Working with Live Painting Materials

In this collaboration between artist and scientist we have enlisted a natural organism, E. coli bacteria,  to  generate images that resemble paintings or prints, but that have a unique set of patterns that could not be generated using non living materials. We hoped that by letting nature generate its own patterns we would trigger the interest of the eye and the visual brain, which has evolved to pay attention to the irregular patterns generated by natural growing objects. 

This blog documents our many adventures.  Above are two prints pulled from the same petri dish. (Simply click on any image to see it in greater detail.) Please visit our website to see a gallery of current work, and leave us your comments... we'd love to hear your impressions.

Take a Look at the World Science Festival Blog

Molly Webster, the tireless producer of our Bio-Art program at the Museum of Arts and Design, has learned an awful lot about what goes into creating prints from cultured, hand-painted genetically-engineered blue E. coli bacteria.  It's been great to read how someone with a bit more artistic-remove describes our work -- check our her two posts from our festival week here. 

Preparing at the Lab

Printing and Painting at MAD

Thank you so much for all your help and spirited words Molly! Stay tuned for pictures of finished work soon to come...

Join Us at the World Science Festival!

Once again, we will be offering an educational program at the World Science Festival. Come see us on
Thursday, June 3, 2010, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Museum of Arts and Design

Ms. Emily Shu's art students from the Juan Morel Campos High School will be learning about microbiology as they spend the afternoon painting their own designs in bacteria, and printing other designs cultivated the day before by Amy. Throughout the program, the public is invited to visit the Museum's Open Studio, to observe the printing and painting process.

Participation by invitation only; public welcome to observe. Free with admission to the Museum of Arts and Design.
Special thanks to Katayoun Chamany, Associate Professor at Eugene Lang College, for providing lab space and support!