Local Portland artist, Kindra Crick, created an exhibit with research scientist, John Harkness, about memory, titled: “Memory: Cerebral Entanglement.” The exhibit is displayed in the Dengerink Administration Building and in the Science and Engineering Building.
“It’s one of the first shows where we can showcase a collaboration between art and science at WSU Vancouver … It was very exciting to see how collaboration can lead to many new things,” Avantika Bawa, associate professor of fine arts, said.
(Sydnie Kobza/The VanCougar)
“I wanted to create this exhibit to bridge the gap between art and science. Memory and sleep has always been an interest of mine,” Crick said.
Crick and Harkness met three years ago at Northwest Noggin — a neuroscience outreach group. There they decided to combine his research with her artistic skills. Since then, Harkness’ research has developed and the exhibit evolved with it.
Harkness explained the research for his postdoctoral study is, “about net-like structures that surround the neurons in the brain which are associated with memory retention.”
According to Harkness, the research focused on how to treat cocaine addiction through the memory that is created when neurons make a connection about the addiction. Crick based her artwork on the Harkness’ research.
“It’s one of the first shows where we can showcase a collaboration between art and science at WSU Vancouver … It was very exciting to see how collaboration can lead to many new things.”
– Avantika Bawa
“The art pieces that are on the wall are unique to WSU Vancouver,” Crick said. The blue neuron-shaped pieces that are attached to the ceiling have been in other parts of Crick’s exhibit in other places like Portland State University, but she said they were used in different ways.
The exhibit in VDEN is part of the gallery, and a continuation of Crick’s work resides in VSCI and is brought to life through chalk on chalkboards.
According to Bawa, the exhibit will available until Jan. 6. Crick and Harkness will also host an interactive workshop on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. RSVP at the ArtX CougSync page.
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