Slowlife is a traveling multi-media science/art educational exhibit that will include video, live plants, photographic prints, and interactive environments. The exhibit was originally designed by plant biologist Dr. Roger Hangarter in collaboration with artist, Dennis Dehart. Built on core series time-lapse movies, the exhibit will attempt to convey to a public audience that plants are complex living beings instead of ornamental inanimate objects. By combining time-lapse movies with artistic elements that demonstrate various plant movements and growth responses, the exhibit accurately and effectively combines science and art in a way that provides scientists and non-scientists with a novel way of learning some basic plant biology. The exhibit lets viewers experience a sense of intrigue, mystery, and a bit of awe, all of which contribute to enhancing their awareness of plant life. The experience also provides viewers with an opportunity to reflect on their relationship to plants and their environment. The original exhibit had a debut installation at the Indiana University School of Fine Arts Gallery. The traveling exhibit being built through this award is scheduled to open at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory on the National Mall in Washington DC in October, 2005. Following that installation, it will be shown at the Chicago Botanic Garden in June, 2006. During the two installations in Washington, DC and Chicago, it is estimated that 900,000 people will see the exhibit. It will travel the country for the following 5 to 7 years.
