Science Is An Art

(I am a graduate student, and always go to look at pieces in the summer art festival across the street from my campus. One particular booth from a married couple is my favorite, featuring carved and layered steel heated with a blowtorch so that it changed colors; they are there yearly, and I always take a long time admiring their pieces. After a few years of this, I am apparently recognized when I go back to look at their pieces again very near the end of the festival.)

Artist: “I see you’re lurking over here again.”

Me: “Yes, I just love your work. It’s outside of my budget as a graduate student, but it’s great for me that I can come and look at it here.”

Artist: “Oh, I understand about being a student. What is it you’re studying?”

(I explain a little about the somewhat technical scientific field I’m in.)

Artist: “Oh, good, you’re a scientist. So let me tell you about this new process we’ve been working on, and how we can get different effects by changing the fire application…”

(She then proceeds to explain a new style they’ve been developing, and how it differs from some of their previous work, and I ask a few questions about it.)

Artist: “Are you going to be here for a few more minutes? I’d like to get your contact information for our mailing list, in case we’re doing shows other places near you, like when you’re visiting family over the holidays or that.”

Me: “Sure!”

(I fill out the form while she walks away to handle something… and comes back a few minutes later with a small box. I see she’s transferred all my contact information onto a receipt.)

Artist: “I feel better knowing that at least some of my pieces have gone to people who really appreciate them. So I’d like you to have this one at no charge, to start your collection.”

(I’ve since graduated, and bought a few of their pieces now that I’m no longer on a student budget, but that first one is still hanging on my bedroom wall. And I’m still floored by it.)