Monthly Conversations

Interviews with Social Artists, Uncommon Heroes

April 9, 2014

From the Editor

Richard Whittaker
Welcome to issue #31: art and science combined in a new pedagogy (that includes honeybees) at UC Davis, a SF Chronicle beekeeping reporter, a spirit-woodcarving Buddhist priest, a talk with a surfing, pioneering woman Buddhist nun and a man who makes people laugh, "Sorry I misspelled your tattoo." [more]

More Features

• Beekeeeper & Reporter, Meredith May
• Congratulations on Your Caribou
• An Extraordinary Story: Ven. Karma Lekshe

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Donna Billick/Diane Ullman -- Art and Science Fusion

As Joseph Beuys said decades ago, "Our concept of art must be universal and have the interdisciplinary nature of a university, and there must be a university department with a new concept of art and science." Beuys' prophetic words are being put into practice at the University of California at their Davis campus. Artist Donna Billick and entomologist Diane Ullman talk about their project now fifteen years in, the UC Davis Art and Science Fusion program.

A Conversation with Zoshi, Spirit Woodcarver

Zoshi talks about his first wood carving. He made it during a walk across the U.S., "I never carve before. But I wanted Buddha statue. I look for a long time. I tried to buy a good one, but expensive. In 1981 I came to the United States. I joined peace march. I walked from Los Angeles to New York. About seven people walked whole distance. I was one of them." This is one of my favorite interviews, precious, in the best sense of the word.