International Day of Women and Girls in Science is on Feb. 11. With a goal of highlighting the contributions women have made in all fields of scientific study, Homer Council on the Arts and Pier One Theatre are partnering for a gallery exhibit and the performances of two plays.
Currently hosting an open call for art of all mediums and from all ages, HCOA invites artists to reflect on and create artwork based on the prompt, “Women in Science.”
“Whether it’s the historical impacts of women in science, modern advancements or innovative research of women or by women, we’re asking artists to consider what the phrase ‘Women in Science’ means to them,” said Jenna Gerrety, HCOA’s marketing coordinator. “This call for art is open to each artist’s interpretation, but a few concepts worth considering might include, who is a historically significant women in science you admire, what are your dreams and hopes for the future of women in science, how has research by women improved your life, who is a woman in science who has impacted you, if you are a woman or girl, how do you explore science in your own life and why is it important for there to be women in science?”
For its part, Pier One Theatre will be showcasing performances of “Silent Sky” and the “Half-Life of Marie Curie,” written by Lauren Gunderson. Pier One’s Office Assistant Val Sheppard is directing “Silent Sky,” while Executive Director Jennifer Norton is directing “Half-Life.”
“Pier One is an inclusive and welcoming organization that celebrates diversity in all its forms, and supporting and recognizing the achievements of women in science is something we are proud to help facilitate,” Sheppard said.
“Silent Sky” is the story of Henrietta Leavitt, an astronomer who worked for Harvard University from 1902 until her death from stomach cancer in 1921. Despite not being allowed access to the telescope itself, as was the case with all the other women in her department, Leavitt was still able to make groundbreaking astronomical discoveries that were instrumental in more fully comprehending the size and scale of the universe.
“The Half-Life of Marie Curie” is the story of Marie Curie, well-known for her pioneering work in radioactivity, a word which she coined. Despite her achievements, Curie’s career was nearly wrecked due to a press scandal that her opponents happily used to smear her reputation with. She persisted in her work regardless and went on to win a second Nobel Prize.
“With these performances, our goal is to celebrate the many achievements and successes of women in STEM fields,” Sheppard said.
Every year, HCOA hosts at least one show in collaboration with another local nonprofit or art organization.
“While we have collaborated with Pier One for other ventures, we have not hosted the “Women in Science” exhibit before, and we look forward to learning more about the fabulous women in science that our community values,” Gerrety said. “Our mission is to ensure Homer is a place where the empowering, enriching benefits of arts reach all members of our diverse community, and this collaboration embodies the spirit of that outreach.”
Gerrety is personally and professionally invested in this exhibit and collaboration.
“Exhibits and shows like these play a valuable role in humanizing the folks who put so much time into study and development,” she said. “It is hard to trust people you don’t know anything about, and it is hard to trust research from groups in which you don’t see yourself represented. Women have been excluded from research, our projects and queries have gone underfunded and unacknowledged, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t putting in the work to make our communities more knowledgeable and equipped.
“These women deserve to be seen. These women deserve to be known. We can build trust through getting to know the people behind the science, learning their motivations, becoming familiar with their methods, encouraging our own curiosity to learn more about their research, then sharing that information with our communities. We hope people will enjoy learning about the contributions of women in science and are inspired to learn more about them or inspired to delve into their own studies.”
“An Awareness” is a piece by artist Aadya Gray that will be a part of the gallery exhibit.
“Made of clay, acrylic and epoxy resin, this work is inspired by the scientific work of Rachel Carson and her book Silent Spring,” Gerrety said. “This artwork is in relief with clay sculpture that adds a 3D effect to the mountains and the eagle. Rachel Carson was instrumental in that book in bringing awareness and change to the harmful consciences of chemical pollutants to animals and their food chains. This painting illustrates her quotes about nature and wildlife.”
“Quench” is a needle felted wool piece that Gerrety herself is currently working on for the exhibit.
“I am felting this piece in honor of one of my favorite science communicators, Dr. Becky Smethurst,” she said. “Dr. Becky is an astrophysicist specializing in black hole analysis, who has a fantastic YouTube channel where she discusses current space news and recent research papers. She is excellent at breaking down scientific jargon and explaining concepts in digestible chunks, while being charming and witty.”
For her part, Sheppard has, through the course of working on this play, enjoyed learning more about Henrietta Leavitt and her contributions to science and is eager to introduce her to those not yet familiar with her work.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to share the story of someone who might have gone under the radar for many people, but who had an incredible impact on our understanding of our place in the universe,” she said. “I hope the community gains the same level of appreciation for her that I have.”
HCOA’s “Women in Science” gallery exhibit opens on First Friday, Feb. 7 and remains in the gallery through March 3. Pier One’s productions will take place at HCOA, with “Silent Sky” performed on Feb. 14 and 15, and “The Half-Life of Marie Curie” performed on Feb. 28 and March 1.
Artists may submit up to six artworks, with all work needing to be turned into HCOA by 5 p.m. on Feb. 1. For more information on the exhibit and performances, email [email protected], call 907-235-4288, find them online at homerart.org or stop by HCOA during regular gallery hours, Monday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. at 355 West Pioneer Avenue. Find Pier One Theatre online at pieronetheatre.org.
Christine Kulcheski as Hertha Ayrton and Katherine Brennan as Marie Curie rehearse “The Half-Life of Marie Curie” on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, at Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska, as part of HCOA’s and Pier One Theatre’s collaborative exhibit, “Women in Science.” Photo courtesy of Jen Norton
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