We arrived at Lakeside in search of a microscopic organism to recreate as an inflatable sculpture. We were unsure what lived in Okobogi Lake, but knew there were many amazing micro animals, zooplankton, and phytoplankton. We began our search in the library and explored many books on Freshwater algae, Protozoa, and freshwater invertebrates. We felt …
We started Parts Per Million Collective to change our understanding of art and art making. We feel art can and should begin to take a more active role in the climate crisis. To us, this means creating works to directly benefit the environment. Our pathway to this goal is through research, testing, and merging carbon …
When I arrived the first day to Lakeside Labs, I only experienced the tip of the iceberg of the incredible that was yet to come. The first two days were all about getting acclimated to the culture of Lakeside Labs, whether it be early morning yoga sessions, exploring the area, listening in on lectures, attending …
Read more “An Immersion Into a Symbiotic Relationship with Nature”
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” ― Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder How often do you spend time in nature? Do you connect with nature daily? Do you listen for bird calls or get up close to a spider’s web …
Read more “Artist and scientists must inspire others to see like them.”
6/10 I began my drive to Iowa from Kalamazoo, Michigan on June 10th. It was my first trip into the state, and I really had no ideas of what Iowa or its landscape would be like. I was not altogether surprised that it was flat, but had not considered the vastness of the landscape before …
Read more “Mucky Areas, Animal Behavior, and the Value of Observation”
Brian Schorn’s exhibition titled “Practice, Rhythm and Ritual: Meditative Minimalism” at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Traverse City, MI featured 24 new works created by him, many of which were developed during his time as an Artist-in-Residence at Lakeside Lab. You can read more about the work Brian made at the Lab in his artist …
Being deeply immersed in the web of nature’s way over the last four weeks has been an enlightening experience. The opportunity to work with and learn from the scientists at Iowa Lakeside Lab has added another educational dimension to this experience for which I am grateful. Through self-reflection, contemplation, direct observation, identification guides, classroom participation, …
Read more “Indra’s Net: Interconnectedness and the Ecology of Okoboji”
What a mess and a blessing, to be back on the lake, expected to present a studio full of made objects for the benefit of expanding the students’ horizons. I am examining my anxiety levels with interest and frantically pasting tissue paper to sticks. I’ve become known for being a person who carries sticks around …
Read more “A Mess, a Blessing, a Giant Screen, and a lot of Sticks”