ARTS: Combining Biology and Ceramics to Share the Stories of the Oceans

By Robert Thomason

Ceramic sculpture of coral rises, row by row, 15 feet high in the lobby of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Brown figures depicting the effect of algae on coral dominate the top right, near the mezzanine level. But radiating out from that corner are ceramic figures of a more healthy color, each with its distinctive look, all forming a brilliant bouquet.

This wall installation, "Our Changing Seas" by artist Courtney Mattison, uses its own technique and art to parallel its natural subject.

For Mattison, a recent graduate of Brown University, the work is not only a major work for a new and emerging artist, but also the culmination of a lifelong study of marine life.

"I have been mesmerized by the bizarre forms, colors, and behaviors of coral reef organisms since my first exposure to them as a child," she said. "I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to augment my academic background in marine ecology and ceramic sculpture by exploring many different coral reef regions including Hawaii, the British Virgin Islands and Thailand, and doing fieldwork along the Great Barrier Reef."

Coral, which extracts calcium carbonate from sea water to form the delicate and graceful structures that protect the living creatures within, are habitat for 25% of marine life and protect the coasts of more than 100 countries.

"The flamboyant features of corals, anemones, crinoids and other reef-dwelling invertebrates particularly inspire my work because of the paradox that these faceless plant-like creatures are actually complex animals," she contineud.

Mattison points out that the ceramic material she uses to represent the coral also contains calcium carbonate.

"Not only does the chemical structure of my work mimic that of a natural reef, but brittle ceramic anemone tentacles and coral branches break easily if improperly handled, similar to the delicate bodies of living reef organisms," Mattison stated.

The artist, a native of San Francisco and now working in Providence, Rhode Island, studied both biology and fine art at Skidmore College, and in 2011 received a masters in environmental studies from Brown University in Rhode Island.

In her view, a long-ignored common ground between art and science and the coming together of the two fields are themselves inspiring.

"Biologists and artists have much in common, but rarely collaborate," she said. "Art and science are increasingly joining forces, more now than in the past because of their shared creativity and the critical importance of conveying accurate messages to the public about the natural world."

In preparation for Our Changing Seas, Mattison interviewed scientists, artists and marine professional about their thoughts on the interface of art and science. She also cited a recent World Resources Institute study entitled Reefs at Risk as a guide for understanding the threats to these building blocks of trhe marine ecosystem.

"In my conversations with marine researchers and professionals, I discovered a trend in their responses regarding the three major threats to coral reefs: carbon dioxide emissions, which cause climate change and ocean acidification, overfishing, and land-based sources of pollution," Mattison said. "These three threats are incorporated into the design of Our Changing Seas with CO2 emissions represented by the bleached section and overfishing and pollution represented by the slimy green algae that smothers reefs affected by too many nutrients and a lack of herbivorous fish and urchins."

Mattison has created a website to accompany this work, "OurChangingSeas.org," on which she provides samples of the insights she received from three groups of interview subjects, including maring researchers, artists, and other marine professionals.  Some examples of the input she received:

• Michael Kowalski, Chairman and CEO of Tiffany's & Co., who thinks art may be "an important allied way of experiencing a coral reef" in which people don't visit the reefs in person, often causing damage to the reefs.
• Paul Miller (aka DJ Spooky), President & Founder of Vanuatu Pacifica Foundation & Tanna Center for the Arts and a Musician who says, "I think you need to pull people into a story ... seducing people into ideas that might be more complex than they're willing to digest"
• and researcher Rich Mooi, Chairman of the Department ofInvertebrate Zoology & Geology of the California Academy of Sciences, who states "It’s not just about the beauty, it's about the message behind the beauty, and losing the beauty of nature. I'm not just talking about gorgeous colors and shapes and the breeze going through your hair and the smells. I'm talking about the

Reflecting on her interchanges with professionals working in different disciplines, Mattison stressed that "One major trend in all three groups' responses was that "doom and gloom" messages are ineffective and I should focus on representing the threats while suggesting tangible solutions and expressing hope for the future.

Mattison is now embarked on a new project called "Hope Spots," inspired by scientist Dr. Sylvia Earle's call for the public to pay special attention to 18 or the world's most challenged marine environments.

Meanwhile, Mattison is glad that "Our Changing Seas" has been selected by AAAS as a lobby installation and that it had previously been displayed in the DC headquarters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and looks forward to other exhibitions of the sculpture. 

"I hope that by highlighting the major threats to coral reefs - climate change and ocean acidification, overfishing, and land-based sources of pollution - along with the fragile beauty of a healthy reef, Our Changing Seas leaves viewers with a deeper sense of curiosity about our oceans, a broader understanding of the threats reefs face, and a stronger sense of urgency to protect and restore them before it's too late," she said.