Local artist explores relationship among creativity, art, science with "Discover"

Local artist Susan Byrnes’ latest exhibition Discover debuts Friday evening at Brazee Street Studios’ C-LINK Gallery with a free reception and artist talk.
 
Byrnes’ work showcases a variety of mediums — everything from glass, sound and scientific research — to bring together the interdisciplinary connections between art and science. For the past few years she's explored communities and their connections to art, and in a sense her work with molecular biologists from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is a continuation of that work, she says.
 
“I am married to a molecular biologist and have always been struck by the similarities in our work habits, work environments, and creative approaches to problem solving,” Byrnes says. “I was interested in further exploring the practical similarities with the work process and perspectives on creativity that scientists have.”
 
So Byrnes, a Cincinnati Arts Ambassador Fellow, looked at research, textbooks and images and interviewed molecular biologists to produce audio samples of what it means to be creative in their line of work. The specialized language utilized by the molecular biologists, for example, fascinates her.
 
“It is incredibly dense and specific and about life and curiosity but expressed in a way you or I — writers, artists, poets, observers — wouldn’t usually use to describe it,” she says. “The scientific culture possesses a view of the world that I wanted to reveal through themes of wonder, failure and epiphany.”
 
The language, laboratory equipment — most things the general public thinks of when considering science — are more often than not, formulaic, Byrnes says, so the goal is to humanize the subject matter.
 
“I’m not sure how often the general public gets to experience things that have to do with science in any setting that is not sterile or clinical, which I find to be a somewhat intimidating environment,” she says. “I hope in this exhibit they will gain another perspective from an artist exploring the creativity of science.” 

Do Good: 

•    Check out the opening reception of Discover at 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 6, with the artist talk beginning at 7 p.m. The event is free. 

•    If you miss Friday evening's opening, the exhibition runs through April 3 with regular gallery hours.

•    Connect with the Cincinnati Arts Ambassador Fellowships' Facebook page.