Images of invertebrates priceless glassworks featured in staff art gallery

Back to News

The Academic Staff Art Gallery this year combines art and science in the areas of the scientific impact of models of invertebrates, glassblowing, and photography.

The Academic Staff Art Gallery in Bascom Hall this semester features works that combine art and science, encompassing the scientific impact of models of invertebrates, glassblowing and photography.

Featured artists include Laura Halverson Monahan, curator of collections at the University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum; Tracy Drier, scientific glassblower in the Chemistry Department; and Ilia Guzei, director of crystallography, also in Chemistry. Their work can be seen through June in 270 Bascom.

The stunning images illustrate the rarely seen, fascinating invertebrates in the glassworks created by Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The highly detailed and priceless glass pieces are anatomically accurate and show aquatic specimens with magnified details.  The originals are housed at the UW Zoological Museum. Currently efforts are underway to explore conservation and restoration possibilities. This photographic documentation of the models shows them in their current state.

The Office of the Secretary of the Academic Staff launched The Academic Staff Art Gallery in the 2010. It is a place to showcase talented artists from within the academic staff. Exhibits change each semester. More information can be found here.

Story by Käri Knutson, University Communications