Exhibit's formula mixes science, art

What: Family Day Arts & Science

When: 10 a.m. through 3 p.m., Saturday

Where: The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts

Cost: Free

Contact: 325-653-3333

SAN ANGELO, Texas Artist Anastasia Gabriels ceramic installation Passage of Memory features 200 porcelain monarch butterflies dangling from the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts ceiling.

Gabriels use of glycerin and Karo Syrup, a common ingredient in pecan pie, as an underglaze creates a smooth, realistic look to the piece while serving as an example of the correlation between art and science, said Bekah Coleman, SAMFA education director.

Part of being an artist is trying to push the boundary and try new things, Coleman said. With ceramics, its using different compounds to cause different chemical reactions.

The fluttering exhibit, along with 122 other works from the 20th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition at SAMFA, will be on display at Family Day Art & Science on Saturday. Angelo State University chemistry students and faculty will lead interactive tours through the galleries and host an array of activities.

The chemistry folks will look at artwork from a scientific perspective, such as the properties of ceramics and their use as insulators and conductors, Coleman said. Groups will relate artistic materials to real-world applications, including the use of porcelain to create veneers and clay used in the tiles of space shuttles, she said.

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Exhibit's formula mixes science, art