Art+Biology (Stony Brook University, Spring 2025, Fall 2023)

Course Description

This interdisciplinary art studio course explores interactions between the life sciences and the fine arts. We explore topics including ecology, climate science, environmental activism, anatomy, and microscopy. Emphasis is placed on challenging students to develop a personal vision to individual creative expression. Themes in the course are reinforced by guest presenters as well as readings, media presentations and fieldwork. Students may work in any creative media including photography, poetry, painting, printmaking, sculpture, performance, digital time-based media ……∞)

In this course, students:

Explore concepts in the life sciences, specifically in the areas of ecology, climate science, environmental activism, anatomy, and microscopy.
Review the work of artists and scientists working across disciplines.
Demonstrate fundamentals of the art making process: ideation, concept development, problem solving and intuitive exploration.
Effectively communicate concepts in visual, written, and oral forms.
Demonstrate technical proficiency in microscopy for image acquisition, Dept of Ecology and Evolution, Life Sciences Greenhouse.
Use research, historical and contemporary in developing awareness of the intersection of art and science.
Develop an awareness and understanding of different learning styles.
Cultivate new and inventive ways of communicating science.
Display curiosity, creativity, and cohesiveness in the development and realization of creative works.

Projects

ArtBio Research Presentation – PechaKucha Style
Cyanotype Impressions
Hidden Kingdoms (microscopy)
Biological Metaphor
Final Self-Defined Project

Reflections (artwork or written) inspired by Guest Speakers and Fieldwork

Guest Presenters and Collaborators
We are extremely grateful for the generosity, support, and enthusiasm of our guests and collaborators.

Sean Haliwell, curator Life Sciences Greenhouse, ‘Botany’ samples for botanical cyanotypes – Fieldwork
Dr. Karina Yager, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, “Climate Science and Repeat Photography”
Dr. Dianna Padilla, Dept of Ecology and Evolution, “Protozoa and Sponges Microscopy”– Fieldwork
Dr. Beth Watson, Dept of Ecology and Evolution, “Fruit and Plants” – Fieldwork
Artist Tucker Marder and The Folly Tree Arboretum “Environmental Storytelling”
Artists Stephen Nash and Luci Betti Nash, ”Anatomy, Botany, and Scientific Illustration” Anatomical Museum – Fieldwork
Lorraine Walsh, Artist, Art Director and Curator of The Simons Center for Geometry and Physics – Fieldwork
Alain Rasolo, Malagasy Wildlife Artist, Guest of The Safina Center