We recently launched the Raindrop web application as part of FLOW: Can You See the River, a project conceived by Mary Miss. Our team started on the project about a year ago, when Mary and her studio began meeting with us and scientists from Butler University and Williams Creek Consulting to build an app illustrating the concept that “All property is riverfront property.” When Mary and I began discussing the project, we talked about the challenge of catching a person’s attention and then engaging them with a visual experience that could lead them to deeper levels of information and insight about the natural world. This is essentially what a good visualization does, so I was excited to be part of the team building this technological bridge between art and science.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Technology

As one of the presenters at IMA’s Miller House Symposium, I may sound rather biased. Nevertheless I would say it was one of more interesting symposiums in which I have participated. Craig Miller, the design arts curator at the museum ingeniously decided that rather than having a full roster of historians all present didactic disquisitions about the Miller House in Columbus, he would have two historians place the house in differing historical contexts, and then ask three practitioners to discuss their own perspectives on each of the major designers (Eero Saarinen, Alexander Girard and Dan Kiley) who were involved in creating this significant contribution to residential architecture in Columbus, Indiana in 1959.

The presentations offered a varied and substantive range of approaches to appreciating the Miller House’s creators: Brad Dunning included four animated videos relating to Alexander Girard’s work, all of which were smashing. Deborah Berke talked about her long admiration of Saarinen’s architecture with an emphasis on his small output of designs for residential design. It was illuminating, particularly from her own perspective as an architect. Laurie Olin discussed his affinity to the landscape design of Dan Kiley by showing Kiley’s architectural orientation in his work. (Like Olin, Kiley studied architecture before turning to landscape design.)

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Design, Guest Bloggers, Miller House, The Collection

Learn more on how you can Go for the Gold!

Filed under: Venice Biennale

It’s the final round of the Guess the Name of the Film Game! A big thank you to everyone for playing! Before we go on to today’s clues, here is a run-down of all films on schedule for the 2011 Summer Nights Film Series:

• June 3: Mommie Dearest (1981)
• June 10: Blue Hawaii (1961)
• June 17: The Sandlot (1993)
• June 24: The Wiz (1978)
• July 1: Zoolander (2001)
• July 8: Poltergeist (1982)
• July 15: IIFF Clerks (1994)
• July 22: Indianapolis International Film Festival’s Secret Screening
• July 29: Top Gun (1986)
• August 5: Grease (1978)
• August 12: To Catch a Thief (1955)
• August 19: Labyrinth (1986)
• August 26: Clues below!

Below are your clues for the last film. I think you all know the drill by now but the first person to correctly guess will win two tickets to any Summer Nights film. Leave a comment below and the answer will be given tomorrow morning.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art, Film, Musings, The Collection

It’s round twelve of Guess the Name of the Film Game! We’re almost to the end and thank you to all of those who have participated in the game over the past two weeks. With two films to go, you still have a chance to win!

Congratulations to yesterday’s winner for correctly guessing To Catch a Thief. The 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film will play August 12 at the IMA as part of the annual Summer Nights Film Series.

Below are your clues for the next film. The answer will be given tomorrow and the first person to correctly guess (by commenting below) will win two Summer Nights tickets. With only one artwork given, this one is going to be tough! I say that hesitantly as you have surprised me in earlier rounds (smarty-pants).

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Art, Film, Musings, The Collection