This week we meet one of our most inspiring, active and collaborative science participants - Marine and Fish Biologist Dr Karina Hall. Earlier in the year Karina sat down with our filmmakers Mark and Megan George to discuss all things White Bluff. Here’s what she had to say about collaboration, science and the site itself. As well as some hints as to what to expect from the final White Bluff Project exhibition.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Karina Hall and I'm a research scientist with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and my field is fish biology or marine biology. I tend to call myself a fish biologist. My research helps support the sustainable management of our fisheries and marine resources along the east coast of Australia. But my main specialty and passion is the cephalopods, which includes the octopuses, squids and cuttlefishes. These are amazing, beautiful and interesting creatures and we have many species in the waters off Coffs Harbour.
What attracted you to the White Bluff Project?
That's an easy one. The chance to be involved in a creative project was incredibly appealing. Science can be quite dry - not dull, but it's meticulous and routine. There’s a lot of repetition. So, it was really nice to become involved in a project where there would be a lot of creative people and a lot of ideas flying around, but at the same time still be focussed on the ecology of a place, and a local place, with local artists who are all high calibre.
What are you planning for the White Bluff exhibition?
Well I see my role more in the lead up to the exhibition rather than contributing directly in the form of artwork. I've been really enjoying collaborating with the artists and introducing them to my world and how I see the White Bluff area as a scientist in terms of its ecology and particularly the marine ecology and what's going on in the tidal pools and in the intertidal zone. I see my contribution as trying to inspire the artists and I’m really looking forward to seeing their interpretation of that scientific world.
Do you remember your response when you first really explored White Bluff?
Walking out on the headland and looking out — it's an absolutely spectacular view. I didn't really appreciate just how much underwater terrain there is; the reef and the rock formations and that kind of connection between the headland going out to Split Solitary Island. I'd never really appreciated that formation and connection before, so standing up on top of the headland and getting that birds eye view it's really quite special.
What's your usual working mode is it solo or in groups?
As scientists we tend to work in teams. It's a very collaborative experience science. Most scientific projects are interdisciplinary. Everyone brings something to the project. We bring in geneticists or ageing specialists because as science expands there's more knowledge and everyone can't know everything, so you need specialists and then you need to bring them together to get the knowledge that you need.
What has been your experience with collaboration on the White Bluff Project?
It's been really fantastic. I have loved participating in the workshops that Ray and Sarah have organised, they were great fun. To actually try and make some artwork with the artists, and explore the area with them as well, looking at it through their eyes instead of my scientific eyes. [will insert here a picture of your clay piece with a caption explaining the working with clay session with Phil Greed].
I've actually really enjoyed learning from the other scientists as well. Listening to Mark and Greg talking about the trees and the kind of terrestrial ecology which I haven't really had a lot to do with. It’s been really quite fascinating hearing their take on the area.
Have you formed any close collaborations with the project or any artists in particular?
So far I have worked quite closely with Terry, Jo and Julie. The plankton has been a lot of fun. We went out and collected some water samples from the area, brought them back and the girls came with me to the lab and we filtered the water and then looked at the little microorganisms under the microscope and took some beautiful digital images of them. To see those worked up in Julie’s drawings is just absolutely fantastic. (For more detail of this collaboration see our News story by clicking here).
Ultimately there's going to be an exhibition in the Regional Gallery. What do you think the community that come to visit the Gallery can expect to see when they attend?
Well I think they’ll see high quality artworks if the preliminary works I've seen is anything to go by. I think it might also give people an appreciation for the fantastic area that we live. White Bluff is a really nice study site in terms of capturing the beautiful ocean and marine ecology that we have in this area, that connection to the beach and then there’s the coastal hinterland with the beautiful trees and rainforest.
I love the mix of artists that they've introduced to the project. There's everything from digital artists to traditional painters and sculptors. There’s many different mediums and so I think it's going to be a really beautiful, varied mix of artworks. I think as well because of the different scientists involved and the real meshing of different ecosystems coming together, there's so many aspects that the artists can explore.
CAPTION: During one of the Project's on-site workshops all participants were given a lesson in clay from master ceramicist Phil Greed. We were then given an hour to explore the site and use it to create something for later firing. We all absolutely loved our scientist Karina Hall's clay piece. She was so engaged and enthralled with the making process we lost her for over an hour and had to send out a search party. Art and Science effects have flowed in both directions.