January 15, 2014
See for yourself: Art, science professors collaborate for ‘Surprising Realities’ series
Surprising Realities: the Art of Science at Providence College is a year-long series of exhibitions and events celebrating the beauty of scientific discovery.
Sponsored by the Department of Art and Art History, the series allows viewers to examine the role of images in science.
The title exhibition, Surprising Realities, features images, video, and animations from 10 professors from the College’s departments of biology and chemistry in the Hunt-Cavanagh Gallery. (It will run to March 21.) For example, it includes photographs of flower variations, the research focus of Dr. Maia F. Bailey, assistant professor of biology, as well as an interactive animation of a molecule in solution by Dr. Christopher M. Laperle, associate professor of chemistry.
“We’re trying to show the visual component [of their research] and have it be an art object itself,” said Sara Young, gallery curator.
In addition to the exhibition, a publication addresses the intersection of art and science. Each image for the exhibition is accompanied by a statement from the scientist about its research findings and a response from an artist or art historian regarding its aesthetic appeal and visual references.
The collaboration has been powerful, Young said.
“We’re learning so much about scientific process and new methods of visualization of data and research, and they’re learning so much about modes of display,” she said.
In addition to the exhibits, the art and art history department will host a panel discussion and screening of The Secret of Photo 51, a NOVA documentary about Rosalind Franklin’s contributions to the discovery of DNA, on March 20.
Also as part of the series, Dr. Joseph A. DeGiorgis, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Charles R. Toth, associate professor and department chair of biology, will present microscope workshops during Alumni & Family Weekend on February 15.
