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A Kind of Beauty

American Artscape | 2013 No. 3
Cover of NEA Arts 2013 Volume 3 with Nimbus Munnekeholm by Berndrout Smilde
Nimbus Munnekeholm by Berndnaut Smilde, 2012, is part of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s exhibit High Art: A Decade of Collecting, which features 50 works acquired by the institution from 2003–2013. The exhibit, showing through December 1, 2013, visually explores the human and scientific fascination with flight. Image courtesy of Smithsonian Institution
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About this Issue

Traditionally, art is held in the realm of imagination, emotion, and creativity. Science, on the other hand, is a matter of reason, accuracy, and meticulous, methodical process. But as artist Greg Mort, who has worked with the NASA art program, noted in an interview with the NEA, “There’s a scrutiny that science requires; there’s a scrutiny that art requires. Both have a passion for the notion of the question, also the idea of knowing…. I think, ultimately, science and art ask the same question. They both seek a kind of beauty.”

With the dawn of the 21st century, this shared spirit has manifested itself in countless new ways, and there has been explosive growth in interdisciplinary experimentation—even at the NEA. In 2010, the Arts Endowment and the National Science Foundation (NSF) hosted a workshop to re-think and promote the intersection between art and science. Recently, we entered into a partnership with NSF and the National Endowment for the Humanities in order to begin formally exploring how we might work together at the intersections of science, art, and the humanities. This year also marks the first time we have actively encouraged grant applicants to consider pursuing art/science projects.

In this issue of NEA Arts, we highlight some of the people and organizations that are blending the two fields. We delve into the neurobiology of music, learn what it means to be a visual strategist at NASA, and explore the science-based theater productions that have emerged from Catalyst Collaborative@MIT. We also look at how art can illuminate the impact of climate change, and the ways that science can reinterpret the very concept of dance.

Included in this Issue

Man standing at chalkboard full of mathematical equations.

Finding Common Ground

Scientists and Theater Artists are Kindred Spirits at MIT
Woman in sunglasses putting together a piece of equipment.

The Artistic Climate

Andrea Polli Transforms Scientific Data into Art
The exhibit "Hidden Light" by NASA visual strategist Dan Goods

Cosmic Creativity

An Artist's View of Space
Man playing the stringed instrument, the sarod.

Decoding Music's Resonance

A Look at Researcher and Performer Parag Chordia
Woman in glasses with colored lights reflected on her.

What the Body Is

Brain Waves and Choreography with koosil-ja/danceKUMIKO
Man standing in front of paint rolling machinery holding a pole with red paint on end.

Painting the Town Napthol Red

The Science and Spiritual Resonance of Paint
Abbas Raza with headphones and speaking into a microphone.

An Audio Interview with Abbas Raza of 3 QUARKS DAILY

Audio Available
Woman holding a publication.

A Glorious Mixture of Art and Science

The Kinetic Sculpture Race, Grand Championship
Audio Available

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