The Science Quilt is done! If you’d like to read about the making process, from start to finish, you can hit the links at the bottom of the post. And there are lots of photos here.
Recap: Last year, while working (as a civilian) in a university Chemical Engineering Department, I would pass a poster every day in the hallway. On this poster was a chart. One day, I thought hey, this chart would make a nice quilt!
The chart was a part of a computation called “Capturing Phase Dynamics of Circadian Clocks.” I thought aha — the Circadian rhythm has to do with the wake/sleep cycle, and a quilt is something you sleep under!
A mere year-plus later, and here it is, the Science Quilt!
The quilt pattern on top are EEG patterns of the brain during various levels of wake and sleep:
You can see the quilt pattern here a little more clearly:
I’m very happy with it. It’s wonky and imperfect, which okay, that’s part of the point. And we can all safely say there’s nothing else like it in the entire world.
What’s next for our Science Quilt? On Friday, I am entering it into the Ventura County Fair quilt exhibit. Then, in December, I’m entering it into a “Contemporary Quilt” show at a local museum. Wish me luck!
Many thanks to Dr. Frank Doyle — he’s the chemical engineer who started it all. Also, much gratitude to all the Science Quilt boosters, especially Tamar, Regina, Professor Scott, Professor Roger, Shana, Kerri, C-girl, Ted, and Cloudy!
Update! I made a small version of the quilt, so that I could enter it into exhibits that have a smaller maximum perimeter. I almost destroyed it by some hasty cutting and binding, but my sister Annie came into town and saved the day. I have entered into two possible exhibits — one in Ventura and one in England! Wish me luck.
Another update, March 2010! The Science and Junk quilts are making appearances starting March 14 at Museum of Ventura County’s “Becoming Art at the Seams” exhibit. I also got mentioned in the Ventura County Star. Take that, Art/Science exhibit in England that rejected me.
See more images of ALL the science quilts here!
You can see:
Comments
20 responses to “quiltreport final: science quilt”
OMG OMG OMG!!! It’s even more fabulous than I imagined it could be! Until I checked out the photos of the completed quilt, I hadn’t appreciated the fact that your stitches were going to replicate the sleep pattern, too!
Effing brilliant, B. BRAVA!!!! ?
Please keep me posted on when & where it will be shown. I don’t want to miss seeing it prominently on display!!
I anthropomorphically feel like a proud aunt to this quilt. 🙂
hmph. Upon comment submission, the browser turned my heart into a question mark following BRAVA!
BRAVA!!!! HEART HEART HEART 🙂
This is the coolest quilt I have ever seen and quite possibly the coolest ANYTHING I have ever seen. I would love the look even if I did not know the ridiculously awesome back story of the Dynamics of Circadian Clocks. Superbly done. If there are prizes to be had at the fair, you will win the grand first prize. The EEG patterns kick so much ass. WIN!
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! And done! So awesome.
-Proud auntie Tamar
I love the EEG stitching. It gets a BLUE RIBBON from me… and I have a Master’s Degree in Science!
Okay I knew you were a genius, I did not know you were a super-mega-genius! The EEG quilting on top is perfect, perfect, perfect! And it looks EXACTLY like the chart! And I would be very surprised if it doesn’t win.
Becky,
You had done an amazing job of capturing our very complex research in a beautiful work of art — it is quite an accomplishment! I am proud to have worked with you.
Best,
Frank Doyle
Associate Dean for Research, Engineering, UCSB
“After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well.” Albert Einstein.
…and to fill out for ol’Albert: …and vica verca!
Becky, I love this – and it’s such an awesome example of prosess oriented art. Yup, love! Good luck on the fair, Beckygirl. If they’ve got any sense at all, you’ll get the prize!
I knew this was going to be wicked cool, but the quilted EEG patterns are the best! Way to go and bravo!
So that pretty much just rocks! Super awesome, craftswomanship and science blended into something snuggly. Who could ask for more? You know, it would work really well for wrapping around oneself while skywatching…if one weren’t in Florida right now.
Clever concept and fun stuff! I stumbled across your work while doing research to see how others have combined needlework and scientific visualization.
FYI, there’s a Studio Art Quilt Associates exhibit coming up that this might be a good fit for. However, the exhibit size limit is one square meter. Also, one has to be a SAQA member, which costs money.
The details can be found on this page, if you’re interested:
http://www.saqa.com/calendar.aspx?region=9
SCIENCE QUILT FTW! You already know I’m a rabid fangirl, but I had to chime in and add to the chorus of praise. You are just too craftily clever for your own good, Lady!
It takes a real artist to take something from their surroundings and to translate it into a work of art. This has to be one of the coolest and most beautiful quilts I have ever seen. The concept blows my mind, (re: Circadian rhythms = sleep/wake cycle = quilt you sleep under = YES! YES! YES! I love it!) and the quilted EEG patterns just send me over the edge of delight. I will close my mouth now as I am drooling on the keyboard. Becky, you blow me away in so many ways, this is just the latest explosion. I think the quilt is going to be a very well-traveled one, traveling from exhibit to exhibit. I think you better start working on a Science dress to wear to all of your openings!!! Love ya!
Your talent is limitless. What a fantastic quilt! Loved the process. Amazing girl, amazing.
Well, everyone has already said it, but I must say it too – YOU ARE A CRAFTY GENIUS! I LOVE the way your mind works and I am so thankful that you actually act on those amazing thoughts and do the whole follow through! We are so blessed to have you in the world beautiful lady!
I am so proud of you….I am humbled to think that I was around when this quilt was just a flicker of an idea in your fertile mind soil…..and look how it has grown and blossomed into a genius work of art!
My only thought now is how the quilt itself might effect those who sleep under it….the combination of creativity and ingenuity and practicality seems to suggest some kind of magical possibilities!
All my love baby!
Jefffro
I love it! It looks so beautiful, even if I didn’t know how genius the concept was, I’d love it!
b – it’s so brilliant! you are such an inspiration! keep ’em coming, girl. how do you do it all?
Quilting B,
I love it. I love the inspiration, the colors, all of it. It is so beautiful that if I had one I don’t know if I’d sleep better under those EEG waves or stay up all night admiring it. I love that it is one of a kind but also, you know, I can’t help but want one. Am I going to have to bid on it at Sotheby’s or will the Circadian Dreamer be mass-produced for Bloomingdales?
Sleepy Shari
That is cool and very funky! I keep meaning to get back into sewing but it’s a complete challenge to get my machine out and find my fabrics at the moment. (We moved house 6 weeks ago to a new rental property and now we might be buying instead talk about complicated and annoying but exciting all at the same time!)