In a way, viewing cells under a microscope is a lot like looking at a painting. At first glance, you see the shapes, patterns, and colors. When you zoom in, you start to see all of the little details like nuclei and ribosomes, or in the context of painting, brush strokes and blends. Gaze at either long enough, and you may come away with a new perspective on life.
“There is a commonality in the way we do science and the way we do art,” says Nobel laureate Wally Gilbert. “They’re both driven by the creative urge and a passion for what’s new.”
On July 21, two worlds came together for the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Science Meets Art Festival. The event was presented by CSHL’s Center for Humanities and History of Modern Biology. Numerous artists, scientists, and other luminaries turned out to celebrate the Center’s Celia and Wally Gilbert Artist-in-Residence Program. That includes biochemist and digital photographer Wally Gilbert, who co-founded the Program with his wife, poet and artist Celia Gilbert.
The festival, held in CSHL’s Grace Auditorium, began with a multimedia exhibit featuring the work of Gilbert residents and others with connections to Cold Spring Harbor. This was followed by a symposium with talks from artists and a CSHL scientist, a piano performance, and an author reading.
Speakers included:
- Wally Gilbert, Nobel laureate, digital photographer
- Carter Burwell, American film composer
- David Peikon, painter
- Helen Hou, CSHL assistant professor
“Since 2009, I’ve been coming here almost every year for the Biology of Genomes meeting, which is a good fit for my work,” said independent American artist and Fulbright Senior Scholar Lynn Fellman. “This residency project really grabbed my heart because it was a chance to give back to the Lab.”
The Gilbert Residence invites artists to stay on CSHL’s campus and pull inspiration from the science happening here every day. One festival exhibitor found himself drawn to a particular figure from CSHL’s rich and storied past.
“I got completely lost in the McClintock archive,” said French multimedia artist Julien Masson. “She’s an amazing character.”
While in residence at CSHL, Masson came across one of Barbara McClintock’s corn samples. This is the very same corn the scientist famously used to prove the existence of transposons, also known as “jumping genes.” Now, Masson has brought the corn back to life with a 3D model.
It goes to show how science has the potential to yield not only life-changing discoveries but also groundbreaking artistry.
See the Science Meets Art Festival photo gallery.
Written by: Sara Giarnieri, Social Media Specialist | giarnieri@cshl.edu | 516-367-6842