Right Turn: Wherefore art thou stem cell artists?

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CCRM’s intrepid communications summer student is back! Erin Sugar dishes on the intersection between health, art and science using an intriguing medium: the Petri plate.

In the spirit of the return of the Cells I See art contest (submissions begin mid-July, 2014 – more details in a future Right Turn), this week’s blog features the cell inspired artwork of San Francisco-based Klari Reis. Her collection “Petri Projects” is a series of installations using mixed media (epoxy polymer, dye, pigments, paint, etc.) on a Petri dish in place of a canvas.

http://public.media.smithsonianmag.com/legacy_blog/The-Color-Purple-Klari-Reis.jpg

Inspired by her body’s reaction to certain medications prescribed to treat a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease in the early 2000s, Klari set out to examine the chemical reactions of these treatments at a cellular level and renders them in her paintings.As a collection, Reis’s art appears indifferent to the concept of order, almost as if it is welcoming the infinite possibilities that accompany the integration of cells and science, or the effects of medicinal intervention on these natural forms.

As a cell defies homogeneity, Reis’s artwork varies in size and number (30 to 150 Petri dishes per installation) and is mounted at random distances from the wall to display a work of harmonious chaos that is both appealing and arresting to the viewer’s eye.

I hope that Klari’s ability to showcase cellular reactions inspires your own interpretation of stem cell- and biomaterials-based images and art, and the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine looks forward to receiving your Cells I See submissions from July to September 15, 2014.

I strongly recommend you check out her stunning installations and artwork at http://www.klariart.com/ and http://www.adailydish.com/.

Our regular feature, Right Turn, showcases the “lighter” side of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Every Friday, we will bring you cartoons, photos, videos and other content that may be just as thought provoking as the written submissions that you are used to finding here, but they definitely won’t be blogs.

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Stacey Johnson

Stacey Johnson is the editor of Signals and a contributor. For 25 years, Stacey has been providing strategic communications counsel to government, corporate, technology and health organizations. She began her career at the CTV Television Network and then moved to Hill & Knowlton Canada where she advised clients in a variety of industries and sectors. Stacey is the Vice President, Communications and Marketing for CCRM, a leader in developing and commercializing regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies. She has a Master's degree in Public Relations. You can follow her on Twitter @msstaceyerin.

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