Ancient fossils being unearthed in northern Tasmania; hot-off-the-press medical breakthroughs that read like a Sci-Fi novel; a Tasmanian citizen-science project taking Australia by storm (where the public gets to play detective); and discoveries about just how bizarre Tasmania’s native wildlife can be – these and other scientific surprises are being revealed in the art exhibition “Amazing Tasmanian Science Stories,” a public art-science event on at the Battery Point Community Hall for the first two weekends in February.
10 local Tasmanian artists (some of whom are also scientists) have realised that Tasmania has a huge number of astonishing, ground-breaking or simply cool and crazy science stories that are unknown to most people. They are setting out to change this, by holding a printmaking and story-telling exhibition that features 20 of Tasmania’s most impressive or quirky science stories.
The artworks reveal a wide range of colourful aspects of Tasmanian science. Next to each artwork is a short, engaging story about the science. Together the stories and art expose lost treasures, life-saving research, quirky animals, beautiful plants, and mysterious Tasmanian life-forms that are very hard to categorise.
Scientists from Tasmania’s leading science organisations, as well as Tassie’s home-grown science-art initiative The Bookend Trust, were consulted for hot-off-the-press or particularly quirky stories. Some of the art was also inspired by new research by the contributing artists who are also scientists.
“We want the exhibition to appeal to everyone, from those who love new art and stories, to those who’d like to be surprised by something they didn’t know about science and nature in Tasmania” said contributing artist Rebecca Wood.
“For such a small state, our science is so rich and impressive. But it can be hard to get the beauty and wonder across. The point of this art-science event is to give Tasmanians a new way to be delighted, touched or amazed by both art and science together.”
The artists are: Josefa Abrahams, Nicky Adams, Elizabeth Archer, Anna Berger, Jenny Blake, Barbara Boyle, Grace Cumming, Susanna Fishburn, Janet Freestun and Rebecca Wood.
This public event is part of a federal “Inspiring Australia” initiative to “unlock Tasmania’s science potential,” by finding new, creative ways to tell people about exciting scientific findings.
The exhibition is free to the public, and is showing at the Battery Point Community Hall, Hampden Road, Battery Point, Sat-Sun 7-8 February, & Fri-Sun 13-15th February, 10am-6pm.
The event has a Facebook page: Go to Facebook and search for “Amazing Tasmanian Science Stories”.
Download …
Science_Invite_Final_(1).pdf
Bec Donaldson, Artist, “Amazing Tasmanian Science Stories” printmaking art exhibition, Battery Point Community Hall, 52 Hampden Road, 7-8 Feb & 13-15 Feb, 10-6pm. Free Entry.
