ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Cynthia Pannucci, the founder of ASCI  <http://www.asci.org> recently  
made me aware of an unusual, on-going collaboration between New  
Zealand artist Claire Beynon, and New York-based polar research  
biologist, Sam Bowser, and I thought folks on the list might be  
interested.

Claire and Sam's collaborative art/science work begins with several  
field research trips to Antarctica, but fundamentally it is  
distinguished by a unique collaborative process in which each has  
embraced and been influenced by the other's work and process (in the  
field, laboratory, studio, and gallery settings).

Basically, Claire creates artworks that Sam uses to grow foraminifera  
(the unicellular organisms he studies) using nanolithographic methods.
Then information on the foram's motile behavior and structure is  
gathered using time-lapse video light microscopy and scanning electron  
microscopy, which in turn is applied to generate scientific hypotheses  
for more formal experimental tests.  Claire then utilizes these  
scientific images as prompts for new artwork.

Most artist-scientist collaborations that I have seen over the years  
involve the artist being inspired by the scientist's research and/or  
helping the scientist visualize his/her research. Rarely does it move  
in the other direction!

Find out more about Claire and Sam's work via the ASCI Featured Member  
Page: <http://www.asci.org/artikel978.html> or via an extended posting  
with project links on the ExhibiTricks blog: <http://blog.orselli.net/>


----------------------------------------------------------

Paul Orselli, President and Chief Instigator

Paul Orselli Workshop (POW!)
1684 Victoria Street
Baldwin, NY  11510

<http://www.orselli.net>

(516) 223-1043  voice
(516) 238-2797  mobile

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