This exhibition features finished works and works in progress that have been made by students and artists who utilize techniques and knowledge from the field of biological sciences, apply discussion from humanities and look for visual and textual expression that comes from the arts.

During the global pandemic, the need for an integrated approach to education that includes both art and science has become imperative for fighting collective distrust in science. Our attempt is to create widely accessible view of the work done in scientific labs and open discussion about its social importance that comes from both sciences and the arts.

While taking the bio-art class the students, who have scientific or artistic backgrounds, studied examples of bio-art, had hands-on experience with microscopy and other biological techniques, and discussed their work reaching beyond their disciplines. The works in the exhibition present varieties of topics, starting with self-portraits, portraits of ecological systems, visual exploration of macro and micro worlds, ethical and personal exploration of the role of the scientist in the society, and the body as a political arena. Guest artists are presented with signature and award-winning works.

Jennifer Willet looks at the topic of co-existence, play and collaboration of human and microbial worlds, Paul Vanouse reflects upon industrial society’s shift from human and machine labor to forms of microbial manufacturing, and Adam Zaretsky presents “The Errorarium,” a device for exploring the gamification of the forced genetic errors that may appear in chamber-grown botanica.

Guest artists:Jennifer Willet, Paul Vanouse, Adam ZaretskyFeatured Art and Science students:Oksana Kazmina, Jakub Kochanowski, Elise Krespan, Yiling Lan, Sicong Ma, Marjona Mardonova, Madison Montalvo, Cheyene Muenzel, Madison Paris, Madeline Pietrowski, Jacob Purce, Anshul Roy, Renita Saldanha, Mokhinur Sobirova, Mingeun Song, Glenn Urgola, Olivia Wang, Feimo Zhu, Amy Zurawski.

CHIMERA is part of the programming of the Bio-Art Mixer, where art and life sciences meet, faculty and grads share their research or look at it from the perspective of a different discipline. Initiated by Heidi Hehnly, Ph.D. Biology, SU; Boryana Rossa Ph.D. FMA.Supported by CUSE Seed Grant, Department of Film and Media Arts and Department of Biology.

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