Visitors to Flandrau can explore their faces

Brian D. Rothschild Arizona Daily Wildcat Sixth-graders Amy Scott and Nick Harrelo of Greenbrier Elementary School test out different "faces" at the new mask exhibit at Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium Friday.

"About Faces", a traveling science exhibition that opened Friday at Flandrau, was created by the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego. The exhibition consists of 18 components, most of which use the visitor's face to demonstrate facial communication and recognition.

"I think it ("About Faces") is amazing. I never realized how important facial recognition is," said Starr Ferguson, a fine arts freshman and employee at the science center.

The exhibit includes various computers, drawings and optical illusions that help visitors explore the facets of facial expressions.

A computerized exhibit videotapes the user's facial movements and manipulates the image by stretching and compressing it in time. By speeding up or slowing down the image, visitors are able to watch the unique patterns of their expressions.

One exhibit, devoted solely to recognition, challenges visitors' expression and identity recognition by changing the resolution of a facial image. The computer records a visitor's face, then manipulates the resolution, blurring the image. The user must identify his or her own blurred face from a selection of other blurry faces.

Another section, "Mix and Blend," shows visitors the symmetry of their faces. The computer allows visitors to see what they would look like if the right side of their face was identical to their left, and how they would look with a perfectly symmetrical face.

"It was strange to see how faces really aren't that symmetrical," said Kelly O'Brien, media arts sophomore.

Visitors can also paste Frankenstein's mouth or Marilyn Monroe's eyes to the image of their faces on computer screens.

The Muscle Mirror shows the wrinkles and folds formed from muscle contractions in emotions such as anger, surprise or fear.

"About Faces" also explores facial expression and recognition through optical illusion. Two pictures of the "Mona Lisa" appear similar when upside-down, but turning them upright exposes that the eyes and mouth are doctored in one of the pictures.

At a casual glance, "Tree Faces" looks like merely a picture of trees, but a closer investigation reveals hidden faces in the drawing.

Frank Appleyard, Flandrau staff technician, said, "It's great when you can have fun in a science center. It makes you want to come back and visit other exhibits. It's a great learning experience."

Admission to "About Faces" is $3 for adults and students, $2 for children 13 and younger. Admission is free with a planetarium or laser light show ticket purchase. The exhibit will be at Flandrau Science Center until April.