“We know that when a person views something that they find beautiful, for example, a face or an abstract art painting, their brain’s pleasure centers light up and its visual sensory center is engaged more intensely,” saysAhmad Beyh, a neuroscientist at Rutgers University. in the statement. “Studies suggest that this is accompanied by a release of dopamine, which is also known as the feel-good neurotransmitter.”
Art activates the same reward and pleasure centers that some depression treatments target, as Beyh tells Sky News. While more research is needed, he thinks viewing art could have long-term health benefits.
The new edition of Lumonics: The Light Art of Dorothy & Mel Tanner is now available
book cover
The book is a chronicle of the Tanners’ art journey and the evolution of their art form, Lumonics, as “told” in photographs.
covers over 65 years of art from when the Tanners met as students at the Brooklyn Museum School of Art to the present
more than 125 color photos of the art works, organized by decade
galleries, art centers, and museum exhibitions
$20 +$3.65 shipping U.S. Order online or by calling 303.568.9406
Pages include exhibits including Meow Wolf, McNichols Civic Center Building, Denver International Airport, and Museum of Outdoor Arts
“I’ve got my copy and love it! This is glossy quality paper featuring gorgeous photos of brilliant works and their history.” -Eli Austin
“Bravo, Lumonics team! Beautiful manifestations of wonder & joy that make Art all that we imagine it can be!” – Todd Siler
“It’s a wonderful compilation of so many great things that Lumonics has accomplished!” – Tim Vacca
“The pictures are high quality, the book well done, and it provides a great selection of the Tanners’ lightworks.” – Dorothy Kamm
“If you love the unique and beautiful Light Art of Dorothy and Mel Tanner, you will really enjoy this jewel of a book. With more than 126 colorful images, it provides an exceptional introduction to the Tanner’s extensive bodies of work. I was delighted by the inclusion of so many pieces that I had not seen before. Friends who were previously unfamiliar with Lumonics artwork have appreciated this book as well!” – Roxann Souci
“It’s so wonderful! Thank you for making this special book.” – Kate Perdoni
Take a Virtual 360 Tour of the Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery and the Lumonics performance space where we present Lumonics Immersed on Saturday evenings. We also present guided tours for companies, organizations, and private groups, and field trips for students of all ages.
All of the light art shown in the virtual tours is currently on display. Lumonics is among the first and longest-running light art projects in the U.S.
The tour begins below the two still images of the Gallery and Performance Space.
360 Gallery photo by Marc Billard/Lumonics
360 perforamnce space photo by Marc Billard/Lumonics
This video begins with the light sculptures in the gallery and then the performance space: The last 2 minutes are from a segment of one of the episodes of Lumonics Immersed. Music by Dorothy Tanner and Marc Billard
Virtual Tour of the Gallery and Performance Space at Lumonics: The image will begin to move a few seconds after it loads.
Robert Irwin was part of what became known as the Light and Space Movement.
Robert Irwin in the studio working on an early line painting, 1962
To be an artist is not a matter of making paintings or objects at all. What we are really dealing with is our state of consciousness and the shape of our perceptions.
Whenever you look at light, basically it’s just air. It has no tactileness to it. It’s totally without density.
If you wanted to watch me work, it would be totally boring. It would look like a Warhol film where nothing happens. I sit for 24 hours, then I scratch myself.
If I hold up a red square for 30 seconds and take it away, you will see a perfect green square. It’s how the eye works. So if you want to paint a really good red painting, you have to strategically place in some green, so the eye is brought back.
The whole thrust of modern art, as far as I understand it, is expanding the role of the artist as a kind of esthetician, someone who actually spends his time, is trained in a way to deal with qualities.
Robert Irwin, Tergal voile, fluorescent bulbs, and framing materials (2015)
