CARE faculty collaborate with artists to help interpret acoustics research in new and exciting ways. In 2019, textile artist Lindsay Olson from Columbia College Chicago created two pieces of art that visually document the underwater soundscape of sea life in the Atlantic Ocean. Inspired by her time aboard the ADEON cruise with CARE director Dr. Jennifer Miksis-Olds, Olson's embroidered silk panels illustrate the daily migration of zooplankton, the sound-enhancing layer in the ocean, phytoplankton, and the dramatic vocalizations of marine life gathered by hydrophones (a type of underwater microphone). Olson has written three articles based on this experience, which have been published in the Illinois Science Council, SciArt Magazine, Art the Science Blog, and TextileArtist.org.
In 2023, CARE acquired Olson's artwork piece, "Sound In The Sea: The Art and Science of Ocean Acoustics” (pictured above). This work has been installed on the third floor of the Earth, Oceans, and Space building in Morse Hall where it is hoped that it will inspire students and visitors to appreciate the value of using acoustic tools to research the marine environment. Thank you to Dr. Miksis-Olds, principle investigator, for arranging this acquisition and for supporting Lindsay Olson's work.
In 2021, artist Wendy Klemperer's watercolors and sketches were on display at the UNH Museum of Art. Her work, based on a three-week at-sea residency on the ADEON cruise with Dr. Miksis-Olds, highlights the collaborative nature of scientific research and celebrates the scientific and experiential rewards of conducting environmental research outdoors.
