Visual arts focus of Miebach exhibition,

An exciting exhibition of new sculptures by Nathalie Miebach is one of several events that will showcase Skidmore?s summer art programs this month.

The Miebach exhibition runs July 7 through Oct. 4. Miebach will visit the campus for a slide lecture at 6 p.m. Sept. 28. The public is welcome.

Miebach?s work focuses on the intersection of art and science and the visual articulation of scientific observations or theories. Using methodologies and processes of both disciplines, she translates scientific data related to physics, astronomy or natural phenomena into three-dimensional structures. She typically uses basket weaving to transform her data into brightly colored and intricate three-dimensional sculptures.

Miebach collects data on climatic change?from the growing ozone hole and the ebb and flow of tidal waters, to the weather?s patterns. Using the basket?s weave as her grid, she assigns meaning to her materials; one reed may represent an hour in time or a longitudinal degree. Ultimately, she creates fanciful, intricate, and brightly colored woven sculptures, which serve as vessels for her data. In the artist?s words: ?Central to this work is my desire to explore the role visual aesthetics play in the translation and understanding of scientific information. By utilizing artistic processes and everyday materials, I am questioning and expanding the traditional boundaries through which scientific data has been visually translated (ex: graphs, diagrams), while at the same time provoking expectations of what kind of visual vocabulary is considered to be in the domain of ?science? or ?art.??

Most recently Miebach has been translating data into musical scores. She chooses several elements from her personal data and ?maps? the numbers (in pictorial form) on score sheets. Musicians then interpret the ?score? as musical compositions and Miebach interprets the score as three-dimensional sculptures. Her intentions are twofold: to make manifest a level of emotionality surrounding her research that latently exist in the sculptures and to reveal patterns in the data musicians might identify, which she has failed to see. While both the musician and Miebach work from her ?score? sheets, theoretically, musicians could ?play? the sculptures, as all the same data elements exist in the work, in visual form.

The exhibition, reception, and talk are free and open to the public. Gallery hours through Aug. 7 are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. The gallery closes for summer break Aug. 8 through Sept. 7. For more information, call 518-580-5049 or visit our website.

?Art-A-Rama? week ahead

New York sculptor Judy Moonelis' artworks often feature the unusual combination of ceramics and wire, and also explore the intersection of art and science. She will launch Skidmore's "Art-A-Rama" week with an illustrated lecture at 6 p.m. Friday, July 10, in Davis Auditorium, Palamountain Hall.

The "Art-A-Rama" celebration continues with this year's featured visiting artist, Jessica Stockholder, who will lecture at 6 p.m. Monday, July 13, in Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall. An internationally known artist whose work cannot be placed in any single art category, Stockholder is known for colorful, exuberant artworks that combine sculpture, painting, and assemblage.

"Art-A-Rama" week concludes with a panel discussion titled "Do Hybrid Artists Get Better Mileage?" Scheduled at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 16, in the Payne Room of the Tang Teaching Museum, the talk will be moderated by Ian Berry, curator of the Tang, and feature Terry Adkins, Michael Oatman and Xavieria Simmons, who will discuss their interdisciplinary art-making processes.

The second session of summer art classes ends with a Saisselin Art Building Open House from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, featuring three floors of open studios and student works on display. The campus and Saratoga communities are welcome at these events.