Local art inspired from science

By Millar Hill

Local artists are creating art through a series of science experiments.

  In the summer of 2011, 20 artists, scientists and university students went to Banff National Park in Alberta. They spent two weeks helping Jennifer Willet, an assistant visual arts professor at the University of Windsor, in producing science and art for her project called BioARTCAMP.

“Bio Art is a form of art production that uses biological media or living media as its media in the art,” said Willet. “In painting or drawing, how you might use a pastel or clay, in bio art we are using cells, plants and other organisms.”

  After meeting fellow artists in Australia at an organization called SymbioticA, Willet said she started looking at new ways to create art. When she was younger, she did a lot of painting and drawing. Her focus was on the body, science, technology and medicine.

“They encouraged me to try these things for real instead of just making drawings or photographs of biotechnology,” said Willet. “That’s what really opened my sphere as an artist.”

  The reception for Willet’s art exhibition was held at Artcite gallery Friday, Jan 17. The exhibit presented a collection of items such as images, life forms and artifacts gathered from art camp. The purpose of the exhibit was to show the role of biotechnology through history and share the experiences gained from camp.

  Sarah Hurts, 20, attended the reception. She said she liked the mix between science and art because it was interesting.

“I saw some of the material before the exhibit, but I was not expecting there to be this much stuff,” said Hurts. “I’d like to see more students get together and start doing collaboration projects such as this project.”

  Willet said she is interested in democratizing biotechnology by asking regular people to engage in low-end biotechnological protocols.  She wants people to be aware of the sacrifices of life that is involved in those types of technologies.

“I want people to understand its complex and there are a lot of benefits, but also a lot of harms,” said Willet. “We together need to make the decision about what amount of harm we’re prepared to accept.”

  Activities like growing yogurt or making beer in your basement are some of the earliest forms of biotechnology. These things can be done at home without attending a lab.  People who may have an interest in biotechnology can visit the incubator lab at the university, or public labs within the city.

“I’d like people to take away an idea, that biotechnology or even science in general is open to a wider audience of participants,” said Willet. “You don’t have to be a scientist or have a PhD to participate actively in this community.”