“The Spindle of Memories”, 2024.
Watercolor and fineliner, 30 x 30 cm.

This work was commissioned to celebrate the career of a distinguished scientist in the field of developmental biology and the regulation of cell division. During eukaryotic cell division, chromosome segregation depends on the formation of a microtubule-based structure called the spindle. These protein fibers attach themselves to protein structures associated with the chromosomes called kinetochores. The spindle is necessary for the equal segregation of chromosomes into two daughter cells. The centerpiece of the composition represents one of her experiments demonstrating that spindle assembly during cell division does not actually require intact chromosomes or kinetochores. Instead, artificial beads covered with ‘random’ DNA can induce spindle assembly. I decided to encapsulate the most important places in the career of this notable scientist in four of these beads, as they hold memories dear to her. From top to bottom: Hamilton College, represented by its historic chapel; the Harvard Medical School building; the entrance to the city of Heidelberg – where the EMBL is located; and finally, the tower of UC Berkeley. This scene is contained within a ‘spindle zoo’ wheel, resembling an ancient zodiac wheel, inspired by her research in developmental biology, particularly her comparative studies of spindle size and shape during embryogenesis in metazoans. Finally, in the corners, we find eight model organisms used in her research. At the bottom right, C. elegans (nematode) and X. laevis (amphibian); at the bottom left, A. miniata (echinoderm) and U. caupo (annelid); at the top left, H. robusta (annelid) and C. marginatus (proboscis worm); and at the top right, S. purpuratus (echinoderm) and C. intestinalis (ascidian). The painting was done in watercolor, with the places inside the beads added using a green fineliner. The palette evokes a lush feeling, with different shades of green, while orange, red, and pink tones add depth to the composition, conjuring images of abundance, nature, and freshness.