ruby merritt
If We Are All Worms, Try To Be A Glow Worm.
Glass, acrylic, microfilament, cork, LB agar, Green Fluorescent Protein, micro-organism (ecoli) . 74" x 74" x varied 84"- 124" 2015.
If We Are All Worms, Try To Be A Glow Worm, is an sculpture of Bioluminescence (GFP) inside glass jars, a living and glowing microorganism as an installation hanging from the ceiling. Capitalizing on a sense of wonderment by carefully placing glowing luminescence into the air space. Bringing the magic of the glow to interact and intermingle between the artwork, while also allowing the viewer to walk around and through the hanging spectacle. When the UV light is on the Bioluminescence glows and is completely dependent on UV light to be seen. When the gallery space is under incandescent light, the viewer will see clear glass and the nutrient gel medium within the arrangement; a transparent and opaque sparkling cluster of floating objects.
Construction consists of microfilament hung from the ceiling, having multiple sealed medical grade glass jars attached and hanging at varying eye level points. The glass jars are 2" x 3/4" x 3/4". Due to the living aspect of this proposal, the glow of the bioluminescence will be at its strongest at the beginning, and will be sealed, therefore making it safe to be around the public. Its contents are all "ology-lab" based, [studio space with sterile biology lab set up] being made by hand from common household goods, and is influenced from previous work I have done working directly with found naturally occurring Bioluminescence.

