Artist in Residence - Monika Lea Jones

 San Francisco based artist Monika Lea Jones never completely divided herself between the seemingly separate artistic and scientific minds. Compositions featuring animals and celestial objects are rendered using the bright colors of paint, photography and other digital means. Monika is inspired by both her current urban environment and nature and seeks to bridge these worlds by creating fantastical dreamlike images that illuminate the modern landscape.

It is precisely these characteristics that made Monika a perfect choice for a One Truth, Many Lies: a New View of Art & Natural History Collections artist residency.  The chosen artists share their work with the public through a hands-on workshop and other programs on the public floor of the museum.Workshop participants show off their nudibranch paintings

On Saturday, April 26, 2014, Jones led a workshop showcasing her technique of acrylic painting directly on Plexiglas.  Using vibrant hues to highlight the equally vibrant nudibranchs (sea slugs), Jones also showed footage she shot of live local nudibranch species.

Then on Sunday, April 26, Monika invited those visiting the museum to come up to the Living Roof and learn how stingrays glide through the water. Over 100 participants made their own stingray kite out of recycled paper and then launched them into the sky!

In addition to her time sharing her artistic knowledge and enthusiasm for science with the visiting public, the residency also allowed Jones some time to research her next work in the Academy's specimen collection. Monika chose to spend time in the botany herbarium sketching and painting.

For information on upcoming workshops and museum events, click here. One Truth, Many Lies: A New View of Art & Natural History Collections is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. www.imls.gov