What is it?

Inspiration for WALT Art comes from the WALTA physics project. Extremely high energy particles enter our atmosphere and collide with other particles, spawning clusters of energized daughter particles. The particles are presumed to be billions of years old and perhaps are generated when a galaxy collapses.

The collision events are rare and the particles so highly energized they inspire investigation. To study particles penetrating our atmosphere, researchers use lucite which has been coated with material that "scintillates" when it is hit by a particle of energy.

We are creating an interactive art installation illustrating the randomness and size of the events -- including art pieces based on the luminous properties of the scintillating lucite. We'll play with light and time to create an environment which makes the viewer want to know more.

Donate!

We are happy to have received a small grant from SAMI for student supplies. However, this does not cover the basic project, so we are still in urgent need of some larger materials.

Our biggest need is for theater blackout curtains, since the entire installation will be in the dark.

If you would like to donate or loan us this material or other materials, please post a comment to this site and I will get in contact with you.

I'll post a list of other needed materials shortly.

Thanks!

Tess, aka "waltartblogger"