Explodingtorium

A compelling collection of historical images culled from the vaults of the one-and-only Exploratorium, San Francisco's museum of human perception. © Exploratorium, All rights reserved      Contact Us

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Announcement

Dear Friends: This Explodingtorium, a vessel for Exploratorium archival imagery since 2012, is now itself an archive. Thanks for your continued visitorship and good will. Here’s to archival liberation in all its forms!

For more on the myriad ways the Exploratorium engages artists of all varieties, please see http://www.exploratorium.edu/arts. And please visit us if in San Francisco: http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar

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Tornado, 2000, photo by Lily Rodriquez

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Exploratorium Goo, 1998, photograph by Amy Snyder

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Going in Circles, 1984, Photo by Esther Kutnick

Featuring Pete Stephens, longtime exhibit developer/artist

"A study by Lawrence Monroe at the University of Chicago suggests that timing of body temperature changes may be one of the differences between those aggravating people who wake up cheerful and those of us who are never civil before our first cup of coffee." —Pat Murphy, Exploratorium Magazine, On Time

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Larry Shaw’s desk, photo by Amy Snyder

The wide-ranging work and interests of staff are evident by the numerous books, binders, articles, journals, lists, manuals, equipment, and memorabilia that may surround a single desk. This 1990s-era office belonged to our very own Prince of Pi, Exploratorium physicist Larry Shaw, who founded Pi day (on March 14th or 3.14 or Einstein’s birthday) which is now celebrated live and online all around the world. http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar/pi-day-free-day-2015

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Untitled, 1995, photo by Amy Snyder

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Subject unknown, 1999, photo by Lily Rodriquez

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Vibrating Pinscreen, by Artist-in-Residence Ward Fleming, 1990. Photograph by Susan Schwartzenberg.

Pins set into perforated metal form  coherent patterns resembling waves and vortices evocative of ripples on the surface of a lake. Visitors can adjust the frequency and influence the resonant modes of the screen.

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Germanic Runes, 1990, photo by Nancy Rodger

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Seeing the Light, by Nancy Rodger, 1979

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Bob Miller leading a Light Walk, ~1980, photo by Nancy Rodger.

Our celebration of the life and work of Exploratorium artist Bob Miller (1935-2007) just went on display at the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library, where it remains until February 5, 2015.

More here: http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar/light-walk-bob-miller-and-exploratorium

Take a Light Walk: http://www.exploratorium.edu/bob-miller/light-walk

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Space Model, 1970's, photo by Ether Kutnick

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Vintage logo in mirror grid, Palace of Fine Arts, 1977.

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"Painting with Light" in Marin County with elementary teachers and students. Solid program.

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Far Out Corners, by Bob Miller, 1978. Photo by Susan Schwartzenberg

Far Out Corners is an extension of an illusion called the Necker Cube, an outline which can be interpreted in two equally feasible ways–concave or convex. The actual corners here are concave, but the way they are lit encourages the eye to see them as solid cubes.

Here's how to build one at home: http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/far_out_corners/

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Gray Step, 1973