ReBioGeneSys – Origins of Life

ReBioGeneSys – Origins of Life
Adam W. Brown with collaborator Robert Root-Bernstein
February 6- March 20, 2015

Public Opening during South First Fridays, February 6th 7:00pm-10:00pm
Opening reception: Is a Second Renaissance Possible: Looking at models for Art, Science, and Collaboration
A discussion featuring artist Adam W. Brown and scientist Robert Root-Bernstein 
Saturday, February 7, 2015- 1:00pm to 3:00pm. RSVP here!

ZERO1 kicks off 2015 with the presentation of ReBioGeneSys – Origins of Life, a hybrid installation by artist Adam W. Brown and scientific collaborator Robert Root-Bernstein. Appropriately timed with the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference at the San Jose Convention Center February 12-16, this scientific exploration combines sculpture, chemistry, alchemy, and conservation to evolve an extreme minimal ecosystem. The question of biogenesis remains one of the biggest philosophical, spiritual and scientific enigmas.

In 1950, the physicist Harold Urey proposed that it might be possible to recreate the atmosphere of the primordial Earth in a closed container and synthesize organic molecules by adding an energy source such as lightning to the mix. A graduate student by the name of Stanley Miller carried out the experiment producing, within days, several amino acids. What became know as the Miller-Urey experiment quickly became a scientific and public icon of origins of life experimentation and serves as the inspiration for this installation, which investigates permutations of the original experiment. Drawing on experimental research from scientists such as Miller, Darwin, Oparin, Haldane, Deamer and Szostak, ReBioGeneSys combines all the research on origins of life into one "mashed-up" environment that could theoretically lead to the formation of self-organizing chemistry necessary to produce semi-living molecules, protocells and perhaps even biological life itself.

 

Opening Reception & Artist-led Discussion
Is a Second Renaissance Possible? The Synergy of Arts and Sciences
Saturday, February 7, 2015 - 1:00pm-3:00pm
Doors at 1:00pm,
Talk 1:30pm-2:30pm
Drinks and networking 2:30pm-3:00pm

Location: ZERO1 Garage
439 S. 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Let us know you're coming! RSVP Today.

 

February 6, 2015 to March 20, 2015

ABOUT ADAM W. BROWN AND ROBERT ROOT-BERNSTEIN

Adam W. Brown is an internationally recognized conceptual artist whose work incorporates art and science hybrids including living and biological systems, robotics, molecular chemistry and emerging technologies that take the form of installation, interactive objects, video, performance and photography. Brown’s creative research is informed by a background in Intermedia, a philosophy that provides a framework for bringing together disparate disciplines, leading to the establishment of new forms of research and creative activity. To this end, most of his creative and research endeavors are collaborative in nature. Brown currently is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University.

Robert Root-Bernstein received his PhD in History of Science from Princeton University and did postdoctoral work in biological theory at the Salk Institute. He is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and is the author of numerous books on the creative dimensions of science. Root-Bernstein is currently Professor of Physiology at Michigan State University, where he performs research on autoimmune diseases, the evolution of physiological systems, the nature of scientific creativity, and sciences-arts interactions.

GALLERY HOURS

Wednesday-Saturday 12:00pm-4:00pm
South First Fridays 7:00pm-10:00pm
or by appoinment. 

For more details or to schedule a tour e-mail us at info(a)zero1.org