Science and art prove to be a natural pairing at KBS

Science interwoven with art is part of the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station story.

Whether you notice the chalkboard sketches that announce visiting seminar speakers, or recognize a familiar KBS face at a Kalamazoo Art Hop site, a performance of the Cereal City Concert Band, or as the author of a haiku poem trailside at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, it’s clear that KBS can induce both scientific and artistic inspiration.

Through formal and informal programs, many of which are open to the public, KBS students, faculty and staff are keeping art at the center of the research, education and outreach efforts at the Station.

Trevor Grabill

Artists-in-residence and KBS art projects

The KBS science-art connections were strengthened and formalized through the KBS Long-term Ecological Research program’s artist-in-residence program, which welcomed writer Erin Schneider in 2019.

After a hiatus in 2020-21, the KBS LTER hosted muralists Anna Lee Roeder and Eric Vasilauskas of Dream Scene Placemaking in 2022. During their residence they launched an art project called KBS SNAPS—Science Nature Art Photo Synthesis—and designed a paint-by-number mural for the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary. In an April 2023 visit, students from the Ecological Society of America Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability program , or ESA SEEDS, completed the mural, which is now on display at the Sanctuary.

Callie Chappell

This summer, the KBS community welcomed two artists-in-residence—woodcut printmaker Travor Grabill and cyanotype artist Callie Chappell. Grabill, who visited in June, posted several reflections on his time at KBS on his website, and he hopes to return in the fall. During her July visit, Chappell hosted a sun print, or cyanotype, workshop at the Bird Sanctuary for the local community as well as a session just for KBS faculty, staff and students.

Learn about art through nature

Community members interested in learning more about combining art and science through keeping a nature journal are encouraged to check out the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary’s next nature journaling course, typically held in the late winter months each year.