This July, Taos will serve as a hub for innovative thought as it hosts FEMeeting 2023, a gathering of 81 women from nine different countries. Set to take place from July 24-28, the event aims to cultivate international collaboration among artists, scientists, and technologists. Public engagements will follow on July 29-30 in Taos and Santa Fe.

Event Highlights and Workshops

FEMeeting was co-founded by Marta de Menezes, a Portuguese bio-artist and 2023 Fulbright Scholar at the University of New Mexico (UNM), alongside media scholar Dalila Honorato. The event will showcase a series of closed-session presentations—totaling 70—that delve into groundbreaking research in the intersecting realms of art, science, and technology. Local coordinators, UNM Professor Andrea Polli and Taos artist Agnes Chavez, are instrumental in this initiative.

Key public events include:

• Interactions with Living Leather: Friday, July 28, 9 a.m.-noon, UNM-Taos HIVE
• Seismic Learning: Friday, July 28, 2-5 p.m. at Northern New Mexico College, Taos
• Women in Art, Science and Technology Talk: Saturday, July 29, noon-3 p.m. at Harwood Museum of Art, Taos
• Bioart and Gender in the Americas: Sunday, July 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at SITE Santa Fe

Focus on Bio-Art and Gender

Among the prominent figures attending is UNM Professor of Practice Carol Padberg, who will participate in the Bioart and Gender panel. An accomplished artist, writer, and educator, Padberg is exploring the potential of living oyster mushrooms in her work, particularly their ability to digest plastic.

Educational Opportunities for the Community

An additional workshop at the Oo-oo-nah Art Center in Taos Pueblo will feature Ukrainian bio-artist Darya Warner leading a session on 3D printing with living materials, targeted toward summer camp attendees.

Goals of FEMeeting

The FEMeeting initiative aims to foster stronger collaboration among women in various fields related to art and science. By emphasizing knowledge-sharing and cooperative strategies, the organizers hope to amplify projects undertaken by women globally, thereby enhancing methodologies in art-science research. Participation in public discussions is encouraged for all individuals, regardless of gender.

For further details, the complete program is accessible online.