Science-Informed Art Practice
Science-Informed Art Practice focuses on artistic projects that ask artists to explore community issues through an educated lens. In these projects, artists were provided with intensive and detailed scientific training on the subject matter. Out of this learning, artists create new artworks that express their unique perspectives on scientific knowledge, community input, and their own individual experiences.
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In my career, I have produced and led a handful of projects using this model, as you see on the right. This merging of art and science, community and deep learning, has led to truly powerful and impactful art exhibitions and programs.
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For scientific communities who wish to share their findings with their community and a larger audience, science-informed art practice is an innovative and creative path to success.
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Fires of Change
Eleven artists participated in a week-long “Fire Science Bootcamp” in Northern Arizona. Scientists, fire fighters, and land managers gave presentations to the group on the topic of wildfire science and management in the American Southwest.
Out of this deep experiential learning, artists then created new artworks that were featured in the corresponding art exhibition Fires of Change. The exhibition helped patrons understand the many complex factors that have led to today’s crisis surrounding wildfire in the American Southwest.
Many of these artists continue to create art around this theme beyond the Fires of Change project to reach audiences well beyond our original target group.
Hope & Trauma in a Poisoned Land
Similarly, with Hope & Trauma in a Poisoned Land, artists were taken to the Navajo reservation in Arizona to learn from scientists and Navajo community members about the impact of uranium mining on the land and people.
The resulting award-winning exhibition was filled with artworks that elicited deep emotional responses. While this was challenging subject matter, patrons were grateful for the perspective.
Surveys suggested that most of the patrons left the exhibition with greater knowledge about uranium contamination issues than prior to viewing.