Artists and scientists look for common ground, thanks to this Knight Foundation grant

Three artists will spend three months posted up in University City with one goal in common: exposing the subtle poetry of science.

A $50,000 grant from the Knight Foundation to the University City Science Center will allow artists to explore working on creative research projects in the lab of Integral Molecular, a biotech company located at 3711 Market.

The program looks to foster collaboration between artists and scientists. Artists will get to use scientific equipment and hang with experts in the field of biotechnology as they craft their proposals, which will culminate with products like documentary films, publications or art exhibits.

Throughout the program, the Science Center will host related lectures, interviews and exhibitions at the Science Center’s Esther Klein Gallery.

“For more than 40 years, the Science Center has supported the collaboration of artists and scientists through artistic programming at the Esther Klein Gallery,” said the gallery’s curator, Angela McQuillan. “This grant will allow us to further advance our interdisciplinary approach, and provide more access for engagement in the realm of scientific discovery.”

On March 2, the New York Times did a Q&A with McQuillan for its “Vocations” series. Here’s a choice quote:

“When I started, I thought I’d be a full-time artist one day, but I’ve really grown to like this. Curating is creative. It has informed my art, and now the two are intermixed for me.”