Plankton Painting

Jess Holz (b. 1985) creates artworks which give the viewer a peek into invisible worlds, as well as a chance to reflect on the influence of scientific visual culture on our collective imagination. She received an MFA in Art+Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and has worked in several labs and imaging facilities, gaining valuable technical experience with a number of microscopic imaging techniques. She currently works as an electron microscopy research fellow at a Boston University lab which investigates the neural circuitry underlying thought and emotion. The discrepancy between what can be perceived by eye and what is imaged by the microscope has fostered her fascination with perceptual systems along with the optical properties of materials. Jess actively exploits this in photography and installation.

Taught by artist/scientist Jess Holz, this experimental photography workshop explores and celebrates plankton biodiversity through hands-on interactive ‘Plankton Painting’ or chronophotography of plankton (pond critters) collected from local waterways such as Chandler Pond and Boston Harbor, in which you will use a microscope along with special software Jess wrote to create beautiful artworks of plankton motion and behavior as they swim on the microscope slide. Chronophotography visualizes dynamic behaviors and strange movements, such as the helical paths of flagellates and the microscopic water currents rotifers generate when they filter feed. Jess considers these images like automatic drawings or paintings, the plankton create the marks and composition, all happening at the millimeter scale. This workshop primarily uses darkfield and fluorescence microscopy, but participants also get to play with other advanced microscopy techniques using Jess’ high-end Leica DMRB microscope equipped with a number of advanced upgrades. Students will leave the class with a print of their favorite ‘painting,’ all photos from the class will be uploaded to: https://www.flickr.com/photos/planktonpainting

The materials fee for this class is $10. This is separate from the ticket price and is to reimburse the instructor for any tools or materials used in this class. This will be paid once, directly to the instructor at the start of the first class meeting. This instructor accepts payments in cash or through Venmo or PayPal.

- Make visible what exactly lives in our local waterways—the vibrant and dynamic life we cannot see.

- Instruction and introduction to basic plankton identification and ecology.

- Knowledge of the distinct forms of life between different nearby ponds, as well as contrasting the composition of plankton in marine water vs. pond water.

- Students will learn fascinating facts about plankton behavior and gain an intimate knowledge of how they move using this unique timelapse technique.

- Students will learn tips for composing photos using chronophotography, and may inquire with Jess about using her software with their own microscope.

Materials fee includes one sheet of Hahnemuhle photo rag metallic archival inkjet paper for a print of your favorite photo taken during the class.

Jess will provide water samples collected from Boston Harbor and Chandler pond.

Pen/paper/notebook for taking notes.

You are welcome to bring your own water samples, but it is not guaranteed we will have time to look at them.

Students must be 13 years or older, all students under 18 years old must be accompanied by and under the direct supervision of an adult.

Learn more about our class and ticket cancelation policies Here.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Artisan's Asylum, 96 Holton Street, Boston, United States