D3053: Nicrocosms: Studies on scavenging and renewal

Nicrocosms: Studies on scavenging and renewal was an exhibition at the Bodega Marine Lab and Reserve in Bodega Bay, California, in June 2023. This interdisciplinary project was funded by a Russell J. and Dorothy S. Bilinski Fellowship awarded to Tracie Hayes. 9 artists shared their work in an outdoor exhibition: Michele Burr, E. Saffronia Downing, Emily Gordon, Emily Goyins, Rosemary Holliday Hall, Ryan Hodge, Kelley O’Leary, Ofelia Viloche Pulido, and Alejandra Ruiz. In preparation for the exhibition, artists participated in fieldwork on burying beetle (Nicrophorus spp.) reproduction, group discussions about scavenging ecology, and one-on-one meetings to develop ideas. Burying beetles, in many ways, are the ultimate scavengers: they rely on and are adapted to a fleeting resource, and they play a crucial role in processing the dead so that those nutrients can be used again by the greater ecosystem. The pieces made by each artist frame, highlight, and make obvious the work that is being done by these beetles. After the exhibition, I continue to think about what can be gained from interdisciplinary experiences like this: What are the parallels across the scientific method and the creative process? Does art have a place in regular ecological fieldwork practices? Do subtle and nuanced forms of art have a place in scientific outreach and climate change awareness? Are there audiences that can be reached better through diverse forms of communication?