[Histonet] RE: Art vs Science

[Margaryan, Naira]

I have to agree with Patrick and Barry too. Yes, I am an artist when see my beautiful staining in the paper. It is my art, it is our art. If your work could be called as an art it is the best compliment I have ever had. Naira's art, as my colleges called my pictures in the papers.

Have good one too,
Naira

Naira V. Margaryan, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Children's Memorial Research Center
2300 Children's Plaza, Box 222
Chicago, IL 60614-3394
Tel: 773-755-6570/ext-8
Fax: 773-755-6594
nmargaryan <@t> childrensmemorial.org

For Express Mail: 
CMRC, Room C.473
2430 N. Halsted Street
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Message: 12
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 10:12:04 -0500
From: Pat Flannery <pjfnefro <@t> duke.edu>
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Art vs Science
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Message-ID: <73994750-AE59-4A84-BB98-99C094BB73B2 <@t> duke.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=US-ASCII;	delsp=yes;	format=flowed

  I have to agree with Barry on this one.  While the science of  
histology can be learned, albeit sometimes with great effort, and  
those who have expended that considerable effort to acquire  
proficiency at tissue preparation and staining can be justifiably  
proud of their accomplishment, being considered an artist is  
recognition by others that your work transcends proficiency.  An  
artist is not only a competent technician or craftsman, but also  
possesses an innate ability to produce work that is aesthetically  
pleasing and has value beyond the diagnostic.  I would hope all of us  
would aspire to produce work that is not only acceptable and useful,  
but actually beautiful.

Personally, I can think of no greater compliment to a scientist than  
that his or her work is beautiful.

-Patrick J. (Pat) Flannery
   Division of Nephrology (that's kidneys to you)
   Box 3014 (that's NOT "PO" just "Box")
   Duke University Medical Center (although I went to UNC-CH)
   Durham, NC  27710
   E-mail: pjfnefro <@t> duke.edu (preferred)
                 FLANN002 <@t> MC.DUKE.EDU (also works)
   Voice:   (919)660-6863
   Fax:       (919)684-2929
   Cell:      (919)606-0163

   Bet that's more than you ever wanted to know about me!


On Feb 5, 2007, at 8:54 AM, Rittman, Barry R wrote:

> I see nothing wrong in being called an artist.
> Artists if experts in their profession, use a great deal of science in
> their art.
> You are of course correct that what we do has a strong science footing
> but if we merely view what we do as science then something is lost.
> If you do not wonder at the organization of cells and tissues, the  
> color
> during staining then you are missing one of the benefits of the job.
> If you fail to see such beauty in your everyday work then please  
> look at
> some preparations of diatoms.
> These were arranged in a painstaking but artistic fashion and also
> provided a resolution check for objectives due to the uniformity of
> their foramina.
> Barry