- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Distinguished professor Diane Ullman, former chair of the Department of Entomology and Nematology and co-founder of the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program, and urban landscape entomologist/assistant professor Emily Meineke are co-teaching Entomology 1 (ENT1)--and their class project is to create a mural at the Napa winery. "We did a community build there for their friends and employees," Ullman said today.
The mural will showcase some 80 different insects that inhabit the vineyard.
An article in napavalleyfocus.substack.com, titled "Unveiling the Hidden World: Napa's Matthiasson Winery and UC Davis Collaborate to Illuminate the Power Insects," quotes the UC Davis entomologists:
Ullman: “The mural will serve not only as an artistic display of insects and their environments but also as an opportunity for students and viewers to recognize the positive contributions these creatures make,” Ullman said. “As the process for our students involves understanding the intricate details of body form and function along with an organism's role in its natural environment, a deep understanding is crucial.”
In addition to insects, the mural will depict quail, squirrels, spiders, worms, flowers, valley oak leaves, plants, and yeast. Community members are also participating in the project.
"The entire process aligns with the Matthiassons' mission of promoting the benefits of organic viticulture," reporter Tim Carl wrote in the Napa article. "Steve and Jill Matthiasson, who have been actively involved at UC Davis for decades, have been pioneers in advocating for organic farming. Their approach extends beyond grape cultivation and winemaking, encompassing initiatives that enhance wine quality, combat climate change, and foster healthy environments and communities."
The family-owned Matthiasson Wines is located at 3175 Dry Creek Road, Napa. The winery is a James Beard Award six-time nominee and was named "Winemaker of the Year" by the San Francisco Chronicle and Food & Wine Magazine.
See more at napavalleyfocus.substack.com
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Students in Professor Diane Ullman's Entomology 1 class, fusing art with science, will be showing their work at a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 31 in the Third Space Collective, 946 Olive Drive, Davis.
The event, billed as "Totems, Glass and the Movies," is free and open to the public.
Some 56 students participated, Professor Ullman said. "The students have really worked hard and for the first time ever we have stop-action movies, led by Allison Simler,and glass fusion artworks, led by entomology graduate student, Joanna Bloese."
Donna Billick and Diane Ullman led students in creating totems with clay, cement and mosaic. Ullman and Billick co-founded and co-directed the UC Davis Arts/Science Fusion Program.
"We are looking forward to introducing the UC Davis community to the fine work of our students, Ullman said.
Ullman, former associate associate dean for undergraduate academic programs, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and former chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, is noted for her research, teaching and public service.
She received the Entomological Society of America's distinguished teaching award in 2013. She earlier received the outstanding teaching award from the Pacific Branch of ESA, comprised of 11 western states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming), parts of Canada and Mexico, and seven U.S. territories.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
"The Secret World of Insects" won't be so secret any more on Wednesday, June 3.
That's when a public exhibit and reception will take place to celebrate the work of Entomology 1 students, University of California, Davis.
The event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m., in the Third Space Art Collective, 946 Olive Drive.
The main instructor of Entomology 1 is Diane Ullman, professor of entomology, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and an accomplished artist. She co-founded and co-directed the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program.
"We had four sections this quarter," Ullman said. Some 70 students participated.
- Ceramics. The students created a screen-printed tile mosaic about evolution of the soapberry bug with the support and scientific advice of Jenella Loye and Scott Carroll of the Sharon Lawler lab, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. Carroll is the director of the UC Davis Institute for Contemporary Evolution. Also, this quarter, self-described rock artist Donna Billick, co-founder and former co-director of the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program, assisted the students.
- Sculpture with reuse materials. The students made sculptural story boards about insects.
- Painting and multimedia.The students did trip tic-like canvases about a diversity of insects.
- Bioart. The students created insect drawings with fungi on agar.
Allison Simler, Vivian Ye and Anna Davidson (Evolution and Ecology, Design and Studio Art) served as teaching assistants.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
That's the theme of the June 6th public reception celebrating the work of Entomology 1 students and the accomplishments of Donna Billick, co-founder and co-director of the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program. The event will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. June 6 in the Third Space, 946 Olive Drive, Davis.
It is free and open to the public.
Billick, a self-described "rock artist," co-founded the program with entomologist/artist Diane Ullman, professor and former chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology (now Entomology and Nematology), and former associate dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Ullman and Billick began teaching classes in the mid-1990s that led to the formation of the Art/Science Fusion Program. The program today includes design faculty, science faculty, museum educators, professional artists and UC Davis students. “Participants see and feel art and science, hold it in their hands, hearts and memories—in ceramics, painting, photographs, music, and textiles,” Ullman said.
The program, developed initially in the Department of Entomology and Nematology, is described as "an innovative teaching program that crosses college boundaries and uses experiental learning to enhance scientific literary for students from all disciplines." The program promotes environmental literacy with three undergraduate courses, a robust community outreach program, and sponsorship of the Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous (LASERs).
Another project that draws much attention and acclaim is the Ent 1 art in the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, a half-acre bee garden on Bee Biology Road, west of the central campus.
Billick created “Miss Bee Haven,” a six-foot-long honey bee sculpture that anchors the garden. "I like to play with words,” said Billick.
She also is the artist behind the colorful Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility's ceramic sign that features DNA symbols and almond blossoms. A hole drilled in the sign leads to a bee hive.
Billick toyed with a scientific career before opting for a career that fuses art with science. She received her bachelor of science degree in genetics in 1973 and her master's degree in fine arts in 1977, studying art with such masters as Bob Arneson, Roy De Forest, Wayne Thiebaud and Manuel Neri.
Billick traces her interest in an art career to the mid-1970s when then Gov. Jerry Brown supported the arts and offered the necessary resources to encourage the growth of art. He reorganized the California Arts Council, boosting its funding by 1300 percent.
Also in Davis, Billick created the whimsical Dancing Pigs sculpture and the Cow Fountain, both in the Marketplace Shopping Center on Russell Boulevard; the Mediation sculpture at Central Park Gardens; and the Frawns for Life near the West Area Pond.
She maintains a compound in Baja, where she teaches three workshops a year called "Heaven on Earth." She has won numerous awards for her work.
For outstanding teaching, Diane Ullman was recently selected the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Award in Teaching from the Pacific Branch, Entomological Society of America. She is now one of six candidates for the ESA Distinguished Teaching Award. ESA will select the recipient from one of six branches—Pacific, Eastern, North Central, Southeastern, Southwestern and International—and present the award at its Nov. 16-19 meeting in Portland, Ore.