Into the Mystic

by Jane Bearinger

“My work is driven by deep curiosity and a passion for exploring the intersection of art and science. My medium of choice is copper. I create abstract compositions through the development of colorful and morphologic patinas on bare copper via chemical reactions. Copper serves as a visual representation of elemental nature, while the patinas represent both scientific and artistic processes. The final works fuse these worlds, resulting in pieces that are aesthetically pleasing yet intellectually stimulating. Copper patinas elucidate the tension between the material's metallic and oxidized states, creating a dialogue between the two. The process of layering and manipulating patina combines intentional choice with the element of surprise, yielding a dynamic body of work. My goal is to create pieces that not only evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity but also challenge the viewer to think about the relationship between science and art.”