Event 2 - California Science Center

For my second event, I went to the California Science Center and more specifically, the Creative World permanent exhibit. Upon doing research into the center, Piper (another student) and I chose to go to this exhibit due to its obvious connection to this class through the integration of art and science. This exhibit is said to be for the exploration of the causes and effects of innovation. Innovation and invention, being such integral aspects in both fields, can range from simulation, imaging, and structures whether digital or physical. The exhibit took up a large room and had several varying aspects. These aspects ranged from a UV lens for people to walk through and see the changing colours of their body heat to a contraption of fans blowing at small boats on wheels with adjustable sails.

The first thing that grabbed my eye at the exhibit was a small part of it that included a box discussing materials. This box held a range of things from slabs of glass and plastic, various metals to eyeglasses. What I found so interesting about this relatively small aspect of the rather large exhibit was its analysis of materials through aesthetic and functional lenses.

After seeing this initial exhibit, I started to see a pattern throughout the exhibit and the entire center. There was an obvious consideration for both fashion AND function. The center was eco-friendly but its beautiful large glass windows and architecture aided it in being eco-friendly. There was even a section on the energy-saving materials and devices that make up the center.

But what stuck with me after seeing the rest of the exhibit was that initial box of materials. The box showed two large pieces of material, one glass, and one Lexan plastic, that was shot with a bullet. The bullet goes through and partially shatters the glass, where the Lexan plastic stops the bullet. The next pair of materials were two pieces to demonstrate what is needed to cover a space shuttle. One of the pieces was aluminum, which is melted and the second is a black ceramic tile that is much more heat resistant to the reentry into Earth's atmosphere. The most interesting part of this small box was the last pair of materials, a set of two eyeglasses. One of the glasses is made out of only metal, which could be broken if bent or pulled on. The second was a superelastic metal that would bounce back into form. The first two pairs, while really interesting showed more of function. What interested me most about the eyeglasses that that intersection of fashion and function in our everyday lives. This is what made me really think about this in relation to our class, with art and fashion combined and science and function together.

Below I have attached the link to the Science Center's website page on this exhibit.

https://californiasciencecenter.org/exhibits/creative-world