GEDANKENEXPERIMENT
Presented by Washington Sculptors Group and American Association for the Advancement of Science
(Washington Post review)
The AAAS
1200 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005
Exhibition Dates: June 16, 2014 - August 22, 2014
Opening Reception and Artist Panel Discussion: Friday, June 20, 2014, 6 - 9 pm
Press Opening: Monday, June 16, 2014
Exhibition Juror: Sarah Tanguy, Curator, Art in Embassies Program, U.S. Department of State
Participating Artists:
Christopher Bathgate
c.l.bigelow
Alan Binstock
Greg Braun
Jeff Chayette
Jeffery Cooper
Roger Cutler
Joel D'Orazio
Paul Daniel
Elsabe Dixon
Frank Fishburne
Billy Friebele
Jonathan Guyer
Rebecca Kamen
James Kessler
Ruth Lozner
James Mallos
Forrest McCluer
George McFarland
Elizabeth M. McCue
Guy Rando
Langley Spurlock
John Martin Tarrat
Diane Szczepaniak
Definition: Gedankenexperiment, (German: thought experiment) term used by German-born Albert Einstein to describe his unique approach of using conceptual rather than actual experiments in creating the theory of relativity. Famous examples of thought experiments from the fields of physics, philosophy, computer science, and economics include Schrodinger's cat, a Turing machine, Maxwell's demon, and the broken window fallacy.
Inspired by scientific and mathematical theories, hypotheses, and principles from Archimedes, I Ching, geology, geometry, architecture, and more, the artists featured in Gedankenexperiment externalized their thought experiments in sculptural expressions, using materials including barcodes, wood, metals, paper, computer parts, and limestone. Entries were not limited to traditional methodology and both non-traditional ideas and broad interpretations of "Gedankenexperiment" were encouraged.
Sarah Tanguy is an independent curator and arts writer, as well as a curator for Art in Embassies, U.S. Department of State. Since 1983, Tanguy has developed over 200 shows for U.S. museums and arts and science organizations and U.S. diplomatic missions abroad, as well as several public collections. In addition to numerous exhibition-related essays, she has written for The Washington Times, Sculpture, New Art Examiner, Glass, American Craft, Metalsmith, Urbanite, Hand Print Workshop International, Turning Points, Mid-Atlantic Country, Baltimore, and Readers Digest. Tanguy has also worked at the National Gallery, the International Exhibitions Foundation, The Tremaine Collection, the International Sculpture Center, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and The Hechinger Collection.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journals Science, Science Translational Medicine and Science Signaling. Founded in 1848, AAAS includes 261 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. The nonprofit association is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education,public engagement, and more.
Gallery Hours:
Monday - Friday, 9am - 6pm
Location:
The AAAS
1200 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005
www.aaas.org
Press Images are available upon request.
Media Inquiries: Contact Gloria Chapa (202) 321-3300 / gloriachapa@msn.com
Images Courtesy of the Artists: from left to right, Forrest McCluer, Jeff, Chayette, Rebecca Kamen