FIU News

February 11, 2015

By Evelyn Perez

Algae. To some, that word might conjure unpleasant images of an algal bloom in a lake or an infestation inside their swimming pool. But to biologists and environmental scientists from FIU’s School of Environment, Arts and Society, diatoms – a major group of algae – are an expression of past and present environmental conditions and an opportunity to showcase nature’s beauty in its purest form. The scientists have teamed up with artists from the Tropical Botanic Artists collective for the second time to highlight the beauty of the aquatic microorganism with the exhibit “In Deep with Diatoms” currently on display at the FIU Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum. Together, they are adding to a long and rich tradition of artists drawing inspiration from Florida’s environment.

“Cocconeis placentula” by Julio Figueroa (far left) and “Diploneis crabro” by Jedda Wong (center) on display at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum.

Algae. To some, that word might conjure unpleasant images of an algal bloom in a lake or an infestation inside their swimming pool. But to biologists and environmental scientists from FIU’s School of Environment, Arts and Society, diatoms – a major group of algae – are an expression of past and present environmental conditions and an opportunity to showcase nature’s beauty in its purest form. The scientists have teamed up with artists from the Tropical Botanic Artists collective for the second time to highlight the beauty of the aquatic microorganism with the exhibit “In Deep with Diatoms” currently on display at the FIU Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum. Together, they are adding to a long and rich tradition of artists drawing inspiration from Florida’s environment.

“Diatoms-Silica” (2015) by Xavier Cortada, FIU Artist In Residence in the College of Architecture + The Arts. The pieces are made of glazed porcelain and rest on glass mosaic tiles.