And The Winner of The Family Four Pack of Tickets to the Discovery Science Center Is...

Sarah!
sarahverbeek@yahoo.com

Congrats! You have 48 hours to email me at sasakitime@gmail.com to claim your prize! Please include your mailing address to get the tickets sent out to you!

Giveaway: Family Four Pack of Tickets to the Da Vinci - The Genius Exhibit at the DSC in Santa Ana, CA!

Here is your opportunity to win a family four pack of tickets to see the amazing Da Vinci - The Genius Exhibit at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, CA.

This giveaway is open to those in Southern California or if you will be able to use them before the exhibit comes to a close!

The exhibit is running until September 8, 2013!

To learn more and take a sneak peek at the exhibit click the link below to my review of the exhibit:
Da Vince The Genius Exhibit

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Blogger Event: Da Vinci - The Genius Exhibit at the Discovery Science Center!

Hi everyone! Last week I was invited to check out the amazing new Da Vinci - The Genius exhibit at the Discovery Science Center!

There is are wonderful facsimiles of a fascinating collection of codices handwritten by Da Vinci himself.

There are hundreds of reproductions of some of the most famous Da Vinci machine inventions. Most are hands off to read and admire while others are hands on for you to try out for yourself.

Here is Da Vinci's version of what would become the helicopter.

I love this section on the flying machines.

This is one that I was really fascinated with. Da Vinci's idea for the elevator.

There are 75 life-size machine inventions on display here.

Da Vinci's take on the cannon.

No Da Vinci did not come up with the UFO. This is his invention that became the modern military tank.

This is the highlight of the exhibit. An extensive look at arguably the most famous painting in the world. The research was conducted by famed French engineer Pascal Cotte. He was given special permission from the Louvre to remove the Mona Lisa from her protective layer of bulletproof glass and scanned it with a 240-megapixel Multi-spectral Imaging Camera he invented. This gave the world an unprecidented look into the Mona Lisa.

One of the images shown here is this massive enlargement of the painting. Some of the revelations revealed include:

• Lace on Mona Lisa's dress
• The transparency of the veil shows da Vinci first painted a landscape and then used transparency techniques to paint the veil atop it.
• A change in the position of the left index and middle finger.
• The elbow was repaired from damage due to a rock thrown at the painting in 1956.
• The blanket covering Mona Lisa's knees also covers her stomach.
• The left finger was not completely finished.
• A blotch mark on the corner of the eye and chin are varnish accidents, countering claims that Mona Lisa was sick.
• And the Mona Lisa was painted on uncut poplar board, contrary to speculations.

This is the most accurate reproduction of the Mona Lisa ever created.

The back of the painting is almost as interesting as the front. But you need to come to the exhibit to read those details.

These enlargements reveal the beauty of the painting as well as the damage that has incurred throughout the years.

It is so amazing to look at a masterpiece in such detail and clarity.

Look at the detail of the landscape behind the Mona Lisa.

The camera uses 13 wavelengths from ultraviolet light to infrared to literally peel away centuries of varnish and other alterations. The results are amazing.

This section on the Mona Lisa is more than worth the price of admission to the exhibit.

There is also a Da Vinci Jr. area where you can build a model city. As you can see I was hard at work or very confused.

We are making progress! After all Rome was not built in a day!

My finished Sasaki Time temple!

This is another fine exhibit here on display at the Discovery Science Center! The blogger event unfortunately did not give me enough time to read and see everything in this exhibit! I will definitely come back to read everything and take more photos. Like I mentioned earlier, the Mona Lisa exhibit is more than worth the price of admission. As my friend Carla, who has been to the Louvre, said to me, "You cannot get this close to the Mona Lisa at the Louvre." An excellent exhibit and I hope you take the time to check it out.

Da Vinci - The Genius is at the Discovery Science Center until September 8, 2013.

Discovery Science Center

• 2500 N. Main Street
  Santa Ana, CA 92705
• tel: 714.542.2823

To learn more:
http://www.discoverycube.org/exhibits/event/da-vinci-the-genius/

Da Vinci - The Genius Exhibit Inspires Summer of Innovation at Discovery Science Center

 
Discovery Science Center Hosts “Inventor’s Fair” Summer Programming

Da Vinci – The Genius & Da Vinci Jr. inspire a summer of innovation at the Cube
Santa Ana, Calif. – (June 13, 2013) – This summer, Taco Bell Discovery Science Center is calling all inventors and young innovators to participate in special programming and events themed around the current exhibition: Da Vinci – The Genius & Da Vinci Jr. The exhibit, which is on display through September 8, 2013, is the most complete and comprehensive traveling exhibition ever created on Leonardo da Vinci.
INVENTOR’S WEEK | June 29 – July 7
An entire week packed with activities for young learners, interactive learning stations, guest speakers and demonstrations designed to bring out the inventor in everyone. Also, guests will get to “tinker around” in the Inventors Workshop.

