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If Neurons Could Talk

Immy Smith does it all – cartooning, fine art, neuroscience and taking part in the art+science “collaborative of polymathic artists”, Imagining Science.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


Immy Smith does it all - cartooning, fine art, neuroscience and taking part in the art+science "collaborative of polymathic artists", Imagining Science. Smith is even visiting artist at an herbarium.

For the September SciArt Blitz, I had originally planned to share one of Smith's fine art pieces - but these neurons are so weirdly charming. There's something almost Fraggle Rock about them, but something a little spooky. Like the comfort of our thoughts, and the fear that comes when they get away from us. If the Hippocampal Neurons above don't demonstrate what I mean, took a look at Smith's Frankenstein Neuron.

And okay: one small peek at the kind of fine art that drew me to Immy Smith in the first place.


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For the third year running, we are turning September into a month-long celebration of science artists by delivering new sciart to invade your eyeballs. The SciArt Blitz! Can’t get enough? Check out what was previously featured on this day:

 

2013: Unfeathered For All the World to See - art by Katrina van Grouw

 

2012: Heavily Armored Hallucigenia - blacksmithing by Darrell Markewitz