Art and Science

Arts, Sciences and Humanities Collaborations

The library has collaborated on several projects that intersect art, science and the humanities around a wide range of water- and Great Lakes-related topics. The intent of the project is to promote a science-informed public.

Zaaga’igan Ma’iinganag / LAKEWOLVES (2022 – PRESENT)

Zaaga’igan Ma’iinganag (Lakewolves in English) is an immersive program (literally) that delves into Lake Superior and its surrounding watershed via underwater photography. The goal is to create a platform of expression for youth of our coastal community on the Bayfield Peninsula by exploring the Lake and its watershed, cameras in hand and fins on foot. Lakewolves of all backgrounds learn Ojibwe place names of the dive sites. First names form a common bond of respect between our youth, their elders, and these waters. Learn more: http://www.lakewolves.org/

PLASTIC ENTANGLEMENTS (2019)

The Wisconsin Water Library and UW Sea Grant Institute are proud to collaborate with the Chazen Museum of Art at UW Madison on their show, Plastic Entanglements: Ecology, Aesthetics, Materials. The exhibition features contemporary artwork investigating the complex cultural and material nexus that is “Plastic.” We have been partnering with the educational staff to provide materials and resources in the science space in support of their outreach and education with students around southern Wisconsin. Read more.

UNDER THE SURFACE (2018 – present)
The library has provided space and opportunity for this Wisconsin Sea Grant-funded education project to display the images around the state. The collection of photographs were on show at UW Memorial Library and Madison Public Library, Ashman Branch, as part of the UW Go Big Read in the Fall of 2018. For 2019, the show will go on the road to the Ridges Sanctuary in Bailey’s Harbor (Door County) as part of the Door County Reads program; to the Fort Atkinson Public Library in March; and to the Lakes Convention in Stevens Point in April. Learn more about this project.

LIVING MEMORY – Portrait of a lake sturgeon (2017 – present)
A collection of 47 black and white images of the iconic lake sturgeon. A full exhibit of the images appeared in 2018 at the Riveredge Nature Center in Saukville, Wisconsin, at the galleries in the Education Building at UW Madison, and in 2019 as a full exhibit as part of a show at the THELMA Center for the arts in Fond du Lac in early 2019. Learn more about this project

Title / Tidal (2016)
Water is elemental to every form of life on our planet. It also serves as a crucial and enduring motif for artistic production. The Kohler Art Library and Wisconsin Water Library teamed up to present an inspiring exhibit of artists’ books. news release

FLUX (2016)
An evening of lectures by Sarah FitzSimons and Steve Carpenter

The Poly Pledge (2016)
Printmaking MFA candidates Pete Bouchard and J. Leigh Garcia collaborated with the Wisconsin Water Library at UW-Madison to create an event combining science and art to raise awareness on the effects of plastics in the aquatic environment. On Friday, April 29th at 5pm in Goodnight Hall, Loyola University Chicago biology professor and plastics researcher, Tim Hoellein, spoke about his research on what effect plastics might be having on water. Bouchard and Garcia offered an artist’s talk on their collaborative project, The Poly Pledge: a human-powered vending machine dispensing reusable bags in exchange for pledges against plastic shopping bags. news release)