The course <i>Materials Alchemy</i> asks art and design undergraduate students to explore the materials and new media of art making through basic principles in chemistry and materials science. Students discover the art, architecture, and engineering of molecular forms, discuss the implications of molecular aesthetics, melodies, machines, and structures, and learn how to connect observable macroscale behaviors and invisible nanoscale (molecular) and microscopic interactions. Historical and contemporary examples of artists innovating with new materials and their mutualistic relationship with chemists are presented and then analyzed and evaluated by in-class discussions. Through readings, writing assignments, and in-class discussions, students strengthen their skills in reading, writing, and critical analysis, learning the language and perspective to foster meaningful exchanges with the scientific community, and expressing humanistic concerns to a broader audience. In addition, students explore the nature of the scientific and artistic experimental processes. Finally, they examine and consider how to exploit phenomena such as color, tactility, viscosity, flow, and magnetism through the creation of hybrid art/science research proposals and a final video project.<br/>

Materials alchemy: Teaching chemistry and materials science to art and design students

254th National Meeting (2017)

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