Feynman’s Flower

Jeff Hoke, Museum of Lost Wonder

That’s really what science art is about, to me: Re-introducing people to the wonder and awe they felt from exploring nature as children. Besides the Particle Zookeeper, another person I was pleased to meet last weekend was Jeff Hoke.

If you are not familiar with Jeff’s book The Museum of Lost Wonder, go familiarize yourself with it now. A synthesis of science, alchemy, and philosophy, it is also a one person’s journey pondering big questions. It will have you pondering these, too.

Jeff’s drawings are amazing, reminiscent of Edward Gorey and Chris Ware. His lines contain so much emotion and mystery. More amazing are his models, which can be cut out and assembled into 3D, often moving, dioramas. He has truly created his own world, a dusty library of a world with magic and secrets and symbols and endless possibility contained within.

Jeff has an interesting day job, too. He is an exhibit designer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He designed a exhibit with “lots of velvet” for jellyfish. Really, so cool.

I admit that I first checked out his book at the local library. But before I had finished reading, I had ordered 6 books to be scattered among my friends and family. Come to think of it, I may need a few more for Winter Solstice gifts.

Visit The Museum of Lost Wonder

Last weekend I showed my stuff at Wonderfest, the Bay Area science festival held one day at Stanford and one day at UC Berkeley. Despite the pouring rain and thunder outside, the turn-out was great. My favorite part of Wonderfest was meeting other people who combine art and science in fun & amazing ways. One of these people is Julie Peasley who creates cuddly subatomic particles.

Julie, from LA but previously from the bay area, hand sews her particle softies. She has the complete standard model collection, including the - still elusive in real life - Higgs Boson. Many of her creations contain fun hints at the particle’s identity. The strange quark has three eyes.

In a most insipred bit of geekiness, Julie weights the plushies to reflect the relative weights of the particles. And, of course, they all come with a little story card about the particle. *swoon* I love those covert science lessons!

See the awesomeness of the Particle Zoo