Cleveland Institute of Art student partners with Holden Arboretum researchers to create glasswork that connects art, science

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2025

CLEVELAND—Ryan Garcia, a Craft + Design senior studying Glass at the Cleveland Institute of Art, has partnered with the Ellen Corning Long and T. Dixon Long Center for Plant and Environmental Science at Holden Arboretum to present Chromatic Cells, a glasswork installation that bridges the gap between science and art.

Chromatic Cells includes five glass pieces inspired by the research of plant physiologists Dylann Nakaji-Conley and Miranda Shetzer, who conduct research at the Long Science Center. The pieces explore the processes of plant pigmentation in reaction to environmental stressors.

"I want viewers to see—and be inspired by—the connection between art and science. That connection between seemingly independent concepts is what creates visual language in art and what sparks research in science," Garcia says. "I think looking at the world through different perspectives is key to gaining a greater understanding of how the natural world around us works. I think art provides a unique way to understand the sciences. Science is often thought of in absolutes, while art invites us to consider new ways of thinking and applying that knowledge elsewhere."

Chromatic Cells will be installed from October 7 through November 17 in Holden Arboretum’s Corning Visitor Center Library (9550 Sperry Road, Kirtland). Garcia will host an art-and-science talk with Nakaji-Conley and Shetzer at 3pm Saturday, October 25 in the Corning Visitor Center. During the talk, they will go into detail about the artwork, the research, and how they relate.

"We are so delighted to show Ryan's work at the Arboretum," says Beth Kelly, Holden Forests & Gardens' director of guest experiences. "He came into this project with curiosity and an open mind toward Holden's research, and it's exciting to see how that's translated into compelling visual artwork. I hope our guests will enjoy it for both the beauty of the glass and the scientific story."

Garcia was excited about working with Holden’s Long Science Center and valued the experience.

"I was a bit nervous at first. Although I have an interest in plant biology, I have a very surface-level understanding of it compared to actual researchers," he explains. "I was happy that my curiosity was matched by everyone else's interest in my craft. I find it rewarding to exchange information about specialties when there is a genuine shared eagerness to learn more."

To learn more about Garcia and his art, follow @ryangarciart on Instagram.

Chromatic Cells was created through the Creativity works program, which is made possible by the generous support of the Fenn Educational Fund and the G.R. Lincoln Family Foundation. Creativity Works is a self-initiated internship program with the goal of supporting a student's professional development. Participating students create proposals that align with their long-term professional goals.

Contacts

Cleveland Institute of Art
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404

Cleveland Institute of Art

The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 600 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars. 

Holden Arboretum and Holden Forests & Gardens

The Holden Arboretum, located east of Cleveland in Kirtland, Ohio, sprawls over an enchanting expanse of land in Lake and Geauga Counties and offers gardens, trails, lakes and meadows. The Holden Arboretum is part of Holden Forests & Gardens along with the Cleveland Botanical Garden in Cleveland’s University Circle cultural district. Holden Forests & Gardens is making a positive impact through urban greening and forestry initiatives, environmental research, educational programs, and world-class visitor experiences at its two campuses. For more information, visit holdenfg.org.