Welcome to the Wonder Cabinet
March 23, 2018 - Elizabeth Dwyer
Explore the borderlands between art and science at the weekend-long convocation, Albuquerque Wonder Cabinet: Precision and Imagination, April 20 through 22. The event will consist of more than 20 renowned speakers and demonstrations, including Matthew Shlian, the first artist awarded the Frederick Hammersley Artists Residency for his paper-folding artwork and consultation with microbiologists on protein folding.
The event kicks off on Friday, April 20 at Gorge Pearl Hall, in the UNM School of Architecture and Planning. Lawrence Weschler, author and director emeritus, New York Institute for the humanities at New York University, will open the Wonder Cabinet with a lavishly illustrated talk (originally fashioned as the keynote for a National Science Foundation symposium), titled “Art and Science as Parallel and Divergent ways of Knowing.” After the talk, the public is invited to Tamarind Institute for the opening reception.
Three representatives from UNM will present during the Wonder Cabinet:
Gregory Cajete is the director of Native American studies and an associate professor in the division of language, literacy and sociocultural studies in the College of Education. His work is dedicated to honoring the foundations of indigenous knowledge in education.
Andrea Polli, from the center for advanced research computing, creates artworks designed to raise awareness of environmental issues. Often these works express scientific data obtained through her collaborations with scientists and engineers and have taken the form of sound art, vehicle-based works, public light works, mobile media experiences, bio-art and design.
Alexander Webb, assistant professor of emergent technology at the School of Architecture and Planning, has collaborated with and worked for firms such as Marmol + Radziner, Patterns, Coop Himmelb(l)au, Xefirotarch, Jones Partners Architects, and Gensler.
Throughout the weekend, the public is encouraged to enter the traveling Liminal Camera — a giant camera fashioned out of a shipping container and mounted on the back of a flatbed truck, created by the Optics Division of the Metabolic Studio. Bookworks will be on hand with a popup bookstore, selling books by the esteemed Wonder Cabinet presenters.
With the exception of Friday’s events, the Wonder Cabinet will take place at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC). Lunch will be available for purchase from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. at La Fonda or Pop Fizz at NHCC, or one of the food trucks scheduled to be on site.
The event is free and open to the public. RSVP at EventBrite.
For more information on presentations, scheduling, presentation locations and registration, visit the Wonder Cabinet website.
