She Blinded Me With Science! And Art!

Scientists take joy and beauty from the little things — literally. Just ask Julie Davidow, the frustrated scientist behind Hollywood Art and Culture Center’s (1650 Harrison St., Hollywood) current jewel, “The New Strain.” At first glance, you might see abstract lines and colors arranged all willy nilly, but after you put on your imaginary lab goggles, a secret world emerges.

Davidow’s pieces, on canvases with colorful patterns and hard, geometric angles, represent the microscopic life she examines everyday. The closer you look, the more distinct organisms present themselves: a flagella-whipping sperm, a cilia-heavy protozoan, and even tissue samples cover the museum’s walls in bright, poppy hues. Aside from analyzing hematology cross-sections, the display shows that some of life’s greatest beauty is floating in the bubble of an oil-immersion microscope slide, waiting to be discovered. Check out Davidow through October 5. Admission ranges from $4 to $6. Call 954-921-3274, or visit www.artandculturecenter.org.
Sept. 12-Oct. 18, 2008