FEMeeting Workshop: Plankton Painting with Jess Holz
Workshop: June 27th, 3:00 pm—4:30 pm
INCUBATOR Art Lab Studio
On Thursday, June 27th, the INCUBATOR Art Lab Studio hosted a FEMeeting workshop on plankton painting and experimental photography. The event was led by artist and scientist Jess Holz. During the workshop, participants had the opportunity to create 'paintings' using microscopic plankton collected from ponds in the Windsor area. Using a microscope and specialized software, participants were able to create videos similar to timelapse photography.
Participants took photos of the trails created by the microscopic creatures, and these images are available for viewing at
https://www.flickr.com/planktonpainting/
Jess views these images as automatic drawings or paintings, given that the plankton is responsible for the marks and composition, all occurring within a millimeter or less. Participants learned how to operate a microscope and gained basic knowledge about the identification of microscopic pond life. Additionally, they got a fascinating glimpse into the dynamic behavior of these creatures, including the helical paths of flagellates and the water currents generated by rotifers as they feed.
Meet the Instructor
Jess Holz
Jess Holz (b. 1985) creates artworks which give the viewer a peek into invisible worlds, as well as a chance to reflect on the influence of scientific visual culture on our collective imagination. She has recently received a MFA in Art+Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; previously she has worked in several labs and imaging facilities, gaining valuable technical experience with a number of microscopic imaging techniques. She currently works as an electron microscopy research technician at a Boston University lab which investigates the neural circuitry underlying thought and emotion. A true artist/scientist at heart, she has been using the scanning electron microscope for artistic purposes for the past 18 years. Her award winning micrographs have been exhibited nationally and as far away as South Africa, and have garnered the support of the Frederick Layton Fellowship and UW-Milwaukee Chancellors Award. The discrepancy between what can be perceived by eye and what is imaged with the microscope has fostered her fascination with perceptual systems along with the optical properties of materials. Jess actively exploits this in photography and installation.
Image Credit
Jess Holz, 2024.
