South facade of Museum with "Praise for Elohim Adonai" by Mark di Suvero, c.1970
In this field trip, STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. A STEAM approach explores the ways these different disciplines can be used together to help us better understand the world around us and to come up with new ideas and solutions to today’s problems. Science, technology, engineering, art, and math all help us explore our surroundings in unique ways. Each of these disciplines also shares core practices, such as experimentation and observation.
On this self-directed field trip, you’ll explore some of the ways that artists use their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math in their creative practice. You’ll also learn about some of the ways that artists collaborate with specialists in other STEAM fields, such as designers, engineers, geologists, or mathematicians, to bring their projects to life.
You are welcome to move through the tour in any order you choose. Click on the images below to explore each section. As you visit a thematic section, you will find related artworks, questions, and activities to engage with. You can also visit the Create Space at the bottom of the page for an art-making project to try on your own.
Before you begin, you will need to gather something that you can draw or write on—such as a notebook, whiteboard, or tablet—and a pen, pencil, or other writing tool.
Let's Explore Some STEAM Connections.
What mysteries can light reveal?
Technical imaging allows researchers, such as art museum conservators, to see past the visible surface of a painting to reveal hidden details and examine underlying material layers.
Create Space: Experiments with Light
In the works of art and activities above, we explored a variety of ways that science, technology, engineering, and math connect with works of art and art making. Explore principles of light and STEAM by creating your own anthotypes. An anthotype is a photographic process that utilizes the reaction of natural materials with the sun. To create an anthotype, coat a piece of paper with a liquid solution made from plants or foods, such as spinach or berries. Then create a design using objects and found materials, place your page with the design in the sun, and wait for it to expose. Use the principles of experimentation, hypothesis, and observation to test out anthotypes. Here’s a demonstration to get you started.
Video content coming soon.