Newswise — Light is a principal tool of scientists working at the cellular and molecular scales. University of New Mexico and Los Alamos National Lab scientists are at the forefront of the newest technologies, revealing the hidden beauty of living cells and the molecules that provide the essentials of life. The goal of the “Art of Systems Biology and Nanoscience” annual event in Santa Fe is to share stunning scientific images of nature with the public, with a weekend of fun for adults and children. This year’s annual event runs March 27 and 28 at a new venue: Peters Projects Gallery near Canyon Road in Santa Fe.

Through collaboration with the Gerald Peters Gallery and Peters Projects, visitors will enjoy a unique synergy of hard science and contemporary interpretation of science and nature. The event opens Friday night, with the first preview of the art. Entitled “Inventory of Light,” the show will feature the works of UNM and LANL microscopists as well as 10 participating artists who have a scientific focus in their art practice.

A popular feature of these events are the public lectures featuring senior scientists who give approachable talks about how they use imaging and computing technologies to solve key problems in human biology. Friday night’s lecture is by Bridget Wilson, PhD, a professor at the UNM Health Sciences Center. She will speak about how her team uses advanced imagery and computer simulations to discover how allergens activate cells in the immune system, a problem for millions of allergy sufferers worldwide.

During the day on Saturday, families with children and teens are invited to participate in hands-on experiments led by graduate students from the UNM Nanoscience and Microsystems program. Science-oriented video games will provide curious young minds with an interactive way to explore the microscopic world. Families are encouraged to enjoy art in the galleries too.

Saturday evening’s public lecture is by Michael Sheetz, PhD, a Professor at Columbia University with a second home in Santa Fe. Sheetz will talk about how cellular patterns influence how cells sense their surroundings and respond to move and spread. His studies of “mechano-sensing” are enabled by high-speed microscopy and tiny nano-fabricated chips. Sheetz recently received the Kaluza Award from the American Society of Cell Biology for his innovative work.

“This year’s show is an exciting melding of science and contemporary art,” says Wilson. “The Gerald Peter’s Gallery/Peters Projects have carefully selected an outstanding group of artists that complement the science exposition.”

The art exhibition will include work by Lita Albuquerque, Kelsey Brooks, Robert Buelteman, Will Clift, Brian Knep, Victoria Vesna, Johnathon Wells and Ryan Wolfe. Santa Fe artists include Thomas Ashcraft, Stephen Auger and August Muth. The spectrum ranges from interactive multi-media installations and photography and to light-filled holograms and sculpture.

“The common thread of the show is science and nature as an inspiration for art,” says Wilson. “Works by these artists bring alive the intertwined nature of Light, Space and Time.”

About the Art ShowThe 6th annual “Art of Systems Biology and Nanoscience” event is a two-day public celebration of new and fascinating ideas and images from the two emerging scientific fields of systems biology and nanoscience. The event will take place March 27 and 28 at Peters Projects/Gerald Peters Gallery, 1011 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe. The entire event is free and open to the public.

The event will be open from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Friday March 27 and from 10 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 28. Public talks are at 6 P.M. each evening. Featured Artist Victoria Vesna (UCLA) will speak about how nanoscience inspires art at 5:00 PM. The children’s interactive nanotechnology experiments will take place 10 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Saturday. Receptions, held each evening at 5:00 P.M. to 7 P.M., are open to the public. For a full agenda, please visit http://stmc.health.unm.edu/art/index.html.

The event is sponsored by the UNM Cancer Center; the New Mexico Center for the Spatiotemporal Modeling of Cell Signaling; the Los Alamos National Laboratories Center for Non-Linear Studies; the LANL Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies; The New Mexico Consortium; and Gerald Peters Gallery/Peters Projects of Santa Fe.

About the UNM Cancer CenterThe UNM Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in the state. One of just 68 premier NCI-Designated Cancer Centers nationwide, the UNM Cancer Center is recognized for its scientific excellence; contributions to cancer research; delivery of high quality, state of the art cancer diagnosis and treatment to all New Mexicans; and its community outreach programs statewide. Annual federal and private funding of more than $72 million supports the UNM Cancer Center’s research programs. The UNM Cancer Center treats more than 60 percent of the adults and virtually all of the children in New Mexico affected by cancer, from every county in the state. It is home to New Mexico’s largest team of board-certified oncology physicians and research scientists, representing every cancer specialty and hailing from prestigious institutions such as M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, and the Mayo Clinic. Through its partnership with Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, the UNM Cancer Center brings world-class cancer care to the southern part of the state; its collaborative clinical programs in Santa Fe and Farmington serve northern New Mexico and it is developing new collaborative programs in Alamogordo and in Roswell/Carlsbad. The UNM Cancer Center also supports several community outreach programs to make cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment available to every New Mexican. Learn more at www.cancer.unm.edu.