SYNAPSE: Lezlie Amara Piper, Rachel Siegel, Derek Ecklund
August 10 - September 8
Artist talk 5:00pm Saturday, August 10
Lezlie Amara Piper, “Dendrites”
Rachel Siegel, Neurotranswimmer animation strips
In "Synapse," Astoria artists Lezlie Amara Piper, Rachel Siegel, and Derek Ecklund delve into the profound parallels between the neurological process and similar systems found in the natural world. Visitors explore how the intricate pathways of a nervous system echo the mycelial networks of plants and trees, the configuration of galaxies, and the structure of our technological networks. The flow of information across the internet also mirrors the microscopic biological processes within the brain, bridging the gap between the natural and digital realms.
"Synapse" includes visual works, an augmented reality sound composition, and interactive pieces, where viewers can experience the three artists' different approaches to the same concept.
Lezlie Amara Piper, the visionary behind "Synapse," grew up in Pocatello, Idaho, downwind from the 1961 S-1 nuclear reactor explosion and close to JR Simplot's fertilizer operations. The latter's decades-long contamination led to a 2023 $150 million EPA settlement for hazardous waste mismanagement. Piper's proximity to these environmental disasters resulted in significant health challenges, including epilepsy and other neurological issues, liver damage, and chemical sensitivities. Her experiences fueled a deep fascination with neurology and the beauty of the nervous system, leading her to explore the intricate parallels between natural systems and artistic expression. Her work includes a large installation titled "Dendrites" as well as " I Am Listening", a collection of environmentally co-created, mixed media paintings.
Piper is a painter, film maker and massage therapist whose artwork has been exhibited internationally and are currently found in San Miguel De Allende, Mexico and on the Oregon coast. She studied at Pacific Northwest College of Art, Oregon Contemporary Arts and Crafts and The Northwest Film Study Center.
Derek Ecklund’s "The Dance of Neurons" is an interactive augmented reality installation that invites participants to explore the sounds of neurons, electromagnetic devices, and sound wave frequencies through their smartphones. By engaging with 3D models and animations, users create a dynamic, collaborative sound composition. As multiple participants interact and move within the space, their actions blend to produce an evolving auditory experience, embodying the spontaneous harmony.
Ecklund is a digital media artist, sound artist, and composer with over three decades of experience. From 2009 to 2016, he created the Columbia River Sound Map, an online archive of sounds from along the 1,000-mile Columbia River. In 2018, he received an Oregon Regional Arts and Culture Council grant to study sound recording with Chris Watson in the French Pyrenees. His recent work includes underwater recordings of Oregon's intertidal zones and American Samoa's coral reefs.
Rachel Siegel's interactive work invites participant engagement. "Action-Potential" allows visitors to shape and energize the site-specific installation, mimicking the way neurons use electrical impulses to trigger chemical reactions within the synapse. This piece uses solar and human power to reflect the energy buildup in a neuron's axon until it reaches a threshold. "Zoetropic Transmissions" features a large-scale zoetrope that animates a brief image, inviting viewers to envision shrinking to a microscopic scale to witness the brain's signal transmission in slow motion. In "Neurotranswimmer", a tiny swimmer navigates through a neuron preparing to fire, illustrating the journey of neurotransmitter molecules.
Siegel is a multimedia and installation artist whose work integrates photography, drawing, video, fabric, and artist's books. She began using art as a social tool during her undergraduate studies in Art Practice and Peace & Conflict Studies at UC Berkeley. Currently, she teaches online photography for Portland Community College and creates art in her home studio.
Join us for a reception and Artist Talk on August 10 at 5:00pm at Astoria Visual Arts, 1000 Duane Street in Astoria. AVA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 1989 that works to create opportunities for people of all ages and walks of life to engage with the arts.
Derek Ecklund, aero recording still