Lindsay Olson: Soundscapes in stitch

Lindsay Olson jumped at the chance to take part in an ocean acoustics science expedition and then explore the project’s science and technology concepts through her art. After three weeks on the Research Vessel ‘Endeavor’, she returned home and started to figure out how to use the collected data as inspiration for her project ‘The Art and Science of Sounds in The Sea’.

This body of work highlights the research conducted from the University of New Hampshire’s Center for Acoustics Research and Education. Her artwork is currently touring in Europe and the US in numerous science outreach exhibitions.

Lindsay’s artistic practice has developed out of her intense curiosity about science and its relationship with society. She was chosen to be the Fermi National Accelerator’s first artist in residence at CERN and has worked with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, the Field Museum and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Lindsay currently teaches textiles at Columbia College Chicago.

In this article, we explore the art of incorporating scientific data into your work. Lindsay shares with us the excitement of being part of a research team working on a scientific research vessel and shows us in detail how she went on to develop her artwork for this project.