LISI Events
Transparency, Opacity, and Iridescence in Glass
Friday, April 25, 2025 | 5:15–7:30 p.m.
Fee: $7 per person
Katherine Gray, a world-renowned glass artist, brings her expertise to the LISI Speaker Series in an illuminating presentation on the creative technologies behind art glass. Gray will explore this compelling medium and how the interplay of light, structure, and perception transforms ordinary glass into an extraordinary artistic statement. And did you know that metal oxides developed by NASA for spacecraft windows create dazzling iridescent effects? From historical glass artifacts to cutting-edge innovations, Gray’s talk will reveal the hidden science behind this ancient yet futuristic material.
“I use a material that we don’t generally ‘see’: glass. It is often flawlessly clear and colourless, hence invisible in that regard, but also it can be so ubiquitous and banal that it does not register in our psyches either. It is a material that allows us unparalleled connectivity (via smart phones and fibre optics) yet also serves to separate us. To my mind, these two polarities are what set this material apart from so many others, and one of the reasons that I feel compelled to keep working with it as an artistic medium. It is both present and absent, known and unknown, and vacillating between a state of mundane familiarity and otherworldly perfection." -Katherine Gray
Join us for an evening of insight, innovation, and artistry as Katherine Gray uncovers the mesmerizing science behind blown glass and its limitless creative potential.
About Katherine Gray:
Katherine Gray is an acclaimed glass artist whose work bridges the realms of science and art. She received her undergraduate degree from the Ontario College of Art in Toronto and her Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions, including the Corning Museum of Glass, the Toledo Museum of Art, and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. Gray is a recipient of the Libenský/Brychtová Award from the Pilchuck Glass School and has been inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Craft Council. In addition to her artistic career, she is a Professor of Art at California State University, San Bernardino, and a frequent juror and curator in the glass art world.
Register for Transparency, Opacity and Iridescence in Glass »
Spring 2025
LISI Speaker Series - Transparency, Opacity, and Iridescence in Glass
Friday, April 25, 2025 | 5:15–7:30 p.m.
Fee: $7 per person
Katherine Gray, a world-renowned glass artist, brings her expertise to the LISI Speaker Series in an illuminating presentation on the creative technologies behind art glass. Gray will explore this compelling medium and how the interplay of light, structure, and perception transforms ordinary glass into an extraordinary artistic statement. And did you know that metal oxides developed by NASA for spacecraft windows create dazzling iridescent effects? From historical glass artifacts to cutting-edge innovations, Gray’s talk will reveal the hidden science behind this ancient yet futuristic material.
“I use a material that we don’t generally ‘see’: glass. It is often flawlessly clear and colourless, hence invisible in that regard, but also it can be so ubiquitous and banal that it does not register in our psyches either. It is a material that allows us unparalleled connectivity (via smart phones and fibre optics) yet also serves to separate us. To my mind, these two polarities are what set this material apart from so many others, and one of the reasons that I feel compelled to keep working with it as an artistic medium. It is both present and absent, known and unknown, and vacillating between a state of mundane familiarity and otherworldly perfection." -Katherine Gray
Join us for an evening of insight, innovation, and artistry as Katherine Gray uncovers the mesmerizing science behind blown glass and its limitless creative potential.
About Katherine Gray:
Katherine Gray is an acclaimed glass artist whose work bridges the realms of science and art. She received her undergraduate degree from the Ontario College of Art in Toronto and her Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions, including the Corning Museum of Glass, the Toledo Museum of Art, and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. Gray is a recipient of the Libenský/Brychtová Award from the Pilchuck Glass School and has been inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Craft Council. In addition to her artistic career, she is a Professor of Art at California State University, San Bernardino, and a frequent juror and curator in the glass art world.
The Science Behind Imaging Nature - The Evolution of Tools and Technologies in Art and Science
Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Join Elizabeth Liebman, art historian, and biological illustrator, and Bonnie Johnson, information security advocate and AI innovator, for a unique seminar that blends art, science, and technology. Explore the evolution of scientific drawing—from Renaissance techniques to modern AI imaging—through interactive demonstrations and activities.
In this engaging seminar, participants will:
- Experience freehand vs. computer-generated imaging
- Engage in a Camera Lucida demonstration and prompt multiple AI imaging models
- Discuss the impact of technology in the history of scientific representation
- Explore biases, innovations, and accuracy in old and new imaging techniques
Seminar Schedule:
- 10–11:15 a.m. Elizabeth Liebman will share her insights and historical expertise, followed by a Q&A and a hands-on Camera Lucida demonstration
- 11:15–11:45 a.m. Brunch and discussion
- 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. Bonnie Johnson will demonstrate CGI techniques, guiding the audience through the process of creating digital images with generative AI while exploring its biases and accuracy.
Fee: $30/ticket | $50 for Friends’/Couples’ ticket - Brunch included
The Science Behind Sourdough
Join us for a fascinating three-part series led by Young Cho, a chemist turned master baker and co-owner of Simple Bakery in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Dive deep into the microbiology, biochemistry, and physics that transform simple ingredients into extraordinary loaves. Learn how to cultivate and maintain a lifelong sourdough starter, master the perfect dough consistency, and harness the power of heat to achieve the ultimate crust and crumb. Each session includes sourdough tastings, including Chef Cho’s home-baked ancient grain masterpieces, plus expertly paired specialty appetizers and local craft beers.
Whether you're a passionate home baker or a curious foodie, this unique series will elevate your baking skills through science and hands-on experimentation. Sign up for all three as a mini course to become an expert in sourdough, or take an individual class for a perfect date night or friends’ night out, complete with dining and socializing. Tickets are $60/each or $100/couple.
If you need an accommodation or a sign language interpreter, contact the Access and Disability Services department at (815) 455-8766 or disabilityservices@mchenry.edu.