Unicorn mosaic made from genetically engineered fluorescent K12 bacteria, crowdsourced from participants at SXSW Create, 2013. Thanks to all participants!

Presenting… the Unicorn Mosaic made from genetically engineered fluorescent K12 bacteria, crowdsourced from participants at SXSW Create, 2013. If you were a contributor, check below for the number that corresponds with the card you received at SXSW to see how your bacteria dish developed.

Thanks to all who participated! You have the distinction of having helped create what Adam Balkan of  New York 1 dubbed: “…probably the world’s first ever giant unicorn-shaped piece of bacteria…” and it came out great!

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For centuries, artists and designers have looked to nature for inspiration and for materials, but only recently have they become able to incorporate living organisms or tissues into their work. This startling development at the intersection of biology and design has created new aesthetic possibilities and can help address the growing urgency to build and manufacture ecologically.

In this talk, William Myers, author of the new book BioDesign: Nature + Science + Creativity, will present several recent experiments in harnessing biology for art and design: from thoroughly serious and practical applications to provocative, gorgeous works of art. Highlights include a portrait of the human microbiome, a footbridge supported by willow trees, packaging made with mushrooms and a scheme to use bacteria to solidify sand dunes into walls in the desert.

A Q&A and book signing will follow the presentation.

This event is part of CUT/PASTE/GROW.

Stay tuned- we’ll be sharing updates as we continue to create… The World’s First Ever Giant Unicorn-shaped Piece of Bacteria!

The CREATE tent at SXSW, pre-set up. This was where the magic happened, y’all!

Daniel Grushkin of Genspace explains the engineering behind the phosphorescence in the bacteria, as well as how to use the bacteria as “paint” for the mosaic to an anticipatory participant and an onlooker.

Golgi apparatus or abstract expressionism?

Virginia Ingram traces over her design in a petri dish with bacteria that will glow green.

CUT/PASTE/GROW mosaic artists at work.

The finished tiles. Next up for them, a little “culture”!

Andrew & Andrew are down with the bioart!

Help Genspace, Observatory, and the Empiricist League create a crowd-sourced living, glowing mosaic of bacterial paintings. Each mosaic tile will be painted on a petri dish with K-12 bacteria. The DNA of this bacteria has been genetically modified to glow green or red under a black light. All the tiles together will create the shape of the ultimate genetic hybrid, the unicorn. The mosaic will be part of an art exhibit featuring a dozen of today’s most dynamic bioartists in Brooklyn, NY.

Each participant will receive a souvenir postcard on which they’ll be able to draw the image that will appear on their mosaic tile. Participants will then trace over their drawing in a petri dish with their bacterial paint brush. After a few days, when the bacterial colonies have grown, the tiles will be assembled under a black light and photographed in a unicorn formation. The photograph will be posted on cutpastegrow.com where participants will be able to view their contributions to the mosaic.