Sounds in the Sea: The Art and Science of Ocean Acoustics

We are visual creatures. But underwater, visibility falls off dramatically and the kinds of visual observations that biologists use to study terrestrial ecosystems are not practical. Studying what is happening under the ocean requires a different approach. Ocean Acoustics uses sound to listen in to what’s happening and collect data that illuminates life in the ocean. This project makes visible the invisible world of sound in the sea. I created densely embroidered silk panels that help describe what researchers are discovering. The artwork illustrates the largest daily migration of zooplankton, the sound enhancing SOFAR channel, phytoplankton and the dramatic vocalizations of marine life gathered by hydrophones.  I drew inspiration from the work of the Swiss embroidery artist Lissy Funk. In this talk I will also describe the challenges and rewards of a scientific voyage off the eastern seaboard of the United States.