The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif. will feature presentations by Art Center faculty members and an alumnus as part of its upcoming Aquatic Academy. Integrating art and science in order to enhance environmental communication, the Aquatic Academy offers a series of evening classes that foster dialogue on issues related to the ocean and environment.
Professor and Director of Sustainability Initiatives Heidrun Mumper-Drumm will be speaking on Thursday, April 25 from 7 to 9:30 p.m., while Vice President of Designmatters Mariana Amatullo and Alumnus Dan Goods, visual strategist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will speak on Thursday, May 9 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The series of four evening classes will explore how art, design and science can intersect to create and deliver powerful environmental messages.
Art Center faculty will be speaking at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific.
Jerry Schubel, president and CEO of The Aquarium of the Pacific, says Goods, Mumper-Drumm and Amatullo bring an ideal combined expertise in the areas of engineering, design, visual communications and sustainability.
Overall, the goals of the Aquarium’s classes are to redefine the relationships of people with each other and the planet. However, these nighttime classes are not the only art and science integration offerings available. Future plans include incorporating the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and the Long Beach Ballet, as well as a continuing collaboration with Art Center Humanities & Science faculty member, Robert Grove, centering on his ocean science class.
“We believe in [the integration of art and science] passionately and have partnerships with artists of all kinds – visual, performing, dance, musical – to develop and deliver environmental messages,” said Schubel. Moving in the direction in which art and design can reflect science is the ultimate objective. “It’s a design problem of the highest order.”
Course fees are $50 for the public and $40 for Aquarium members. For more information on how to reserve a space, call 562.590.3100 or contact Adina Metz at ametz@lbaop.org.
