Scientific Delirium Madness

Leonardo/ISAST and the Djerassi Resident Artists Program (DRAP) collaborate on the annual Scientific Delirium Madness artist/scientist residency that brings together artists and scientists for a monthlong retreat in the Santa Cruz Mountains. During the course of the residency, artists working in a variety of media work closely with scientists working in various disciplines to explore and transform the boundaries of art and science.

Each year, six distinguished scientists and six forward-thinking artists are selected from hundreds of applicants and nominees to participate. Scientists selected must be involved in significant art-related research and/or be practicing a form of art and/or have original ideas on how to integrate aspects of art and science. This includes but is not limited to poetry, playwriting, fiction, creative non-fiction, choreography, music composition, media arts/filmmaking, painting, sculpture, photography, and installation art. Artists selected will have a track record of work driven by the influence of biology, chemistry, physics, math, environmental or agricultural science. A strong sense of play and experimentation is essential.

This is not a product-based residency. Artists and scientists will be free to work on their own projects. Participants will be expected to be in-residence for the entirety of the session. Accommodations, food, and local transportation are provided. Residents will also be expected to interact with colleagues in differing fields, participate in a two public forums during their stay and document/share their experiences for both academic and general audiences.

In addition to collegial time, the artists and scientists contribute to a regular series of blogs, LASER (Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous) events organized by noted cultural historian Piero Scaruffi, an Open House/Open Studio public gathering at the Djerassi Program, papers and a special section in Leonardo.