Thursday 6th – Saturday 29th April 2017
Laboratory of Dark Matters is a response by artists to scientific investigations into the unknown nature of the universe. Through a programme of exhibitions, workshops, talks and discussions it invites everyone driven by curiosity to explore fundamental questions about matter and consciousness.
“Everything that we can see, all the matter that we can detect in the entire Universe
is less than 5% of what we believe to be present”
In May 2016, a group of nine artists visited Boulby Underground Laboratory on the North East coast of England to meet scientists working on dark matter detection. Hosted by lab. director Prof. Sean Paling and UCL particle astrophysicist Dr Chamkaur Ghag the artists were transported 1100m below ground to a hidden environment located in the UK’s deepest working mine beyond the reach of cosmic rays and background radiation. Here the artists gained a glimpse into the dedicated world that the scientists inhabit and found there was common ground and connections they share as both seek to understand the mysteries of the universe and humans’ role within it.
At Guest Projects the artists will adopt a laboratory ethos, conducting their own research and creating new work that will evolve during the residency. Boundaries between art and science will be tested as investigations proceed and explore not only the physics of our existence but our beliefs and mythologies.
Visitors are welcome to visit the lab. to see work-in-progress, chat to artists and explore research material displayed in the information hub. Events will include workshops exploring topics such as cosmic particles, supersymmetry and phosphorescence; Lab.Talks+ to spark conservations across art and science disciplines with live web links to Boulby Underground Laboratory; and a Going Dark Party with live performances. The London residency will culminate in a final curated exhibition of new work that will subsequently be installed in the unique spaces of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum for the summer 2017.
For event information and opening times see www.laboratoryofdarkmatters.com
Participating artists: Amy Gear, Daniel Clark, Elizabeth Murton, Kate Fahey, Luci Eldridge, Melanie King, Peter Glasgow, Sarah Gillett, Susan Eyre.
*Calendar*
Thursday 6 April: Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm. Visitors are welcome to visit; see work-in-progress; chat to artists; explore research material displayed in our information hub.
Friday 7 April: Make Your Own Phosphorescent Paper Workshops with Melanie King* @ 12pm - 1pm; 2.30pm - 3.30pm; 4.30pm - 5.30pm; 6.30pm - 7.30pm; Make your own phosphorescent/glow in the dark paper and learn how to activate it using laser light. Discover how phosphorescence works, and where it can be found in the natural world.
Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Saturday 8 April: Super Symmetry Workshop with Jennifer Crouch* 2pm - 4pm; Create your own ‘particles’ from mirrored card, observe and draw their reflections lit against a ‘black mirror’. Learn about different particles such as Neutrinos and Dark Matter and how easy/difficult it is to observe them.
Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Sunday 9 April: Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Tuesday 11 April: Cloud Chamber Workshop with Susan Eyre* 7pm - 8.30pm Witness beautiful trails made by cosmic particles that are constantly passing through us on their journey across the universe. Make your own mini cloud chamber from simple materials, pure alcohol and dry ice and see a larger cloud chamber in action.
Thursday 13 April: Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Friday 14 April: Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Saturday 15 April: Cloud Chamber Workshop with Susan Eyre* 10.30am - 12pm As above. Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Sunday 16 April: Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Wednesday 19 April: Dark Matter Gushes From The Mouth Into The Open Air: An Hour Of Listening 7pm - 9pm (Listening Hour 7.30pm - 8.30pm) Free entry
Writers Jennifer Boyd and Amy Pettifer curate a one-off programme of sound and voice based works for an hour of listening in the deep dark. This programme explores the transformations, mutations and possibilities that are generated in ultra-deep space; the vitality that lurks in the coved chambers of the body, in oceanic depth, in the ravine of the web, or the shadowed corners of subversive communal space. Featuring: Anneke Kampman, Evan Ifekoya, Tristam Vivian Adams & Carey Robinson, Diana Policarpo, Sarah Gillett, Rachael Finney, Jennifer Boyd, Tamar Banai and Amy Pettifer.
Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Thursday 20 April: Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
***
Friday 21 April: Lab. Talks+ Session 1 with Elizabeth Murton* 2pm - 5.30pm Explore Dark Matter with particle astrophysicist Dr. Chamkaur Ghag, guest artist Libby Heaney & live weblink to Boulby Underground Laboratory;
Lab. Talks+ Session 2 with Elizabeth Murton* 6.30pm - 8.30pm Perception and Perspectives: Discover more art/science explorations in three short talks by Dr. Chiara Ambrosio, artists Susan Eyre and Amy Gear followed by a panel discussion including Dr. Chamkaur Ghag and artist Libby Heaney;
Supper and Chats* 8.30pm - 11pm Continue the conversations and chat over squash and chickpea tagine supper
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Saturday 22 April: Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Sunday 23 April: Open Lab, 12pm - 7pm
Wednesday 26 April: Exhibition open, 12pm - 7pm
Thursday 27 April: Exhibition open, 12pm - 7pm
***
Friday 28: Going Dark Party, 7pm - 11.30pm Free entry
Including a special programme of live performances from artists:
Kate Fahey in collaboration with Tim Zercie and uileann piper John Devine: 7.30pm - 7.45pm
Peter Glasgow: 8pm - 8.15pm
Sarah Gillett: 8.30pm - 9pm
DJs and dancing: 9.30 - 11.30pm
Exhibition open, 12pm - 7pm
***
Saturday 29: Final Day - exhibition open, 12pm - 7pm
*Workshops and Lab. Talks+ will be ticketed through Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/laboratory-of-dark-matters-13108509716