FUSION opens Friday, May 13, with a free artist reception, 5-8 p.m. in Summit Artspace Gallery. The show runs through June 18, 2016. It is free and open to the public.
FUSION will bring together pieces by local artists who embrace science as an inspiration for art—from the precision of medical illustrations to the awe-inspiring forms discovered through biomimicry.
“Artists and scientists both investigate the world around them to absorb and transform information into new and unexpected ways,” says Rob Lehr, exhibition curator of FUSION. “From laboratories to studios, biomimicry with all of its fascinating nuances, merges art and science, allowing onlookers to grasp nature’s remarkable power to evolve and survive."
Artists participating in the show are Beth Lindenberger, Donna Webb, Jack McWhorter, Jennifer Court, Lorraine Heller-Nicholas, Micah Kraus, Miwa Neishi, Sarah Burris, Seth Shaffer , Wei Zeng, Keith Freund and Linda Lejsovka.
Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that ... view more »
FUSION opens Friday, May 13, with a free artist reception, 5-8 p.m. in Summit Artspace Gallery. The show runs through June 18, 2016. It is free and open to the public.
FUSION will bring together pieces by local artists who embrace science as an inspiration for art—from the precision of medical illustrations to the awe-inspiring forms discovered through biomimicry.
“Artists and scientists both investigate the world around them to absorb and transform information into new and unexpected ways,” says Rob Lehr, exhibition curator of FUSION. “From laboratories to studios, biomimicry with all of its fascinating nuances, merges art and science, allowing onlookers to grasp nature’s remarkable power to evolve and survive."
Artists participating in the show are Beth Lindenberger, Donna Webb, Jack McWhorter, Jennifer Court, Lorraine Heller-Nicholas, Micah Kraus, Miwa Neishi, Sarah Burris, Seth Shaffer , Wei Zeng, Keith Freund and Linda Lejsovka.
Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies. In art, the artist translates the patterns, shapes and interactions of nature to canvas, sculpting material or other medium.
Summit Artspace Gallery Manager Joe Karlovec believes visitors will quickly relate to the images based on their own experience with nature and the human body. The exhibit goes beyond canvas to include multimedia art.
"Innovation through art and science is often discovered through the process of experimentation. It is something critical to both disciplines. 'Fusion' highlights a range of perspectives and collaborative works that all seem to stem from this level of scientific inquiry," observes Karlovec.
Fusion features several collaborative works by contemporary artists including a sculptural installation by Beth Lindenberger and Donna Webb. The two artists produced a similar award-winning installation for the ‘Art & Science’ exhibition at Indiana University East in Richmond, IN.
In the Side Gallery there is also a collaborative multimedia sound and video installation by Sarah Burris, Lorraine Heller-Nicholas, Keith Freund and Linda Lejsovka. The work was originally titled ‘Merged’ and exhibited at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FLA.
Gallery hours are Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. The gallery will be open for Saturday, June 4, from noon to 5 p.m. and then during Artwalk in downtown Akron from 5 to 9 p.m.
With the FUSION art presenting an intense backdrop, Summit Artspace has invited Ohio’s first Poet Laureate, Amit Majmudar, M.D., to read from his newest collection on May 20 in the gallery. He will be joined by two students from the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) who placed in the 2016 William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition. The event will start at 5:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
Several additional programs, workshops, events and activities will continue through mid-June in conjunction with the show. Check summitartspace.org for details, dates and times.
Summit Artspace is a community art center bringing together in one location some of the best local artists, art education and arts organizations of the Greater Akron area. It is a project of the Akron Area Arts Alliance and the County of Summit. Summit Artspace is located at 140 E. Market St., Akron, Ohio 44308. The phone is 330-376-8480 and the website is summitartspace.org.
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