The Face of Darwin

Look closely at Charles Darwin's ceramic face.

You'll see selections from his secret notebooks and images of organisms that most influenced his scientific studies.

His beard is peppered with moths. You'll also find barnacles, iguanas, finches, orchids and other creatures on his face.

It is,  says Diane Ullman,  "a profound learning experience in and of itself."

The ceramic mosaic, appropriately titled "The Face of Darwin," will be among the art work displayed June 3-July 3 in the Buehler Alumni and Visitors' Center at UC Davis.

The background of "The Face":  Ullman, an entomologist-artist, taught a freshman seminar with fellow artist Donna Billick to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birthday.  Ullman and Billick co-founded the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program and serve as the co-directors. The seminar was  part of the Art/Science Fusion Program.

The Buehler art exhibit features more than 50 student photographs from Terry Nathan's class, "Photography: Bridging Art and Science," also part of the Art/Science Fusion Program. The photographs, Nathan said, explore the conceptual connections between art and science and the role of art and science on the UC Davis campus. 

A public reception takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 4.

"The Face of Darwin" is both hauntingly beautiful and a vividly detailed study of the science that engulfed the evolutionary biologist. The eyes plead his passion, begging for  knowledge, understanding and realization.

It is, indeed, as Ullman said, "a profound learning experience in and of itself."