IGN 5-2 - Curiosity: An installation inspired by NOAA, climate change, and copepods

Tuesday, August 8, 2017
C123, Oregon Convention Center
Ardis DeFreece, Pacific Northwest College of Art
In the summer of 2016, I set up my studio as an artist-in-residence at NOAA in Newport, OR. There, I worked with scientists studying marine ecosystems with a focus on zooplankton and phytoplankton. I was astonished by the beauty of these tiny life forms and their critical importance to the wider food web. Bringing these ideas together through my art was both challenging and rewarding. I saw first hand that artists and scientists can learn a great deal from each other and I truly believe this kind of collaboration can spark dialogue and creative thinking about climate change.