The Force Now - Chicago
May the force be with you. This has always felt like the blessing most empowering to give. THE force. Not just any old force but THE force, the one that matters, that really works. As usual I think scientifically, first. Gravity is a good one. In even an everyday star like our sun gravity is so strong it takes a hundred thousand years for heat and light to escape and warm my face on my last bike ride. That's a nice feeling from a four hundred quintillion megawatt power source ninety-three million miles away. Yep. Force.
Some scientists in Europe are building an electromagnet as part of a project to solve the energy challenge that will likely end our world as we know it within a hundred years. Their design can generate inside a building the repulsion force equivalent to twice what the rockets lifting the space shuttle generate. And then there is the Strong Force which takes over from that repelling force once positively charged protons are brought close enough together. This is the force that binds atomic nulei. Squeeze two protons tight enough, so they are 0.000000000000001 meters close together and the Strong Force takes over uniting them. The Strong Force is about a hundred times stronger than electromagnetism.
Mostly I just like the name - the Strong Force. Can you feel it?! Well. Actually. No. Not so much. The strongest force I feel everyday is love. I love my kids. I love my brothers. My family is everything. Everybody knows that this is the real Force. Holidays are coming where we visibly and invisibly join hands to celebrate our religions and the solstice, but mostly there is an extra couple of logs on the fire of compassion and togetherness. Be warmer this season my friends than ever before. Take extra time to squeeze those hands tightly. The real strong force is love and may it be with you. For real.
Oh, and by the way. I'm bringing artwork to the midwest. I got a little distracted there. Again. Pismo Gallery from Colorado will exhibit the newest and latest stainless steel light sculptures, inspired by forces, at The SOFA Art & Design Chicago Art Fair, Festival Hall, Navy Pier, Chicago, November 7-9, 2014. www.sofaexpo.com
