Paper Project

Last updated
Paper Project
Type of site
Visual Arts Biology Education
OwnerPaper Project
URL https://paperproject.org
CommercialNo
RegistrationNone
LaunchedFall 1999
Current statusActive

The Paper Project is a fusion project that blends art, science, and technology into engaging 2D and 3D experiences.

Contents

About the project

The Paper Project is a multidimensional art and science project exploring the microscopic structure of paper using a scanning-laser confocal microscope. Created by artist and scientist Charles Kazilek and printer and paper maker Gene Valentine (July 29, 1938 – February 22, 2022) in 1999 the project began exhibiting works in various formats including 2D and virtual 3D images. The 3D anaglyphic images make use of inexpensive red-blue 3D glasses first introduced to moviegoers in the 1950s. When wearing 3D glasses, it is as if the viewer has been reduced to the size of a period at the end of a sentence and can explore the invisible structure and beauty of paper.

In 2002, the project expanded to dance, collaborating with costume designers Jacqueline Benard and Galina Mihaleva and dance choreographer Jennifer Tsukayama. The result of the collaboration was Paper Interiors: a dance exploration of real and virtual dimensions which debuted at the American College Dance Festival. In 2004, Jennifer Tsukayama became a member of the Paper Project and the group created a traveling 3D immersive room based on the earlier dance performance. The first installation of the room was at the Arizona Museum for Youth.

Since its creation, images from the Paper Project have been viewed around the world in museums, science centers, and on the Web. In addition to exhibits, the Paper Project has developed educational content that can be used to engage students in art, history, biology, chemistry, and physics.

Cattail-handmade paper. Imaged using a scanning-laser confocal microscope. Cattail-handmade-paper-1280.jpg
Cattail-handmade paper. Imaged using a scanning-laser confocal microscope.
Anaglyphic (3-D) version of cattail-handmade paper. Imaged using a scanning-laser confocal microscope. Requires red-blue anaglyphic glasses. Cattail-handmade-paper-3d-1280.jpg
Anaglyphic (3-D) version of cattail-handmade paper. Imaged using a scanning-laser confocal microscope. Requires red-blue anaglyphic glasses.

Exhibits

Publications

History

Awards

2008 Nikon International Small World Competition - Fifth Place. [19]

2006 Nikon International Small World Competition - Fourth Place. [20]

2005 Classics Award Winner for Teacher Education. Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT). [21]

2004 Nikon International Small World Competition - Fourth Place. [22]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Kazilek</span> Science Commuincation

Charles J. Kazilek III is an American-born science communicator, educator, and artist. His K-12 outreach work involves the globally successful Ask A Biologist website, which he founded in 1997. Kazilek is also an artist who works in both the real and virtual worlds of visual arts. His art has been inspired by his background in microscopy and includes the Paper Project, Scanning Light Photomacrograhy, and his novel approach to illustrating insects which includes two field guides on tiger beetles.

References

  1. "Early Paper Project Web Page". 2000. Archived from the original on June 23, 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  2. "New Light On Paper". Paper Project. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  3. "Face of Paper". Paper Project. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  4. "School of Art: A Curriculum-based Exhibit". Paper Project. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  5. "Face of Paper II". Paper Project. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  6. "Paper Interiors". Paper Project. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  7. "Paper Interiors: a dance exploration of real and virtual dimensions". Paper Project. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  8. "500 dancers, 57 works vie for honors at festival". Arizona Republic. 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  9. "Paper Interiors". ASU Research Magazine. 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  10. "Paper Interiors Installation". Paper Project. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  11. "Unseen Universe Comes to Light". Scientific Computing. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  12. "Paper Project on Times Square". Paper Project. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  13. "Paper Project in Kenya". Paper Project. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  14. "Continuing Exhibit Gives Inside Look Into Paper" (PDF). Post-Crescent - Gannett Company. February 20, 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  15. "Nikon Small World Museum Tour". Nikon. February 20, 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  16. "PHOTOS: Best Microscopic Images of 2008 Announced". National Geographic. Archived from the original on October 22, 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  17. "The World, Up Close". New York Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  18. "Microscopic marvels". NBC News. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  19. "2008 Nikon Winners". Nikon. 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  20. "2006 Nikon Winners". Nikon. 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  21. "MERLOT 2005 Award Winners". MERLOT. 2005. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  22. "2004 Nikon Winners". Nikon. 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2009.