• Daily Parachute Competition – Visitors can participate in a daily “Build Your Own Parachute” competition, where the top winner each day will receive an Annual Family Membership. Basic building supplies such as a plastic bag, tape, string and a weight will be provided, but guests are welcome to bring their own materials from home too. Parachute competition guidelines available online.

• Meet the Makers (June 29-30) – A family-friendly festival highlighting innovation, creativity and invention in our own Orange County community. Makers consist of local crafters, inventors, engineers and tinkerers who will gather to share their unique creations and the stories behind them! From 3D printing, animatronics and laser light finger painting to mind-craft stations and a wind-tunnel, visitors will be inspired to embrace their do-it-themselves attitude.

TASTE OF ITALY: A Celebration of Leonardo da Vinci | July 27-28
Guests will be immersed in everything Italian as DSC celebrates the life of Leonardo da Vinci. Explore the world of Italian food as we present pasta and pizza cooking demonstrations, search for the best marinara sauce in Orange County, and showcase learning stations on the history of tomatoes and garlic – two of Italy’s culinary staples.
HEALTH SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND THE HUMAN BODY: Health and Wellness Fair | August 3-4
Guests will gain new knowledge and tools through interactive activities and demonstrations to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Kids will even conquer the often daunting task of reading food and nutrition labels while engaging in a hands-on activity! Plus, visitors will find out all about the health-centric resources available in our community. Health and wellness screenings, parent development workshops, eye and hearing exams, and nutrition classes will be offered as well.  
DA VINCI’S WORKSHOP | On-Going
Throughout the summer, inside Da Vinci’s Workshop, kids will get to dive into a fully interactive exhibit showcasing history, art and science inventions from the great da Vinci himself. Special programming and themes will be presented from June through August. Themes include:

• Engineer’s Corner | June 15-16 & 22-23
  Guests will learn about Leonardo da Vinci as an engineer. Hands-on learning stations will dive into the mechanics of his works such as the armored car, diving suit and parachute.
   
• Colors, Mood & the Mona Lisa | July 13-14
  Explore the “Mona Lisa” like never before as we dive into over 500 years of mystery and investigation. Plus, guests can discover their inner artist with hands-on activities related to this famous work of art.
   
• Center of Gravity | July 27-28
  Guests will gain knowledge and an understanding of how our bodies work, what the “golden ratio” is and how gravity plays a role in body control. A study into the mathematical secrets of the Vitruvian Man will complete the learning experience!
   
• Transportation Challenge | August 10-11 & 17-18
  Leonardo da Vinci drew designs for a self-moving cart over 400 years before the first self-propelled vehicle was invented. Guests will investigate some of da Vinci’s sketches and designs and discover what a sophisticated inventor he really was, followed by designing their own glider.
   
• Sounds of the Renaissance | August 24-25
  Not only was da Vinci a great inventor, engineer and artist, he was also a musician. Guests visiting this weekend will get to discover the science behind sound, building instruments and experimenting with resonance, pitch and volume!

All summer activities, including Da Vinci – The Genius & Da Vinci Jr. are included in general admission to Discovery Science Center. Tickets can be bought at the science center or online at www.discoverycube.org. Prices are as follows: adult ($15.95), senior ($12.95), and children 3-14 ($12.95). Discovery Science Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

About Discovery Science Center
For 25 years, Discovery Science Center (DSC) has been a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young minds, assisting educators teach science and increasing public understanding of science, technology, engineering and math through interactive exhibits and programs. With one of the largest education outreach programs in the county and an unparalleled approach at creating immersive, game-based exhibits, DSC is revolutionizing how educational content is delivered. Throughout the year, guests can take the Eco Challenge and become a green superhero or feel the power of a simulated rocket engine launch. Traveling exhibits and annual events such as Spooky Science and Bubblefest throughout the year ensure that there is always something new to discover. DSC owns and operates the Taco Bell Discovery Science Center based in Santa Ana, CA and will be opening a second facility in Los Angeles in 2014. For more information, call (714) 542-CUBE or visit www.discoverycube.org.

Da Vinci - The Genius & Da Vinci Jr. Open at Discovery Science Center June 8

 

The Most Comprehensive Traveling Exhibition Ever Compiled on Leonardo da Vinci Coming to Orange County
Da Vinci – The Genius & Da Vinci Jr. on display at Discovery Science Center beginning June 8, 2013

SANTA ANA, Calif. (May 20, 2013) – Da Vinci – The Genius, the most complete and comprehensive traveling exhibition ever created on Leonardo da Vinci, will be on display at Taco Bell Discovery Science Center (DSC) beginning June 8, 2013. The interactive experience will immerse guests in da Vinci’s timeless brilliance through full-scale interpretations of the mastermind’s inventions and unparalleled studies of his iconic art. Plus, little inventors and junior da Vinci’s can dive into this fully interactive exhibit by experimenting with cranks, levers, and pulleys.

