A whale’s tale
“Breach: Logbook’’ (mixed media, acrylic and clay in canvas) by Courtney M. Leonard, in her show at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst's Museum of Contemporary Art.
The show features paintings, sculptures, and video exploring the life and kinship ties of Staccato, a North Atlantic right whale killed by a ship strike in 1999. Leonard explores marine biology, Indigenous food sovereignty, migration, and human environmental impact.
Masculine material
“Sharrod Hosten Study III” (archival ink on paper), by Kehinde Wiley, in the show “Masculine Identities: Filling in the Blank,’’ at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Fine Arts Center through May 14.
The gallery says that the show explores masculinity and its place in art. “Featuring work by Carlos Villa, Andy Warhol, Kehinde Wiley and Nicole Eisenman, this exhibition aims to take the traditionally masculine traits of rigidity, roughness, strength and control and interpret them in new ways.’’
UMass researcher gets prize for ‘green electronics’ work
From The New England Council (newenglandcouncil.com):
“Dr. Derek Lovley of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst has been awarded the Mahoney Life Science Prize for his work on ‘green’ electronics. {Green, aka sustainable, electronics are electronic products made with no toxic chemicals, recyclable parts and reduced carbon emissions during production.}
“The Mahoney Life Science Prize is awarded to one researcher at UMass who enhances the connection between life science research and industry development. Dr. Lovley’s research focuses on protein nanowires, electronic material made using bacteria. In addition to being biodegradable, the wires contain the potential to be used in a variety of devices, from storage devices to biomedical sensors. The prize is funded by UMass alumnus Richard Mahoney, former chairman and CEO of Mansanto Company, and his brother, who is also an alumnus.
“‘We are proud to support the expert research being carried out by UMass researchers through the Mahoney Life Sciences Prize,’ said Richard Mahoney. ‘Dr. Lovley’s research is representative of those efforts, and he leads the state, nation and world in his area of microbiological research. The incredible breakthroughs that happen locally at UMass Amherst continue to place UMass at the forefront of research institutions everywhere.”’
The New England Council commends Dr. Lovley and UMass for their commitment to sustainable solutions to address pressing problems. MassLive reports.