Sensual science.
It?s possible through Amy Lamb?s lens.
Lamb, a local photographer and molecular biologist, exposes lush plants? intimate structures and ornamentations. Her 20 large, colored photographs on display at Steven Scott Gallery capture the best of science and art.
“Everyone just loves her images ? the beauty and all of the subtleties that are laid barren,” said Tom Mirenda, orchid collection specialist at the Smithsonian Institution.
“She has the biological eye,” said the horticulturist. “She sees structure and function, and form and color different than most artists who depict just an overall image without the breathtaking details.”
Lamb watches a plant in her garden at each stage of its life for a year before plucking an identical subject to pose under dramatic lighting in her studio.
The Bethesda artist?s unexpected viewpoint ? often from the perspective of a tiny insect ? enchants viewers, said Steven Scott, curator of the exhibition. “Amy blows up the image of something as tiny as baby?s breath to over 30 by 30 inches so you get to see the incredible universe that?s going on in the tiny little flower.”
Lamb arranges her lights to reveal specific parts of a plant such as its spiral veins or minuscule petals that are often hidden under a fold, she said. “I focus on the plant?s architecture ? its symmetrical patterns that are repeated in nature but still unique to that plant.”
She blends her scientific knowledge with her artistic passion to create vibrant images, Scott said. “The flowers are so full of life; they truly glow. You feel like you?re looking at light boxes.”
“In science you need to explain what you do in biochemical language which immediately divides the number of people who will understand what you do,” Lamb said. “In photography, images break down all the barriers of language and culture. You?re left with only what you can see, and that visual passion.”
AMY LAMB
» Venue: Stephen Scott Gallery, 9169 Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills
» Info: 410-902-9300; www.stevenscottgallery.com
