| Abstract Detail
Recent Topics Posters Redwood, Mame [1], Geisler-Lee, Jane [2], Palmer, Erin [3]. Artistic and Biological Models of Fern Life Cycles . Biological processes can be confusing to students. One especially difficult concept is the fern life cycle, which exhibits stages not present in animal life cycles or seed plants. Fern spores germinate into free-living, multicellular, haploid individuals called gametophytes that live independently of the diploid generation. These stages of the fern life cycle are clearly modeled in a 3D manner to clearly illustrate the forms and to engage the interest of the viewer. This project involves the common ground of two different fields, art and biology, in a way that will engage and educate members of both disciplines. Biologically accurate and informative fern life cycles are illustrated richly on ceramic plates. The natural material of clay is suited for the depiction of biological forms such as the fern life cycle because the plasticity of the medium allows for the modeling of supple organic form. However, unlike most fluid materials which are ephemeral in nature, clay can be dried and heated to high temperatures, which melts the clay particles together and fixes the fluid form into a sturdy, permanent object. Clay is also suited for the depiction of natural forms because the clay is colored with natural earth tones derived from minerals applied to the clay’s surface before firing. The content of the work will interest members of the scientific community who otherwise may not be interested in ceramic art. The beautiful rendering of processes usually depicted in diagrams and line drawings will interest the general public, who may stop to examine a beautiful artwork more readily than a stark diagram. Furthermore, the aesthetic qualities and craftsmanship of the pieces engages the artist, who has much to learn from the beauty, complexity, and grace of organic form.
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1 - PO Box 835, St. Joseph, IL, 61873, USA
2 - Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Plant Biology, Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, USA
3 - Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Art & Design, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
Keywords:
illustration
art
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
3D modeling.
Presentation Type: Recent Topics Poster
Session: P1
Location: Event Tent/Cliff Lodge
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2009
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: P1RT039
Abstract ID:1244 |
