Ceramic Dinner Anyone?

As I've read the last two days' reading assignments, I've been waiting for something to catch my eye so I can blog about it...nothing really jumped out at me so I'll settle for what jumped out at me the most.  I'm talking about The Dinner Party on pg. 121.

I guess what really caught my attention was the size!  Its dimensions are 48 X 48 X 48 ft.  This awesome work was created by Judy Chicago (last name is actually Gerowitz) and it took five years to complete.  The triangular table has thirty-nine place settings.  Each setting represents a famous woman...both nonfictional and fictional...that helped shape in some way or another the feminist movement with their ideals or the way they led their lives.  Examples being, Nefertiti, Queen Elizabeth I, and Virginia Woolf who happened to be mentioned earlier in this reading assignment.  It is referred to by the text as "the counterpart to the Last Supper" which in my opinion pales in comparison to such like but take it for what it is.

Not only did the size, catch my attention but the fact that every ceramic plate was made specifically to capture the essence of whom the place-setting was made for.  The plates were not just purchased at a store like I initially perceived but were made by hand as well as each individual textile embroidery that bears the name of the woman as well as her symbol.   

Overall, I feel like this piece of art should be admired for its aesthetic qualities and size.  Also, for its uniqueness because I feel as if there aren't very many other artworks out there similar to this in any way. Lastly for what it represents...equal rights for women and bringing attention to cultural contributions that have been made by woman throughout history.

Buckminsterfullerene!

As I was reading the assigned pages, I flipped over to page 94 where I saw a picture of a building that I knew I had seen recently.  Then I realized I hadn't seen it before but rather something very similar in resemblance to it....buckminsterfullerene or buckyball as it is commonly called.  It is an organic compound with a molecular formula of C60 (60 carbon atoms in the shape of Richard Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes...hence the name) that we recently talked about in my organic chemistry class.  Some of its potential uses include being used in superconductor materials and drug-delivery systems. 

Despite my initial reaction, I also thought about what in the world is the point of this geodesic dome?! All I could think of was its modern-look and that it must be purely for aesthetic value and just being "eye-catching".  So I continued to read about these domes and Richard Buckminster Fuller and did a little digging as well.  Turns out, he did have a point in his designs as should have been expected.  As the text states, he used a "minimum of structure to create maximum strength"...sort of a "more is less" mentality.  In this way, he was able to use a low amount of materials and produce a great yield.  And we all know conserving resources is very important in today's world.

While looking at some of his other ideas and designs I couldn't help but share this one below.  Its a self-sustaining city that could be built in the middle of an ocean in the midst of a population density crisis.  Very neat!

Lastly, I got to thinking...why hasn't this geodesic dome design caught on if it truly saves resources and has such a unique, modern look to it.  Well in fact a very famous building takes after this sort of design and uses lightweight triangular elements as the book suggests...it is the one and only Louvre Pyramid in Paris.  Instead of forming the triangular elements into a sphere, it formed into one, huge triangle.  Both the sphere and the triangle just give that "world within a world" feel that is so unique and different yet so simple.

I found this short little video that helps put into perspective what Richard Buckminster Fuller was trying to achieve.  Enjoy!