2019 ART+WATER: Mountains to the Sea Project

In 2019, the seventh in the Art and Science Series embarked on ‘Art + Water’ with the theme of ‘Water: Mountains to the Sea / aramoana’. The project participants included artists and scientists from a range of organisations in Dunedin and the wider Otago area, including: Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic (alumni artists and current staff ); University of Otago (researchers from Biochemistry, Microbiology, Computer Science, Geology, Anatomy, Marine Science, Zoology, Science Communication, and the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies); the Dunedin Loom Room; Sinclair Wetlands and Ecosystems Consultants; and the Touchstone Citizen Project (Wanaka).

Collaborative projects in ‘Art + Water’ explored widely, from the source of water, to the structure of water, and the journey of water on its way from the mountains to the sea. The artists interpreted research on a wide range of topics including the forms of water, ice-formation, water-related protein structures, water-born disease in birds, fossilized structures made by aquatic/marine animals, impacts of land-use on water quality, water-born environmental DNA, effects of ocean acidification on marine calcifiers, ecology of the coastline shallows and the deep ocean canyons, bioengineering on farmland and conflicts in communities around water scarcity. Several of the projects revolved around implementation of research in environmental restoration work, including volunteer projects at Sinclair Wetlands and the Touchstone Citizen Project.

As is traditional for this Series, the aim of the ‘Art and Water’ project was not illustration of the science but an artistic response to scientific research. Throughout, both artists and scientists were involved in sharing their process and describing their work in monthly communal meetings. It has been a long rich journey, from source to exhibition, and we hope it enriches your thoughts and involvement in helping to solve the huge challenges our waters face, now and in the future.

Pam McKinlay and Jenny Rock, Co-coordinators

Dates:  9 - 21 SEPTEMBER 2019
Opening: Monday 9 September, 5.30PM
Venue: HD Skinner Annex, Otago Museum
Public Programme: Meet the scientists, Workshop and Join the Dots on Sunday 15^th September 10am-3pm

https://www.thestar.co.nz/digital-edition/?edition=STR_2019_09_05 page 41

(Poster design by Heramaahina Eketone, Pam McKinlay and Joanna Wernham 
- pen and ink image for poster by Heramaahina Eketone, Waikato and Ngati Maniapoto)

The project is administered and curated by Pam McKinlay from the Dunedin School of Art and co-coordinated by Pam McKinlay and Dr Jenny Rock, Science Communication, University of Otago.

Co-cordinators:

Pam McKinlay is an artist with a background in applied science and history of art. As an artist she works predominantly in sculpture, weaving and ceramics. She works in collaboration with other artists locally and nationally in community outreach and education projects around the theme of climate change, sustainability and biodiversity. Currently she works at the Dunedin School of Art.
Pam McKinlay, Dunedin School of Art 
Pam.McKinlay@op.ac.nz 

Jenny Rock has backgrounds in science and art. She has spent > 20 years as a scientific researcher (particularly in marine biology) and is an intaglio and relief printmaker, as well as occasional poet. Currently she is a Sr Lecturer in Science Communication (University of Otago) focusing on aesthetics, participatory practice, sensory cognition, and ArtScience.

Jenny Rock, Otago University 
Jenny.Rock@otago.ac.nz