Cara Wyant Fine Arts Senior Thesis Project
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2014
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Haverford College. Department of Fine Arts
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Open Access
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Abstract
As a premedical, fine arts student with a concentration in sculpture, my work as a whole is influenced by the relationships between the opposing science and art worlds. Throughout the art-making process I diligently try to include aspects from each of the two fields to achieve a meaningful culmination of ideas and concepts. For me, both realms are intrinsically concerned with aspects of the natural world and how it interacts with changing societal norms. Science seeks to explain phenomena that occur as a result of changing society, while art seeks to visually express these same phenomena. Every piece and discovery is a commentary on the progress/ regress of society. My intent is to present the viewer with basic background knowledge of relevant scientific aspects and then allow each person to begin his/her journey of assimilation of the scientific and artistic methods. The pieces of my thesis are centered around a fundamental lab conducted as a part of the Biology 200 course at Haverford College, which I was a part of sophomore year. The class focused on the replication and passage of genetic building blocks and then used fruit flies to demonstrate the genetic process through the observance of variation in specific wing genes. A multitude of varying degrees of curvature in the individual fly’s wings resulted from the passage of genetic code from generation to generation. Witnessing the pathway of genetic life and how it is portrayed in resulting individuals inspired me to bring this microscopic subject into the largerscale world. However, my work is not concerned with making “in your face” connections to this experience and relies more on viewer interpretation and a play on words. Continuing with the unexpected theme, my work reflects a notion of “things are not always as they seem.” I often utilize materials in conflict with what may seem to be a more logical choice. Though materials may be in direct contrast to the characteristics of the natural world, the methodology used presents an appearance that exudes a similar feel to that naturally encountered. No matter the material or driving influences, I want my work to provoke the viewer into questioning how each artistic piece relates to the scientific world and how, in turn, this relates to the interaction between society and the natural environment.