisture in the air is visible. The underside of the bridge takes on the feeling of a tunnel, with the smallest glow in the distance. Fisher-people drift in the quiet morning. The tide is low, the sandy flats are exposed. Birds mostly walk the flats for food, few are flying. It's an early morning under the bridge on the causeway islands leading to and from Sanibel, FL. original photo by dmdart




		Florida Fighting Conch On the day of this photograph, live Florida Fighting Conchs filled the water swale left by the receding tide. They dug into the sand, they moved through the shallow water and congregated until the tide returned them to the Gulf of Mexico. These are common shells, but it's still a wonder to see such masses of them grouped together just under the water, sun glistening off their shiny reddish color. Details of these guys: Strombus alatus. There are about 11 true conchs in the Americas. They pry themselves forward with a narrow foot armed with a horny, sickle-shaped operculum. The colorful eyes are at the ends of short stalks that branch from the tentacles. They feed on red algae. Walk the beaches during low tide and you are almost sure to see this shell. original photo by dmdart




		Invasive Species Localities are taking the existence of invasive species in their landscape much more seriously and taking steps to rid their environment of these non-native plants. Most of us have seen Kudzu swallow everything in it's path. And the Melaleuca is the arch-enemy of the Florida Everglades, causing as much as $168 million in environmental losses every year and taking over 14 to 15 acres a day, according to one report. Invasive species, as a topic, influenced me when I was considering a creation for an entry in to "Mosaic Arts International Exhibition: International Juried Show" a couple years back. The result is shown in the photo you see here. The substrate is concrete. The glass is mounted on it's edge, producing a very sharp surface. Light glitters from the various angles. The driftwood was collected locally. The idea is that the invasive species (the glass part) has killed the tree. I was honored to have this work accepted into the exhibition, along with about 54 others from around the world, out of the thousands submitted for entrance. ~original mosaic & photographs by dmdart: See some mosaic work.




		Orion Do you have your boarding pass? 1.3 million people will "fly" into space on Orion. If you had the foresight to submit your name before the deadline, you are part of a group of adventurers whose names will accompany the Orion maiden voyage. Engineers "wrote" 1.3 million names on to an 8mm square silicon wafer microchip that is aboard the Orion and will take flight. (How you could have sent your name on this trip!) NASA's Orion spacecraft is built to take humans farther than they've ever gone before. Orion will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel, and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. On December 5, 2014, Orion is scheduled to launch atop a Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex Flight Test on the Orion Flight Test: a two-orbit, four-hour flight that will test many of the systems most critical to safety. The Orion Flight Test will evaluate launch and high speed re-entry systems such as avionics, attitude control, parachutes and the heat shield. In the future, Orion will launch on NASA's new heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System. More powerful than any rocket ever built, SLS will be capable of sending humans to deep space destinations such as an asteroid and eventually Mars. Exploration Mission-1 will be the first mission to integrate Orion and the Space Launch System. ~excerpt from www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/orion/




		Walking this marble lined passageway is like walking through milk. The white glows with life, warmth and reflections. This is Santiago Calatrava's elegant World trade Center PATH Corridor, a 600-foot underground walkway linking the World Trade Center PATH Station, the Battery Park City Ferry Terminal and Brookfield Place Pavilion. It is called the World Trade Center West Concourse and is a marvel of design. original photo by dmdart




		The Art of News and Event Reporting SantivaChronicle.com has taken news and event reporting to an elevated level for Sanibel and Captiva Islands, FL. Paper newspapers that cover the islands are printed once a week, meaning that much of the news in the papers is old by the time it's delivered. SantivaChronicle.com delivers news and event coverage immediately. At a recent very active, very long City Council meeting, SC posted 4 items during the meeting, as the discussions and important decisions were taking place. As SC has evolved over the past year, it is evident that there is a real art to putting an on-line news source together from scratch, to designing the site, to updating the site, to delving into the islands' environmental, artistic and political concerns and being able to deliver SC all the time, everyday to islanders and visitors who care deeply about Sanibel and Captiva. The entry to this blog is here today because SC has a new web site. Not entirely new in look, but new in functionality and ease of use. This behind the scenes art of on-line design and production is often overlooked, but is remarkable and worthy of mention. It is vision, it is design, it is technology, it is passion: it is art. ~ Read SantivaChronicle.com for news, art, community, historical, videos, environmental and political stories of the islands.




		The castle of Bourtzi is located in the middle of the harbour of Nafplio, Greece. The Venetians completed its fortification in 1473 to protect the city from pirates and invaders from the sea. original photo by dmdart




		No Two Alike original photo by dmdart

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