Abstract: <br/>The history of chemistry and art have long been intertwined. Although the history of painting is often presented as a series of individual artists making unique contributions, an often-overlooked part of the story is the rapid and parallel progression of chemical innovations throughout the last few centuries that allowed artists to use pigments in novel ways. For example, chemical innovations such as the development of new inexpensive latex house paints enabled the unique control required by Jackson Pollock to create his famous splatter paintings. Following in this realm, we developed a course that confers a hands-on understanding of fine arts media and materials to undergraduate students that enables them to fundamentally understand both the arts and sciences in a broader perspective. Using an interdisciplinary approach, through both interactive public art that utilizes lab synthesized thermochromic paints and a trans-disciplinary blended chemistry lab and painting studio course, we seek to help students explore and become inspired by the hidden world of a pigments molecular structure. Collaborations between the Department of Chemistry and Fine Arts at Washington State University will be discussed. Specifically, we will present how scientific engagement with the arts generally increases scientific literacy and advances informal STEM education in students who would otherwise have less exposure to the chemical sciences.

Overlapping spectra: Art and science collaboration on the Palouse at Washington State University

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.