Science and Art-Part I

(A letter from my father shortly after I finished my MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute. He is a retired embryologist and endocrinologist.)

Justin:

I have been giving some thought as to what took place in San Francisco last week particularly after viewing the Fine Arts Exhibition and the means by which "Science" and "Art" communicate to the onlooker in a meaningful, insightful and convincing manner.

As you know, new scientific information and ideas are generated by the use of experimentation- design and execution which involve a hypothesis, controls, experimental variables, replicates, statistics and levels of significance. This information is typically published in journals after appropriate review or presented in condensed form in poster sessions at various scientific meetings.

Such posters typically include a series of brief but relevant statements (introduction, conclusions etc.) graphs, figures, photos which help to confirm or strengthen an idea or conclusion. These separate items typically have a title and legend and hopefully serve to convince the observer that the experimenter knows what they are doing. I was particularly struck by the general absence of verbal guidelines in the exhibits and am wondering how you view these issues and how science and art can interact in a meaningful manner.

Clearly, there are elements of science and decisions, (vaguely expressed) in your exhibit of 12 items-photos (meter+rhyme). Was their number, sequence and characteristics of crucial importance to you when putting the exhibit together. Would be interested in knowing the route and method since the eyes of this beholder are at times a bit foggy.

It was a super time in San Francisco-the weather, events, graduation and meeting friends and associates. Hope things have settled down a bit by now. Congratulations and all the best for the summer and the future at FHL, the Wisconsin reunion, and life.

Dad