Da Vinci – The Genius demonstrates the full scope of Leonardo da Vinci’s remarkable genius as an inventor, artist, anatomist, sculptor, engineer, musician and architect. Guests will enjoy more than 200 unique pieces including 75 life-size machine inventions, three-dimensional renderings of da Vinci’s most notable Renaissance works and an eye-opening, in-depth analysis of his most famous piece, “Mona Lisa.” Visitors will be able to push, pull, crank and interact with many of these exhibits for a hands-on understanding of the scientific principles behind them.

“This exhibition was created to celebrate Leonardo da Vinci’s great works and place them all together in a single location where people can come and marvel at the brilliance of this great mind,” said Bruce Peterson, Founder and Managing Director of Grande Exhibitions.  “Leonardo da Vinci is arguably the greatest genius the world has ever known and this show makes it abundantly clear why that proposition is virtually irrefutable.”

Created with the assistance of Leonardo da Vinci experts in Italy and France, Da Vinci – The Genius celebrates one of the most revered and dynamic minds of all time. The exhibition features 13 compelling themed areas of da Vinci’s work, offering visitors an unmatched look inside the mind of the man who laid the groundwork for some of modern society’s most impactful inventions, such as the helicopter, airplane, automobile, submarine, parachute and bicycle.

All of the inventions brought to life for Da Vinci – The Genius were crafted by Italian Artisans, many using the same techniques and materials from the Renaissance period. Scouring more than 6,000 pages from da Vinci’s personal codices (notebooks), the Artisans deciphered hidden clues, intentional mistakes and mirror-image writing that da Vinci employed to keep his works top secret.

The most illustrious component of Da Vinci – The Genius is arguably the Secrets of Mona Lisa exhibit, featuring the findings of French scientific engineer and examiner of fine art, Pascal Cotte. Granted unprecedented access to “Mona Lisa” by the French government and the Louvre Museum, Cotte was permitted to take “Mona Lisa” off the wall and out of its frame to conduct a scientific analysis that revealed dozens of secrets about history’s most elusive art piece, all verified and approved by the Louvre Museum curators over a two-year period. The exhibit showcases Cotte’s studies and 25 of his most compelling revelations, illustrated by 40 super-magnified, high-resolution sectional images exploring every aspect of the work.

“Da Vinci – The Genius is the most complete and comprehensive da Vinci exhibition on the planet,” said Joe Adams, president of Discovery Science Center. “It’s a perfect complement to our long-term mission of S.T.E.M. education and inspiring the next generation of innovators.”

Visitors of Da Vinci – The Genius are invited to embrace the history, theory and objective behind each of da Vinci’s designs and artworks through engaging and entertaining technologies. Other highlights include reproductions of “Virgin of the Rocks,” “The Annunciation,” the controversial new Leonardo discovery “Bella Principessa,” amazing anatomical sketches, the preparatory drawings of the “Anghiari Battle,” and three-dimensional interactive presentations of “The Last Supper,” the “Vitruvian Man,” and the “Sforza Horse” sculpture that offer never-before-seen perspectives on these famous works. Guests also will enjoy a glimpse into da Vinci’s mysterious alphabet and writing techniques as they browse touch-screen versions of his actual codices.

The exhibition was developed by Grande Exhibitions, Australia, the Anthropos Association, Italy, under the kind auspices of the Commune di Roma, Commune di Firenze and Citta Di Venezia and with the assistance of Pascal Cotte of Lumière Technologies, France.

Doors open to the public Saturday, June 8. Da Vinci – The Genius is included in general admission to Discovery Science Center. Tickets can be bought at the science center or online at www.discoverycube.org. Prices are as follows: adult ($15.95), senior ($12.95), and children 3-14 ($12.95). Discovery Science Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
About Discovery Science Center
For 25 years, Discovery Science Center (DSC) has been a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young minds, assisting educators teach science and increasing public understanding of science, technology, engineering and math through interactive exhibits and programs. With one of the largest education outreach programs in the county and an unparalleled approach at creating immersive, game-based exhibits, DSC is revolutionizing how educational content is delivered. Throughout the year, guests can take the Eco Challenge and become a green superhero or feel the power of a simulated rocket engine launch. Traveling exhibits and annual events such as Spooky Science and Bubblefest throughout the year ensure that there is always something new to discover. DSC owns and operates the Taco Bell Discovery Science Center based in Santa Ana, CA and will be opening a second facility in Los Angeles in 2014. For more information, call (714) 542-CUBE or visit www.discoverycube.org.
 
About Grande Exhibitions
Creators and promoters of the Exhibition who have researched, sourced and interpreted much of what is contained in the exhibition.  Based in Rome Italy and Melbourne Australia, Grande Exhibitions is dedicated to delivering quality blockbuster exhibitions of mass appeal that entertain and educate.

About The Anthropos Association
From Il Genio de Leonardo Da Vinci Museo in Rome, talented and gifted Artisans have made the machines inventions and many items that you see on display at the exhibitions.  They have spent more than 10 years bringing to life over 120 of Leonardo’s concepts and designs and use in the main techniques and materials available in 15^th Century Italy.