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Science Center BioArt Residency Welcomes Three New Artists Supported by Philadelphia Foundation Grant

Science Center BioArt Residency Welcomes Three New Artists Supported by Philadelphia Foundation Grant

(Philadelphia, PA – August 5, 2020) -- The University City Science Center has received a $10,000 grant from the Edna W. Andrade Fund, a donor advised fund of The Philadelphia Foundation, to add three artists to its BioArt Residency program. The artists chosen for this residency, Talia Greene, Keith Hartwig and Rebecca Rutstein, were selected through a competitive process to work alongside scientists at the uCity Square-based biotechnology company Integral Molecular. Working with scientists in the lab, they will each develop a creative project that will culminate in a solo exhibition of their artwork at the Science Center’s Esther Klein Gallery (EKG).

“On a daily basis, scientists everywhere have an impact on medicine and public health, yet much of this is not visible outside the scientific community,” says Integral Molecular CEO Ben Doranz. “We hope this program will begin changing this by promoting scientific engagement with the general public.”

In 2017, the Science Center and Integral Molecular launched the BioArt Residency as an unparalleled artist-in-residence experience, enabling artists to immerse themselves in a laboratory environment and explore the complexities of scientific research. The artists’ creative interpretations serve to engage broader audiences and stimulate meaningful dialogue and awareness. To date, seven artists have participated in the program.

The Edna W. Andrade Fund supports grants for local or national museums, or nonprofit art organizations that benefit visual fine artists in Greater Philadelphia. The fund was established through the estate of Edna Andrade, a leading Philadelphia teacher and artist who was associated with the Op Art movement of the 1960s.

About the Artists

Talia Greene is a Philadelphia based artist whose work focuses on the intersection of history and place in her site-specific, wallpaper-based installations. She reframes our past to shed light on current topics related to social justice and the environment. In 2018 she received a Percent for Art commission to create an interactive mural at the Philadelphia City Archives. Greene has shown her work in exhibitions across the country and is currently an Adjunct Professor at Drexel University and the University of Delaware.

Keith Hartwig is an artist, designer and researcher working in the fields of Science and Technology Studies, Media and Spatial Practice. His practice explores the spatial, cultural and civic dimensions of environmental and technological networks. Keith graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2018 with a Master of Design Studies in Art, Design and the Public Domain. Keith is currently working with Eastie Farm and members of the East Boston community on a series of socially engaged art programs addressing the effects of the global pandemic on local food systems.

Rebecca Rutstein is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, interactive installation and public art at the intersection of art, science and technology. With interests in geology, microbiology and marine science, Rutstein has frequently collaborated with scientists and is passionate about creating visual experiences that shed light on hidden environments, forging a dialogue about stewardship in the face of climate change. A past Pew Fellowship recipient, she has garnered recent attention for her latest public art project, a 63 x 124′ mural on the AT&T building along the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.

About the Science Center

Located in the heart of uCity Square, the Science Center is a mission-driven nonprofit that commercializes promising technology, cultivates talent and convenes people to inspire action. For over 50 years, the Science Center has supported startups, research, and economic development across the emerging technology sectors. As a result, Science Center-supported companies account for one out of every 100 jobs in the Greater Philadelphia region and drive $13 billion in economic activity in the region annually. By providing the right help at the right time, the Science Center is turning bright ideas into businesses and nurturing a workforce to support our 21st century economy. For more information, visit www.sciencecenter.org.

About Integral Molecular

Integral Molecular (www.integralmolecular.com) is the industry leader in discovering and characterizing therapeutic antibodies against membrane proteins, an important group of drug targets found on the surfaces of cells and viruses. Integral Molecular’s technologies have been integrated into the drug discovery pipelines of over 300 biotech and pharmaceutical companies to help discover new therapies for cancer, diabetes, auto-immune disorders and viral threats such as SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, Zika, and dengue.

Media Contact:

Kristen Fitch

Kristen Fitch

Senior Director, Marketing