July 25, 2008
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“California's Gold” artists are (from left) students Stacy Matsuura, Joji Kume, Frank Sousa, Lesli Hamamoto, community member Joy Elson, professor Diane Ullman, alumna Feiyian Yoong and community member Barbara Engel. |
DAVIS—"California's Gold” is making the rounds.
The ceramic mosaic portrait of California, a student project spearheaded by entomologist Diane Ullman and artist Donna Billick, co-directors of the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program, is not just making the rounds—it’s going places.
First it traveled to the UC Davis Buehler Alumni and Visitors’ Center for a monthlong exhibition in June, and now it’s at 150 Mrak Hall, home of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES).
Next stop: the UC Davis Centennial exhibit at the California State Fair, Aug. 15-Sept.1.
Then it’s off to Washington, D.C. to be displayed in Cong. Mike Thompson’s office.
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| 'California's Gold' will be part of the UC Davis Centennial at the California State Fair, Aug. 15-Sept. 1. (Click to enlarge) |
Built by students at a special seminar offered through the Science and Society Program, “Connecting Art and Science: Bringing Environmental Concepts to Life with Ceramic Mosaic,” the 3-foot x 5-foot tall art work depicts a topographical view of California with its flora and fauna riches, including the California poppy, California quail, trout and salmon, as well as some of our major agricultural crops--dairy cows, honey bees, almonds, grapes, garlic and olives, Ullman said.
Ullman and Billick conducted the seminar, part of the Art/Science Fusion Program, during the spring 2008 quarter.
The Art/Science Fusion Program, founded and directed by Ullman and Billick, is housed in Science and Society, CA&ES. It’s a part of the UC Davis Arboretum GATEways Project (GATE signifies Gardens, Arts and the Environment).
Students’ creative energy and talents sparked “California's Gold” in a environment where science and art meet, said Ullman, associate dean for undergraduate academic programs CA&ES, and professor of entomology. She created the dairy cow and pileated woodpecker.
Student Andreana Cipollone, a biological sciences major, Class of 2009, said the mosaic brings together “the perspective of the clouds and sky, the golden fields and rolling hills, the ocean and the desert.”
“In this fusion of art and science, we hope that each viewer leans something about ‘California’s Gold’ and finds inspiration to further solve those mysteries of the natural world by which we are all surrounded,” Cipollone said.
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--Kathy Keatley Garvey
Communications specialist
UC Davis Department of Entomology
(530) 754-6894
