Poindexter lays out a sample of giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, on a sheet of prepared cyanotype paper. Photo by Lindsay Bauman (MAS MBC ’20), Surfgrass Productions

MBC alumna, marine scientist and artist Oriana Poindexter (’15) was recently featured by Getty Conservation Research Foundation Museum for her work and we are thrilled to re-share the article!

“Based in San Diego, Poindexter studies sustainable fisheries and ocean habitats. As an artist she uses photography “as an excuse to go looking for things outside and in nature.” Rather than wading, though, Poindexter dives to get an intimate look at the ocean.
In 2012, she found out about the enormous collection of ocean plant and animal specimens at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and knew she had to photograph it. Taking pictures of the specimens inspired her to learn more about them and pursue a career in marine biology. Poindexter learned how Ellen Browning Scripps, for whom the Scripps Institution of Oceanography is named, collected and pressed delicate and difficult-to-handle ocean plants.
Ultimately, though, Poindexter’s goal is as emotional as it is scientific. ‘I want to get people excited about the ocean. And to me, the ocean really does a way better job of inspiring people than any intermediary can. So my goal is to try and give people a glimpse of being underwater.'”

Read the full article here: https://blogs.getty.edu/iris/capturing-the-feeling-of-the-ocean-on-paper/