The Joan will come alive with ideas on November 5 when thought leaders and curious minds come together for a full day’s exploration of the wondrous force of gravity and its role in the universe within which we play.
Gravity holds us to this beautiful earth, it governs the movement of the world, the shape of space and the flow of time – yet we know so little about it and are constantly exploring, discovering, interpreting and wondering.
The Gravity Geeks Art + Science Symposium will delve into that special space between imagination and knowledge; the place where science enables us to leap boundaries we never thought possible. From Aboriginal astronomy to the realisation of Einstein’s gravitational waves, this is a program designed to excite, engage and inspire.
Whether you’re a student, educator, researcher, artist or interested citizen, Gravity Geeks will appeal to your sense of awe, and will build your knowledge and challenge your understanding of the interplay between art and science. Tapping into both art and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) streams, it’ll provide an enjoyable and lively bridge between the wondrous and the known.
The symposium is part of a suite of public programs supporting the current Gravity (and Wonder) exhibition presented by Penrith Regional Gallery in partnership with the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. Western Sydney University is the project’s education partner, particularly through its Western Sydney Observatory.
Hosted by Natasha Mitchell, Radio National’s Life Matters presenter, the community will have a chance to listen and see how contemporary art practices alongside science can bring new understanding to the wonders of gravity as phenomena and effect, mass and attraction, motion and acceleration, time and space and ultimately transcendence.
Professor Fred Watson AM, will speak on the juxtaposition of art and the science of astronomy. Professor Watson, well known for his work on astronomy and popularisation of space science through public outreach events, radio and TV programs, will deliver a genuinely accessible, thought provoking presentation as the keynote speaker.
Professor Ray Norris from Western Sydney University will present on Aboriginal navigation and astronomy. Across Australia there are many rich and vibrant Aboriginal cultures, each with their own astronomy but there are common links and the southern hemisphere’s night skies played an important and integral part in Aboriginal culture and navigation.
Artists and scientists who have collaborated in a unique studio, House of Wonder residency where ideas have collided, will showcase and present the outcomes of their exciting fusion of science and art.
The team from Western Sydney University will also erect a temporary planetarium where astrological and astronomical wonders can be gazed on in awe. If you are seeking answers to the mysteries of the skies, student guides from WSU and amateur astronomy groups will be on hand to answer questions.
Contemporary dance group Shaun Parker & Company will perform a short excerpt from Am I. This stunning collision of dance and live music investigates the quintessential meaning of I. Am I my tribe? Am I my genetic blueprint? Am I a random cosmological consequence?
A gravity defying performance and workshop featuring parkour group Dauntless Movement Crew will astound audiences. Performers will be seen leaping, turning, flipping and flying through space – defying gravity during a number of short performances and a lunchtime workshop. The mechanics and knowledge of the physics behind these movements allows performers and workshop participants to jump higher, spin faster and move more quickly, escaping their earthly bonds.
Leading sound designer and composer, Barton Staggs will also perform.
Book now and discover the wonder of gravity at this one day symposium on November 5 from 9am-5pm. Tickets $25. To book, see www.thejoan.com.au and www.penrithregional gallery.org.
