
What biology has to teach us, Part 2

Sculpey Polymer Clay, 2020
Miraloma Elementary School Students, Grade 3
Junipero Serra Elementary School Students, Grades 1, 3, 4, 5
Artist Mentor: Zoe Farmer
Animals, insects, and organisms offer many ways to challenge the conventional social constructions that we apply to our own species. The term “biological exuberance,” introduced by Dr. Bruce Bagemihl in his book of the same name, describes the surprising diversity of the animal kingdom, which encompasses a seemingly endless variety of gender and sexual fluidity. In part, this show is an exploration and celebration of wonder that fully embraces the diversity of what it is to be a biological being in an intricately interconnected network of organisms. And in part, it is a response to our confinement under the pandemic and an increased need for biophilic experiences. Biophilia, as defined by Edward O. Wilson, is “the urge to affiliate with other life forms.” Nature seems to be amplified now, as does our need to connect with it.
Diversification equals strength. Collaboration amongst all living organisms leads to biological success and, by extension, a well balanced, connected world.
– Zoe Farmer, SFArtsED’s 2019-2020 Minnesota Street Project Artist-in-Residence
Appearing as an individual organism, the siphonophore is actually made up of many individual Zooids forming a superorganism.
Zoe Farmer, Amalia Duque, Samantha Gangitano, Lily Hannan, Parker Lee, Stella Nureyev-Hilburn, Zofia Rose Hope-Csikszentmihalyi, Stella Simmons, Agatha Sterkel, Malena Sutter, Audrey Thornton, Diego Vaznaugh-Sanchez, Trisha Yee

Flamboyant Plumage, 2020
Mixed Media
Zoe Farmer Rebel Rebel, 2020 video, decorator crab
Bio Exuberance, 2020 Film collage, 7:20 Pete Belkin, Photography and Digital Media Producer Natalie Greene, Director and Choreographer Emily Keeler, Text Mentor Tiersa Nureyev, Visual Arts Mentor Featuring artwork and performances by SFArtsED Players: Amalia Duque, Samantha Gangitano, Lily Hannan, Parker Lee, Stella Nureyev-Hilburn, Zofia Rose Hope-Csikszentmihalyi, Stella Simmons, Agatha Sterkel, Malena Sutter, Audrey Thornton, Diego Vaznaugh-Sanchez, Trisha Yee
Artifacts from Bio Exuberance
This Exhibition is made possible with support from: The National Endowment for the Arts • The Sam Mazza Foundation • The Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation

