Maria Michails

June – July 2010

About the Artist

Maria Michails is an interdisciplinary artist whose art projects bridge the sciences, engineering and architecture. Her current research interests focus on the relationship between energy consumption and environmental problems specific to place. She has exhibited widely in solo and group shows in North America and Europe. Recent notable awards include residency fellowships at Vermont Studio Center, Santa Fe Art Institute, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, and Sculpture Space. She has received grants from the Quebec Arts Council, Heritage Canada and Arizona State University. Michails has a BFA from Concordia University, Montreal, an MFA from Arizona State University and has taught art at Arizona State University and the University of Manitoba.

Artist's Statement

During my residency I fabricated a prototype of the planters and irrigation system that integrates a reservoir tank, 12 volt pump and a video monitor. I decided to make a hybrid of a laboratory container and garden planter. After adding the tubing, a 12 volt pump and reservoir tank I realized the need to control the water flow to the plants in order not to over water them. A solenoid valve will need to be incorporated into the system as well as a microcontroller that will signal the valve when to open. The LCD monitor was successfully integrated but needs modification to its remote sensor so that the handcar will activate it when generating the power. The Sculpture Space residency provided the opportunity to set up my studio as a fabrication-laboratory where I could experiment with new (digital) and old (mechanical) technology and integrating these systems with a living system (the plants).