Of Microbes and Mushrooms, Science and Sculpture
Minga Opazo, Jennifer Wightman, and Tracy Debenport in conversation
Friday, November 15
3-5PM
[venue tbd]
Bacteria and fungi count among Earth’s most essential workers. Join us to hear a panel presentation and engage in Q&A with artists and scientists working to make microbes, mushrooms, and their lifeways more visible through approaches ranging from microscopy to sculpture.
RSVP here
About the Speakers
Minga Opazo
Minga Opazo is a fourth-generation textile artist whose work critically engages with the intersections of climate change, contemporary textile production, and the historical narratives of Chilean textile design. Born in Chile and immigrated to Los Angeles at the age of 16, Opazo’s practice interrogates the implications of textile waste through the lens of Solastalgia—a term denoting the emotional distress associated with environmental degradation in an age of excessive consumption.
Her artistic endeavors emphasize rigorous research into the textile industry, aiming to illuminate systemic challenges while proposing innovative solutions to the pressing issue of textile waste. Opazo holds a BFA from the University of California, Berkeley (2016) and an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts (2020).
Jennifer Wightman
[bio]
Tracy Debenport
[bio]
This event is hosted by the Stanford Arts Institute (SAI) in collaboration with ITALIC and with support from the Office of the Vice President for the Arts.
If you need a disability-related accommodation for this event, please contact us at artsinstitute@stanford.edu at least two weeks prior to the event.
Contact:
Stanford Arts Institute
artsinstitute@stanford.edu
