Art meets ocean science in a groundbreaking exhibit at UC San Diego. This fall, Embodied Pacific will connect the dots between artistic expression and scientific inquiry, offering visitors an immersive experience that spans several campus locations. This initiative, as reported by the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, is part of the influential PST ART series, which showcases Southern California's unique cultural identity through a curation of various themes.

For those intrigued by the interplay of native techniques and marine studies, the exhibit delves into a powerful synergy. At Kosay Kumeyaay Market, traditional Kumeyaay basket-making and tule reed boats are on display, setting the narrative for an intersection of Indigenous knowledge and sustainability efforts. Created by UC San Diego’s Department of Visual Arts in partnership with scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Embodied Pacific will, as "detailed by Birch Aquarium at Scripps", help the community envision "a collective intercultural role in sustaining our ocean body in a time of critical change."

The collaboration spans three campus sites, including the Birch Aquarium, which will host Project Flip by Rachel Mayeri, designed on the Research Platform FLIP, among other projects. The SME Visual Arts Gallery will feature pieces such as 'Navigating the Pacific' with contributions from various artists and lecturers from September 27 to March 15, 2025. Yet another aspect, the QI Gallery offers 'Crystalizing Ocean Science Histories' by Amy Adler from September 27 to December 8, and 'Mining Ocean Science Histories' by Louis Hock will follow from January 12 to March 15, 2025.

Embodied Pacific is not just a platform for pretty pictures or hyperbolic claims. It underlines pressing global issues and presents eye-opening solutions. An additional installation at UC San Diego's Mandeville Gallery, part of the Helen and Newton Harrison: California Work exhibition, is set to open a day later, on September 28. As reported by Birch Aquarium at Scripps, the show is "highlighting Embodied Pacific as an exemplary community program" in a statement about the World Design Capital 2024 festivities.

Embodied Pacific isn't just another art exhibit, it's a communication bridge between our cultural roots and the uncertain future of our oceans. Set to open publicly at Gallery QI and the SME Visual Arts Gallery on September 26, at Kosay Kumeyaay Market on September 27, and at Birch Aquarium on October 4, it's an invitation to San Diegans and visitors alike to engage with the interconnectedness of art, science, and sustainability. Curated by Lisa Cartwright, Nan Renner, and Megan Dickerson, the exhibit promises to be an innovative twist to San Diego's vibrant cultural landscape.