Virginia L. Montgomery
Quantum Dot Mobile
The Quantum Dot Mobile is a collaborative sculpture created by multimedia artist Virginia L. Montgomery with assistance from Dr. Brian Korgel's Research Group in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. The kinetic properties of the sculpture symbolize the movement and energy behind quantum dot research. The physical form of the mobile aesthetically references the ovoidal shape of the quantum dot itself. The production of the The Quantum Dot Mobile occurred onsite University of Texas at Austin with assistance from both the College of Engineering and College of Fine Arts. From the College of Engineering, Benjamin J Stacy, a graduate student from Brian Korgel's group, supplied the macro imagery of the quantum dots that appear upon the mobile. The quantum dot imagery was then UV printed on acrylic sheets in a two-tone process with assistance from the College of Fine Arts graduate student Rosie Clements. Afterwards the acrylic sheets were laser-cut into ovoidal shapes at the College of Engineering's Texas Inventionworks with the assistance of undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Student, Kate Whitemire. Artist Virginia L. Montgomery's Quantum Dot Mobile embodies a spirit of collaboration between art and science while celebrating the beauty and excitement within quantum dot research.
Mobile Artwork By-line:
Quantum Dots Mobile
Virginia L. Montgomery, 2024, Sculpture, Acrylic and wire, 70" x 40" x 20"
Created with support from MRSEC and Korgel Group
Video link: "Quantum Dots & Luna Moths: A Video Collage"
https://vimeo.com/987658057/c7133bd412
Video Description:
Quantum Dots & Luna Moths: A Video Collage (Virginia L. Montgomery, 2024) is a surreal, experimental art-film created onsite at Korgel Labs, a material research division at the University of Texas at Austin, that explores the potential of quantum dots. This art-film depicts the new, pristine Korgel Labs populated by the artist and a native Texas luna moth who has emerged inside the lab. The presence of the luna moth inside the lab symbolizes hope and discovery. The film features repeating circle-shaped imagery, like spheres and circles, shared between the moth and the lab. Imagery of quantum dots, equipment holes, and luna moth eye-spots interplay as a surrealist dreamworld emerges through art and science. The film's lush soundscape of foley sounds, Texas nature recordings, and ambient humms from Korgel Lab flows cocoons the film in thoughtful ambience. Quantum Dots & Luna Moths: A Video Collage was created by the artist Virginia L. Montgomery with support from MRSEC's art residency program and Korgel Labs.
Video Artwork By-line:
Quantum Dots & Luna Moths: A Video Collage
Virginia L. Montgomery, 2024, 4K Digital Video, 03:45
Created with support from MRSEC and Korgel Group
Artist Bio
Virginia L. Montgomery (VLM) is a multimedia artist and naturalist working in video, sound, sculpture, and entomology. VLM received her MFA at Yale University and her BFA at The University of Texas at Austin. Her surrealist artworks conjure dreamscapes that unite elements from mysticism, science and her own lived experience as a neurodivergent individual. Her artistic efforts are characterized by material experimentation, somatic sensitivities, and her unusual studio practice of hand-raising the luna moths and butterflies seen in her videos. Her artwork symbolically explores the uncanny presence of the circle, an omnipresent form that appears in nature everywhere from quantum dots to the eye-spots on luna moth wings. VLM has had solo presentations of her artwork with The Tate Modern (United Kingdom), New Museum (NY), Times Square Arts (NY), Museum Folkwang (Germany), Wright Lab at Yale University (CT), Women & Their Work (TX), The Lawndale Art Center (TX), False Flag (NY), and Hesse Flatow (NY). She has exhibited in group exhibitions at institutions including SculptureCenter (NY), La Panacée-MoCo (France), The Hessel Museum (NY), The Banff Centre (Canada), Socrates Sculpture Park (NY), The Blanton Museum (TX), The Contemporary Austin (TX) and Kunsthal Charlottenborg (Denmark), among others.