CHROMOSOME PAINTING

Chromosome Painting, Geraldine Ondrizek, 2012 (studio installation)

In 2009, I brought my esteemed colleagues, Geraldine Ondrizek and Robin Bennett, together to embark on a collaboration at the convergence of art and medical science. It took the shape of an immersive arts residency that was based on the research of the genetics scientists at UW and is now culminating in an exhibition at Kirkland Arts Center. This partnership inspired a new, seminal body of work for Ondrizek. The upcoming exhibition at Kirkland Arts Center, CHROMOSOME PAINTING, showcases three bodies of work generated from Ondrizek’s two-year residency with the department of Medical Genetics at the University of Washington. It includes the artist’s explorations, prototypes and final commissioned work, “Chromosome 17″, as well as new work made specifically for the Kirkland Arts Center.

Geraldine Ondrizek is a research-based artist and professor at Reed College. Her work ignites interest and inquiry about the influence of cancer and other diseases on both individuals and entire families. She relies heavily on scientific inquiry, focusing on documenting biological specimens and exploring systems of categorization. She works closely with genetic scientists to trace ethnic identities, portray life spans, and depict genetically inherited conditions. Robin Bennett, one of the most prominent genetic counselors in the nation, teaches human genetics at the UW Medical School. She pioneers genetic counseling practices that have become standard worldwide. As a community catalyst and public scholar, I integrate research, teaching, service, and public engagement in my curatorial practice. A formidable interdisciplinary trifecta, making genetic information more accessible, more visible and better understood was the goal of our team in creating this partnership, the public art commission and the exhibition.

In order to properly commemorate the 50 years of Medical Genetics/Genetic Medicine Clinic at the University of Washington Medical Center through her commission, Ondrizek dove deeply into the groundbreaking work of the UW scientists… Founder, Arno Motulsky, M.D. (colorblindness, pharmacogenetics), Peter Byers, M.D. (osteogenesis imperfecta, inherited aneurysms, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and other collagen disorders), Wendy Raskind MD, PhD. (dystonias, myokymia, myopathies, and ataxias), Mary-Claire King, Ph.D. (HIV, lupus, inherited deafness, breast and ovarian cancer), and Dr. Philip J. Fialkow (leukemia) to name a few.

“Chromosome 17″, 2011

“Chromosome 17” is the public artwork that was commissioned by the department of Medical Genetics at the University of Washington, is made of dyed and embroidered silk and engraved plexiglass and uses the National Center for Biotechnical Information (NCBI) database of the human genome as a resource to artistically map technologically derived gene sequences.

Chromosome Paintings 1-22 and X (from artist book), Geraldine Ondrizek, 2012

Ondrizek’s 23 Chromosome silk panels (scarves) with Cancer markers: 1. Prostate Cancer, 2. Ovarian Cancer, 3. Colon Cancer, 4. Leukemia, 5. Gastric Cancer, 6. Ovarian Cancer, 7. Colon Cancer, 8. Hepatocellular Cancer, 9. Melanoma, 10. Prostate Cancer, 11. Bladder Cancer, 12. Oral Cancer, 13. Pancreatic Cancer, 14. Lymphoma, 15. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, 16. Breast Cancer – Lobular, 17. Breast Cancer, 18. Pancreatic Cancer, 19. Leukemia T-cell Acute, 20. Colin Cancer, 21. Breast Cancer, 22. Leukemia, X. Testicular Cancer

The limited edition of silk panels with genetic markers for different types of cancers will be sold to raise funds for the University of Washington Cancer Genetic Medicine Clinic for education and research, and for those who are unable to afford medical diagnosis and treatment.

Chromosome Light Boxes 1-22 and X, 2012

I’m excited to share this multi-faceted endeavor with you and hope to engage a broader audience with this exhibition, one that extends beyond the art community to include the medical community, the cancer research and survivorship communities.  I thank you for sharing this with others you think will have an interest in this work.

Kirkland Art Center presents: CHROMOSOME PAINTING and works from a commission for the University of Washington Division of Medical Genetics, GERALDINE ONDRIZEK  Curated by Genevieve Gaiser Tremblay   May 25 – July 6, 2012. Opening Reception: Friday, June 1, 6 – 8:30 PM at Kirkland Arts Center map

Gallery talks with Ondrizek, Tremblay, and Bennett, Kirkland Art Center: Friday, June 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm and Saturday, June 2, 2 :00 pm

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This exhibition is being funded in part by  the Oregon Arts Commision, The Ford Foundation and the Stillman Drake Fund, Reed College. My contribution to this project is dedicated to my eldest sister, Loretto Gaiser, who recently passed away from Leukemia.

the inspiration for our BRINC blog

As part of the University of Washington Commercial Real Estate Development Certificate Program (‘09), we were part of a team that created BRINC: The Bel-Red Incubator, a Real Estate Strategy and Analysis for a Mixed Use Redevelopment. Our mission was to develop a catalyst real estate asset that would be one of the first bold new strokes in the newly rezoned area of Bellevue, the Bel-Red Corridor…a pioneering frontier, perfectly poised for creative and entrepreneurial industry settlements.

BRINC: The Bel-Red Incubator: 132,000sf facility, providing workforce housing (75 apts, 7 live/work lofts, 45,000 sf office, 7000sf sound recording studios/motion capture lab, 15,000sf of street front retail and cultural amenities.

The BRINC development is targeted toward the growing fields of interactive media technology on the Eastside and timed to coincide with adjacent EastLink light rail system. It is sited in the heart of the future business district of Bel-Red and is closely aligned with City’s vision. The BRINC Dev Team included: Kate Wells Driscoll, Genevieve Tremblay, William Riley, Heidi Ehrbar.

The UW CRE project inspired us (Gen and Kate) to create BRINC: the blog…to further explore innovative strategies at the intersection of urban design, cultural development and innovation.

for more: About BRINC: The Bel-Red Incubator: