Cell Voyage at the (now defunct) Columbus Center
I had the fortune to be included in an ambitious project at the
Columbus Center in Baltimore. The Columbus Center was a science
museum associated with the National Center for Marine Biotechnology
Research and Education. The museum occupied a beautiful building
attached to the research center, with a view of the Baltimore
waterfront. Unfortunately, the museum closed due to financial
difficulties within a year of opening. Last time I was in Baltimore
(summer 1999) the exhibit was partially dismantled.
The project that I worked on was the "Cell Voyage." This exhibit
modelled a cell at 3,000,000X magnification. The surface of the
cell was textured to represent the many proteins extending from
the cell membrane, and a tunnel through the cell and a large
backlit cross section revealed the inner structure. Throughout the exhibit,
the cell was painted to reveal individual molecules performing their
various tasks. The exhibit was fabricated by Academy Studios in
Novato, California, and constructed on site in Baltimore.
My paintings and designs.
The Final Exhibit.
goodsell@scripps.edu