Event 1: From Forces to Forrms 1


I recently attended the first of three From Forces to Forms events and was blown away by the intricate balance represented between the sciences and the arts. The event was centered around the contributions of six artists central to the exhibit being displayed at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery. We first heard from Ellen Levy, the curator of the exhibition, as she introduced the artists that explored the deeper connection between art and science and highlighted the pieces of life commonly ignored (“Pratt Manhattan Gallery”). The first artists who spoke were Adam Brown and Robert Bernstein on their invention mimicking Stanley Miller’s experiment from 1955. I was enamored by how they brought the inanimate to life and could quite literally create life in the flasks shown below (Brown, et al.).


A screenshot taken from the meeting of ReBioGeneSys 2.0 by Brown and Bernstein


This presentation was followed by the work of Janet Echelman on the laws of nature. Shown below, her masterpiece was an installation of netting 160 feet across that can withstand any forces of nature that may present themselves. “Echelman’s art transforms with wind and light, and shifts from being ‘an object you look at, into an experience you can get lost in’” (Echelman). The beauty in the piece is evident in the way it incorporates itself into the community and the staple it becomes for the citizens of Porto, Portugal.


Echelman, Janet. “She Changes.” Janet Echelman, https://www.echelman.com/#/project/she-changes/.


Finally, the last artist we heard from was Meredith Tromble talking about her “Eating Light” series, which discusses photosynthesis. Her still pieces are accompanied by a choreographed dance done in front of a green screen to represent the incredible journey from light to energy enabled by photosynthesis (Tromble). The depiction of light fueling earth is a powerful one shown below.


A screenshot taken from the meeting of “Eating Light” by Meredith Tromble


The first installation of the From Forces to Forms Exhibition was exceptional for its understanding and use of the basic building blocks of life and their contribution to art and the lives of the artists involved (“From Forces to Forms: Episode 1 ‘Laws of Nature’”). I am grateful for the awareness and beauty this event brought to my life and the fresh perspective on the role art and nature play together it created.




References:

Brown, Adam W, and Robert Bernstein. “ReBioGeneSys – Origins of Life.” Adam W Brown, http://adamwbrown.net/projects-2/rebiogenesys-origins-of-life/.

Echelman, Janet. “About.” Janet Echelman, https://www.echelman.com/about.

“From Forces to Forms: Episode 1 ‘Laws of Nature.’” UCLA Art | Sci Center + Lab, http://artsci.ucla.edu/node/1573.

“Pratt Manhattan Gallery.” Pratt Institute | Department of Exhibitions, https://www.pratt.edu/the-institute/exhibitions/pratt-manhattan-gallery/.

Tromble, Meredith. Meredith Tromble, 31 Jan. 2022, https://meredithtromble.net/.

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