Dear all - I've been contacted by a lady called Pat Ibbotson who is researching art-science links. I said I would pass on her request to appropriate e-mail lists. If you can help PLEASE REPLY TO PAT AT [log in to unmask] AND NOT TO ME. (This is especially relevant as I'm on hols from the end of the week and will be suspending myself from the list - so wouldn't be able to pass on list/personal replies to Pat within her timeframe)
Thanks in advance for your help
Dianne
Dianne Stilwell
PR and Public Awareness Manager
The Institute of Physics
76 Portland Place
London
W1B 1NT
UK
Tel +44(0)20 7470 4875
Fax +44(0)20 7470 4848
E-mail [log in to unmask]
Dear Dianne, 15 June 2004
Undergraduate dissertation science/art
I am writing in reply to your very kind offer to help me locate material for my fine art dissertation on the subject of present day collaboration between the sciences and the visual arts. The degree course is the BFA (Hons) in Fine Art at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, High Wycombe. I am taking it as a mature student in retirement (having taken a degree in Modern Languages at the normal age). I would greatly welcome the help of any artists, scientists or institutions that you may be able to put me in touch with.
I am hoping that, inside the prescribed maximum of 8000 words, I can combine discussion and analysis of some varied actual examples of science/art association and collaboration, with an indication of wider present key issues, ways forward and perhaps limits on what is possible. My proposed dissertation question, subject to what future material might suggest, is: “How far do certain specific recent examples of collaboration between artists and scientists suggest that closer association/collaboration between the visual arts and the sciences is desirable or possible?”
I am thinking in terms of the visual fine arts, not graphics or design, and I do not plan to include the social sciences or technology. Because I would like to consider both benefits and difficulties, failures in association or collaboration would be as interesting as success. I would be most grateful for any information, thoughts or possible contacts that artists and scientists might be willing to share. Examples that occur to me are: projects they themselves have been concerned in which might be relevant; names of contacts who might be particularly knowledgeable or involved in the field, including people in institutions or organisations, eg the Arts Council, the Wellcome Foundation, NESTA, the Gulbenkian Foundation; any written, web or other source they would recommend as particularly relevant; any thoughts or issues they think I should take particular account of.
There is a close timetable on this, as I need to have followed up contacts, and completed all information gathering and put it in order, by mid September latest. So I would be very grateful to hear from people as quickly as they can (particularly about possible further contacts).
Sincerely, and thank you, Patricia Ibbotson, [log in to unmask]