REBECCA RUTSTEIN (IN)VISIBLE STRUCTURES
Rebecca Rutstein (In)Visible Structures offers a vivid look into hidden ecological systems, on exhibit at the Schuylkill Center in Philadelphia.
By Allan Lane / April 7, 2025
Philadelphia’s Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is hosting a solo show entitled “(In)Visible Structures,” featuring works by acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Rebecca Rutstein. Rebecca Rutstein (In)Visible Structures opens on April 10, 2025, and will run until May 31, 2025, offering you multiple chances to meet the artist and learn about the intersection of art and science. An Artist Reception and Gallery Talk will be held on April 10 from 6pm to 8pm, while a special slide presentation on April 26 at 2pm during the Naturepalooza Earth Day Festival further illuminates her artistic and scientific explorations.
(In)Visible Structures: Exploring Hidden Realms
Rebecca Rustein (In)Visible Structures presents that delve into the invisible ecosystems sustaining life on our planet. Drawn from Rutstein’s storied career and ongoing scientific collaborations, highlights included her Kama’ehuakanaloa Series, first conceived at sea during her 2023 voyage off Hawaii’s coast. You can also witness her latest forays into Arctic-inspired artwork with “Brine Forest (2025),” based on microscopic channels hidden within sea ice, and “Shape Shifter (2025),” capturing the interconnected fungal networks lying beneath forest floors. Curator Heather Moqtaderi, Interim Director of Environmental Art at the Schuylkill Center, notes how these pieces bridge the gap between artistic expression and the latest in environmental research.
Rutstein: Art at the Confluence of Science
For over two decades, Rebecca Rutstein has used painting, sculputure, and interactive installations to spotlight ecological systems that elude casual observation. Her journeys have spanned eight ocean expeditions and included three deep-sea dives in the Alvin submersible, all funded by the National Science Foundation. A recipient of the Pew Fellowship in the Arts, Rutstein has showcased her works in museums, galleries, and institutions worldwide – including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the National Academy of Sciences.
Rebecca Rutstein (In)Visible Structures: Inspiring Stewardship through Creativity
Curated by the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education’s Environmental Art Program, Rebecca Rustein (In)Visible Structures expands on the center’s mission to foster dialogue about ecological awareness and environmental respect. Rutstein herself remarks that the emotional impact of art can awaken a sense of wonder and responsibility in viewers, leading them to embrace stewardship of the natural world. As you walk through this immersive gallery display, you will encounter dynamic forms inspired by oceanic depths, Arctic ice, and subterranean networks of fungi. (In)Visible Structures aims to make the imperceptible tangible, inviting you to reflect on our shared ecosystem and your role in preserving it.