Monday was a really neat and eventful day. First the museum, then the LAPD plasma lab, and finally the book collection.
First of all, I thought the art we viewed at the Fowler Museum mind-expanding. The exhibit consited of Aboriginal ‘Dream’ paintings from Papunya in Australia. These painting were recent, considering that most Aboriginal art is temporary in nature or not able to move from nature. These painting were done of cardboard and canvas thanks to a 
school teacher who traveled to the heart of Australia to basically record the Australian Aboriginal culture through art. So art was generally from the 1970’s and up. And despite a lack of connection to mainstream culture and an alternative lifestyle, I found that this Aboriginal art could fit seamlessly into contemporary galleries of today.
The paintings exhibited visions of their culture that were highly representational. For example, a swirly line represents a watering hole in their art work. The abstraction also fits with the detail of the work. The work is more on a flat landscape with more of an emphasis on patterns and textures rather than on realistic detail. Some of my favorite works in the exhibition were simply just patterns of lines and dots. In the Aboriginal paintings that featured only these simple elements, it still was pleasing to see.
Aesthetics is such an abstract yet perscise thing. I wonder if science has to do with what appeals to a human as aesthetically pleasing. Like how some 
people think that there might be an underlying formula to Motzart’s music, there might be a connection to science and art. After all, the dotted paintings I saw at the museum did kind of look like tiny atoms. 
http://www.aboriginalartonline.com/aboriginalpainting/index.php
http://www.tribalworks.com/aboriginal_art_dot_painting_gallery.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australian_art
http://www.pianofundamentals.com/book/en/1.IV.4
http://www.fowler.ucla.edu/incEngine/