Atomic artModern Art of the 1950’s

Modern Art:

• “At 5:29:45 (Mountain War Time) on July 16, 1945, in a white blaze that stretched from the basin of the Jemez Mountains in northern New Mexico to the still-dark skies, "The Gadget" ushered in the Atomic Age.”

• US govt backed project “The Manhattan Project” developed the first A bomb.

• Significant impact: “Isidor Rabi felt that the equilibrium in nature had been upset as if humankind had become a threat to the world it inhabited” & “After viewing the results several participants signed petitions against loosing the monster they had created, but their protests fell on deaf ears.”

http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/a/atomic_bomb.htm

Popular culture• With new technology, comes infiltration of atomic

imagery into culture. • People excited about the future of nuclear energy:

felt everything would one day be powered in this manner

• Cold war with Russia is on! • Science fiction and space race enhanced concepts

of atomic age

Characteristics• “Vital Forms”: abstract organic forms• Atomic particles• X-Ray skeletal forms/shapes• Colors flat• outlines

1950s barkcloth table cloth with a geometric design and a botanical motif.

http://hgtv.sndimg.com/HGTV/2003/12/02/dod411_art_lg.jpg

http://www.walkerart.org/archive/2/B373992E9FB5D4EE6161.jpg

http://www.thelope.com/images/12-21-015.jpg

http://mid-century-modern.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/twin_palms_art_nat_reed.jpg

http://i1.cpcache.com/product/645638990/atomica_cork_coaster.jpg?color=White&height=460&width=460

http://www.etsy.com/listing/24478579/mid-century-modern-inspired-abstract

Alyce Simon• http://treeoflifeartists.weebly.com/atomic-art.html

Resources• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_Age