Sponsored by Johns Hopkins Alumni Association
Join alumni and guests at the New England Quilt Museum for the textiles exhibition Fierce Planets; a collaboration between Studio Art Quilt Associates and the Johns Hopkins WavelengthsTM public research communication and outreach program. The exhibition is composed of 42 works of art which masterfully explore and capture the science, the beauty, and the power of planetary forces and phenomena. To create their works, fiber artists from 11 countries on 6 continents drew inspiration from Bloomberg Distinguished Professor Dr. Sabine Stanley’s work in planetary science at Johns Hopkins University, the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), and NASA, as well as her recent book, What’s Hidden Inside Planets?
Earth, from space, appears as a shimmering gem suspended in an inky, infinite expanse. But this serene image masks the magnificent and volatile interior forces that make life possible on its surface. The placid appearances of our neighboring planets similarly belie their powers—and science fiction-worthy features. Iron snow, helium rain, and diamond icebergs: These are just a few of the curious results of extreme heat and pressure inside. The interior materials and machinations of Earth and other planets are inextricably connected to the formation of their atmospheres, oceans, earthquakes, and volcanoes, all of which deeply impact lives—and now serve as inspirations for artists—around the world.
On the subject of this fascinating union of contemporary art and scientific research, Dr. Stanley said:
“No matter how important our observations and discoveries may turn out to be, they would mean nothing without the ability to share them with the rest of the world. The ability to communicate the beauty and importance of science often depends upon both the determination of scientists to reach out, and the capacity of artists to portray the deeper currents through their own mediums and in their own voices. These textile art pieces are a wonderful vehicle to communicate my work in science, and inspire people to seek to understand the importance of the processes that happen inside Earth and other planets. For this I am eternally grateful to the artists who created them.”
The museum opens at 10 am and Dr. Stanley will speak at 11 am.
While participating in off-campus events and meetings sponsored by the JHAA/JHM/JHHS participants must follow all public health guidelines mandated by the local jurisdiction and venue at the time of the event. Johns Hopkins strongly suggests that attendees who join in person receive at least one dose of an FDA- or WHO-authorized COVID-19 vaccine before attending This is subject to change.
JHAA Event Cancellation and Refund Policy
