Specimens in Suspension
Specimens in Suspension
A collaborative installation by Navneet Vaid and Keeley Rideout
A collaborative installation by Navneet Vaid and Keeley Rideout
A set of resin lenses suspends the delicate life of California’s coast—seaweed, bull kelp, carnelians, and urchin spines—preserved to refract light and attention onto a vanishing world.
Developed in collaboration with Keeley Rideout, this project merges scientific research and sensory experience to bring underwater ecologies to the surface. Inspired by our fieldwork and mentorship from artist Josie Iselin, we created a tactile archive of marine biodiversity—pressing and casting fragile specimens into 14-inch resin rounds that act as visual instruments for reflection.
Our process involved coastal foraging, studio pressing, and resin casting using a three-layer pour technique. The resulting lenses, presented at Rodeo Beach, invite viewers to slow down, look closer, and consider the quiet urgency of kelp forest collapse.
A set of resin lenses suspends the delicate life of California’s coast—seaweed, bull kelp, carnelians, and urchin spines—preserved to refract light and attention onto a vanishing world.
Developed in collaboration with Keeley Rideout, this project merges scientific research and sensory experience to bring underwater ecologies to the surface. Inspired by our fieldwork and mentorship from artist Josie Iselin, we created a tactile archive of marine biodiversity—pressing and casting fragile specimens into 14-inch resin rounds that act as visual instruments for reflection.
Our process involved coastal foraging, studio pressing, and resin casting using a three-layer pour technique. The resulting lenses, presented at Rodeo Beach, invite viewers to slow down, look closer, and consider the quiet urgency of kelp forest collapse.
Pressed green seaweed, deep red sheet algae, dark branching fronds, and delicate lace-like seaweed
Pressed green seaweed, deep red sheet algae, dark branching fronds, and delicate lace-like seaweed
For a full breakdown of our methods, inspirations, and process documentation, view our collaboration archive.
For a full breakdown of our methods, inspirations, and process documentation, view our collaboration archive.
Scientific Poster design by Keeley Rideout.
For a better look at the poster, view our poster externally.
Scientific Poster design by Keeley Rideout.
For a better look at the poster, view our poster externally.
Sea urchin spines with a few small shell fragments
Bull kelp pods and stipe pieces, red algae fronds, dark branching seaweed, sea urchin spines, and carnelian fragments
Sea urchin spines with a few small shell fragments
Bull kelp pods
and stipe pieces, red algae fronds, dark branching seaweed, sea urchin spines, and carnelian fragments
Sea urchin spines with a few small shell fragments
Bull kelp pods
and stipe pieces, red algae fronds, dark branching seaweed, sea urchin spines, and carnelian fragments