Art (In Field Work), Science (in the Studio), and the Making of Antiochzine
Scientists and artists have much in common, sharing a love of the esoteric. They are compelled by muses to spend their days on labors that rarely yield riches but are deeply satisfying and worthwhile. They have well-trained keen eyes for observation and for seeing. They are often resourceful, making something work with modest materials in impromptu ways. At Antioch College, the art division and science division faculty, classrooms, and labs have been deliberately interdigitated in the same building. Hence due to kismet and proximity, my collaborator (installation artist Andy Thompson) and I began a conversation about fiber art, papermaking, and invasive plant biology. We quickly realized that Antioch, with its rich history in social activism and Liberal Arts, would be a great place to publish a collaborative zine on the subject of invasive biology. The product, AntiochZINE, was produced with a public call for submissions and our contributors were from a spectrum of art and science. Some materials to make the zine were made of invasive bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) under the direction of papermaker Megan Heeres. Another visiting artist, Laura Beyer, provided vision for the layout and binding processes. One key observation from our work is that art:science collaborations provide rich results that neither party could develop independently. The goal of this presentation is to summarize our process, highlight our learning outcomes, and to describe our future projects.
Associate Professor Biology and Environmental Science
Antioch College
Kim Landsbergen is an Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Antioch College. She is a plant ecologist who researches terrestrial carbon and water dynamics in the context of climate change, agriculture, invasive plants, and urban ecosystems. She is actively involved in engaging science in the environmental policy process in Ohio. She collaborates with students, faculty, staff, and community members to improve environmental sustainability on- and off-campus. Prior to joining Antioch, Kim taught at the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) for four years, where she was an ‘embedded professor of science’. There she taught courses with themes in ecology, biomimicry, ethnobotany, sustainable design, and infographics. She continues to collaborate with artists, and has presented at scientific conferences on the power of art:science partnerships as a means of pushing boundaries and communicating nuanced scientific ideas.
