CROCHETED WIRE CELLS AND DRAWING WITH BACTERIA!

 So work has continued with the crocheting of my wire cells. I now have 94 completed cells and only 6 more to go ..... the end is in sight. I will not be sad to stop making them as the repetition has been quite tedious. However, I am sure the effect of them all together hung in a galaxy formation will be worth the effort.

Today I am on sight at MedImmune working on my drawing experiment again. We, Aksana Labokha and I, now have all the variables of the bacteria and temperature at which to leave the plates sorted out for the best glowing results. So now it is just the set up of the camera inside the incubator and the timing of the photographs that Jon Large is kindly, and patiently, helping me with. Using the drawing on the left I have drawn my image on the plate and now all we can do is wait and see the results after the weekend - fingers crossed that all goes to plan. I will, of course, report back once we have results.

 

HOW MANY CELLS DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A GALAXY ?

 After lots and lots more of this......(above), I now have this (below), a collection of 50 crocheted wire cells

....but I still think its not enough for my constellation or galaxy of cells.......

...so guess what, more cells to crochet!

In the meantime I have been doing a few drawings in my sketchbook to relieve the tedium...

Jane's Adventures in Lab Land continues

 Another great day at Lab Land (in other words Medimmune). I was fortunate enough to have a great new partner to work with - Aksana Labokha. We are continuing to try and get my bacterial drawings just right. I also had the help of Jon Large to test how to set up a situation that could use time-lapse photography to record the progress of the bacteria developing and expressing the green fluorescing protein. (I actually look quite "sciencey" in all the gear don"t you think ?)

The Knitting Ninjas group and I also met up at lunchtime, so that I could hand out yarn and patterns for a piece of work that we can collaborate on. (Thank you ladies for getting involved).

....and finally these are some new pieces I am working on. They are embroidered and beaded polystyrene circles - based on plates and all the other circular patterns seen in the labs.

CROCHETING YET MORE WIRE CELLS!

 I have been continuing to work on my crocheted wire cells. The collection is growing as you will notice but still there are not enough. How many do I need to make to create a constellation or galaxy of cells? The idea came from a microscope image of cells that Caz, from Medimmune, showed me which had been taken with OPERA. It reminded me of images of astronomy and as I am fascinated with anything to do with fractals this reflection of the macro in the micro was very inspiring.

I have also been working in my sketchbook......

 ... I have been thinking about another piece of work based on circles because within the labs I see so much that is based on this shape that it seems like a must.

 I have also been looking at patterns in cells that look very much like textile patterns, knitting etc.

Thinking of branching patterns in fractals too. You can see a piece of knitting on the right that is based on the image of cells on the same page. Enough blogging back to the crocheting........

JANE'S ADVENTURES IN LAB LAND UPDATE

I just thought I'd keep you all updated on my work at Medimmune. Recently I have been working with the very patient Miguel Carvalho who has been helping me to create some work that is drawn with bacteria on agar jelly and as the bacteria grows it expresses a fluorescent green protein. Making my drawings grow and glow! I have some images here in black and white that are taken by a machine in the Lab but I have the help of the very talented Jon Large to take photographic images to capture the glowing green colour of them for the final piece.

This is a test image just to try and capture the glow, looks great doesn't it?!

 

CROCHETING "BACTERIA"

 I thought it was time I updated my blog as I have been remiss in doing so lately. I have, however, been very busy in my studio. I am currently crocheting these "bacteria" (- allow me a little artistic license). I have made approximately 50 and have almost as many still to make. This is a lot of fiddly work but I am happy with the effect they are creating. I have also been updating my sketchbook and working on ideas as you can see below.

JANES ADVENTURES IN LAB LAND: PART 6

I have just got back from two weeks holiday and thought I aught to give an update on my last visit to MedImmune as I will be going again shortly.
 I had a great day, as always, meeting up with wonderful people I had already worked with, particularly Lesley Jenkinson, and meeting new similarly brilliant scientists who taught me even more fascinating stuff. My great appreciation goes to Miguel Carvalho, who was unbelievably patient and clear when explaining things to me and seemed really enthusiastic and excited by what I wanted to do. I will be returning to the Lab with Miguel soon for some really exciting experiments with bacteria that express a fluorescent protein!!!
I also had a great meeting with Jon Large and Julia Johnston that will hopefully lead to a professional display area in reception for staff to see what I am up to.