Art at the Institute returns to in-person today

On July 20 from 4:30 to 7 p.m., the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) is excited to host its annual Art at BTI event in person for the first time since 2019.

Art at BTI is an annual exhibition series that explores the connection between art and science. BTI displays the work of a local artist on the Institute’s walls while inviting the greater community to view, celebrate and learn.

This year, the title for the event is “Patterns in Nature: How They Emerge and Inspire.” The walls of the BTI atrium are currently graced with 16 sculptures by local artist June B.W. Szabo. She will give a talk about her art, which will be followed by a lecture from Magdalena Julkowska, Ph.D., an assistant professor at BTI.

Szabo, of Trumansburg, creates gorgeous wooden sculptures inspired by landscapes and woven copper sculptures inspired by patterns in plants and fungi. The centerpiece of the exhibit is “Circling Soul,” a sculpture made of basswood that was borne from grief after the death of Szabo’s parents and inspired by the hidden strength of a tree’s roots.

Another show-stopper is “No Worries — Valley Heads Moraine.” A wooden sculpture of the 174-mile-long band of glacial deposits, the roughly 4-feet-wide piece is reminiscent of angel wings — and a favorite of Instagrammers.

BTI also is lucky to have three of Szabo’s circular sculptures of woven copper hanging in the atrium. “Lichen It — Foliose,” “Fruit and Root” and “Letting Go to Grow” glint and sparkle when they catch the morning sun, providing a lovely welcome when folks arrive to work.

Szabo’s talk is titled, “The transformative power of connections in nature and in our lives.”

Julkowska will talk about the science underlying myriad patterns that emerge in plant life in a talk titled, “Self-emerging patterns underlying the beauty of plant geometry.” Julkowska’s lab is interested in how environmental stress impacts the shape of plant architecture, making her a perfect companion to Szabo.

The free event will take place in the BTI Auditorium at 533 Tower Rd. on the Cornell University campus. The lectures begin at 5:30 p.m., and there is free parking after 5 p.m.

The Alliance for Science Modified Food Cart will provide fruit refreshments after the event, and there will also be an opportunity to tour BTI’s greenhouses. The Institute also will stream the event over Zoom for those who are unable to join us in person.

Learn more and register at btiscience.org/art. The event is free, but donations are welcome. This year’s event is made possible thanks to our generous sponsor, Cayuga Landscape.

The artworks will remain hanging for a few more months and can be viewed on appointment by contacting communications@btiscience.org.

A video replay of the lectures will be available on btiscience.org/art, so if anyone can’t make the live event, then they can still enjoy the event at their leisure.

Opened in 1924, Boyce Thompson Institute is a premier life sciences research institution located in Ithaca. BTI scientists conduct investigations into fundamental plant and life sciences research with the goals of increasing food security, improving environmental sustainability in agriculture and making basic discoveries that will enhance human health.

Throughout this work, BTI is committed to inspiring and educating students and to providing advanced training for the next generation of scientists. BTI is an independent nonprofit research institute that is also affiliated with Cornell University. For more information, visit BTIscience.org.

AJ Bouchie is editorial content and media relations manager at the Boyce Thompson Institute. East Hill Notes are published the first and third Wednesdays of each month in Tompkins Weekly.