Temple of Science

Art & Design Gallery, University of Kansas
Variable dimensions
2014

The primary aim of the Temple of Science, which served as my MFA thesis project, was to open up a dialogue about religion, science, academia, and epistemology in modern society. Two objectives accompanied this aim:

To examine the role of churches, universities, and museums—as institutions of public culture—in shaping our collective understanding of ourselves and our world.
To demonstrate that art and creative interpretation strategies have a very real value in illuminating aspects of reality that lie outside the domain of modern scientific inquiry.

To accomplish this, I created a new religion dedicated to the worship of Science, Technology, and the Spirit of Progress. The strategy of parody or over-identification—exaggerating the (perceived) parallels between science and religion to create a humorous presentation with a serious point—is intended to be provocative but not offensive.

Installation, performance, and digital media all played a role in the Temple of Science. The gallery space was converted into a church interior, complete with a chemistry lab table as an altar and Bunsen-burner candles. An online portal provided information about the Temple and its rituals, and active outreach was conducted on social media prior to and during the exhibition. At the exhibition opening, I assumed the role of Magister and High Priestess to lead a half-hour participatory liturgy to the worship of Science. The exhibition closed with a peer-review panel discussion in the gallery, featuring experts from the fields of art, science, and religion.

Visit the project's online portal

Read the liturgy (PDF)

Read a full description and analysis of the project (PDF)

Access social media associated with the project

Temple of Science

Installation views

Artifacts & ephemera