ABOUT the Synergy Project

History

The Synergy Project began in 2020 as a continuation of the ideas generated in the original Synergy program created in 2012 by Whitney Bernstein, Ph.D. and Lizzie Kripke. They partnered scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) with artists across many mediums to exhibit ocean-science based work in an exhibition called Ocean Stories.

At Art League RI (ALRI), we were eager to revive the project after its final exhibition at the New Bedford Art Museum in 2014. We teamed our artists up with scientists at the WHOI Graduate Program in Oceanography to collaborate on a new iteration of the Synergy concept, which we have called The Synergy Project. So far, we have curated and shown two group exhibitions, Below the Surface and Below the Surface II, and held interactive events like The Synergy Project at the Exploration Zone. In these exhibitions and events, a part of what we call The Synergy Experience, we aim to generate public interest in our scientist collaborators’ areas of expertise in ocean science.

INSPIRATION

The original Synergy initiative intended to translate scientific studies and processes into art, a language with a different audience but a similar goal to science — “to explore the edges of human knowledge and experience.” In their rationale for the exhibit, Bernstein and Kripke wrote that “art can communicate big ideas in an engaging and intuitive manner, while simultaneously promoting discussion and creative thinking,” which is of ever-growing importance for scientific research and results (Synergy). We are inspired by the relationship between art and science, as outlined by Bernstein and Kripke, and how it can contribute to a greater understanding and discourse around ocean science issues. As the climate continues to change and irreversible damage is continually made to our oceans, these avenues toward interest, care, and productive anger for our natural environment are becoming increasingly important.

At Art League RI, we work to create educational, accessible, and inspiring exhibitions with work that doesn’t just bridge the gap between art and science, but revitalizes and/or deconstructs each person’s preconceptions about art, science, and how the two overlap. Explore our project archive to see which specific ocean science topics our artists and scientists study and create work about.

INTENTION

At Art League RI, we plan to continue forging meaningful connections between the art and science worlds through The Synergy Project. We will continue to reveal the fruits of these collaborations to our audiences through exhibitions and events. We work to educate our audiences on ocean science, sustainability, and the power of community understanding in protecting the health of our oceans and natural environment. We hope to inspire scientists to seek out creative methods in sharing their research. Lastly, we urge artists to seek out experts in the fields of scientific and political research to work with and directly learn from in their practices, and/or to get involved in The Synergy Project and make science-based work with us!

Interested in joining The Synergy Project as an artist or scientist?

Stay Tuned

The Synergy Project is constantly evolving and expanding. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for updates. You can also follow ALRI on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for the latest news on all the organization’s projects.