An Evening of Discovery
This is where our two cultures converge. From the first spark of inquiry to the final celebration, here is the flow of our evening.
The Gallery Exhibition
The Politics of Identity: A Curated Installation
Guests are invited to explore a curated gallery installation on the intersection of fashion, politics, and identity, drawing a link between self-expression and scientific discovery.
Curated by Professor Ann-Marie Leshkowich (sociocultural anthropologist, College of the Holy Cross), author of the award-winning book, "Essential Trade: Vietnamese Women in a Changing Marketplace."
Opening Remarks
Welcome from the Illumineers.
"The Fashion of Belonging"
Speaker: Dr. Ann-Marie Leshkowich
A 5-minute framing address linking the gallery exhibition to the evening's live event, setting the stage for the intersection of identity, fashion, art and science.
FASHION SEGMENT I: THE SPARK
The Undergraduate Collection
This collection captures the innovative, restless spirit of new discovery, where initial ideas first find physical form.
The Opening Talk
THE DISTORTED LENS: Deconstructing How We See
Speaker: Lucy Kim (Associate Professor of Art, Boston University)
An interdisciplinary artist working across painting, sculpture, and microbiology, Professor Kim opens the evening with a 20-minute talk on distortion as a pressure point to deconstruct how we see what we see.
FASHION SEGMENT II: THE INQUIRY
The Graduate Collection
These garments represent the focus, rigor, and profound creativity born from sustained, deep investigation.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
ARCHEMY: Mining the Interface of Art and Science
Speaker: Dr. Dan Jay (Tufts University)
The evening's 25-minute keynote is delivered by Dr. Jay, who for 40 years has held parallel careers as a distinguished Professor/Dean at Harvard and Tufts, and as a practicing artist. He will explore his "ARCHEMY" work, which uses unusual chemicals and reactions (liquid nitrogen, magnetic fields) to create artworks that visualize invisible scientific phenomena.
FASHION SEGMENT III: THE SYNTHESIS
The Faculty & Luminary Collection
These pieces are the 'glue,' synthesizing complex ideas into fully-realized works of art.
COMMUNITY SEGMENT: THE OPEN WALK
The Lab Coat Reimagined
A special presentation where members of our community walk the stage, showcasing their own custom-designed lab coats and attire, reclaiming the uniform of science as a canvas for personal expression.
Closing Remarks & Networking
The formal program concludes. Guests are invited to join speakers, designers, and scientists for networking and conversation.