Projecting Particles: Exploring Particle Physics Through Art and Performance
Projecting Particles is an innovative youth workshop and performance that bridges particle physics and projection art. Through a unique partnership with the ATLAS Experiment, home of the Large Hadron Collider, students embark on a journey to uncover the mysteries of the universe. They engage in virtual tours of the ATLAS control center or meet face-to-face with CERN physicists, gaining firsthand insights into groundbreaking research in particle physics.
Participants use Tagtool, a live painting app, to storyboard, choreograph, and produce physics-inspired creations that blend radical theories in physics with creative expression. By exploring both Native science and Western scientific perspectives, students expand their understanding of space, time, and the interconnectedness of the universe.
Their creations culminate in an immersive live painting performance, developed in collaboration with renowned Lakota artist and cultural specialist Steve Tamayo, CERN physicist Dr. Steven Goldfarb, and QuarkNet educator Shane Wood. Together, they illuminate the beauty of science and art, inspiring new ways of thinking about the universe.
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Past History
Projecting Particles at the 38th International Conference on High Energy Physics (ICHEP)
The Projecting Particles project was showcased as a poster session at the prestigious 38th International Conference on High Energy Physics (ICHEP). Dr. Luis Flores Castillo, a physicist and key member of the Projecting Particles team, presented the project to an international audience of researchers and academics. Dr. Castillo had previously collaborated with the team during their participation in the Havana Biennial 2015. bringing his expertise and unique perspective to this groundbreaking fusion of particle physics and art.
Past Workshops
Lakota Cosmology Meets Particle Physics
April 10–12, 2017: A Three-Day Projecting Particles Workshop with a New Dimension
This special Projecting Particles workshop introduced an exciting new component: a focus on the intersection of science and Indigenous cosmologies. Lakota artist Steve Tamayo led a session on Lakota cosmology, guiding participants to explore parallel worldviews in science and Indigenous knowledge systems. CERN physicist Dr. Steven Goldfarb facilitated an in-person session on particle physics, connecting students with cutting-edge discoveries in the field.
Students then used Tagtool, a live painting app, to transform their newfound knowledge into animated stories, which were projected inside a traditional Lakota tipi, blending science, art, and culture in a powerful way. The workshop curriculum was shaped by Dr. Greg Cajete, UNM professor of Native American Studies and author of Native Science: Laws of Interdependence.
In addition to the workshop, the event featured three public presentations and roundtable discussions in Taos, Santa Fe, and Española, bringing together diverse communities to share ideas and insights.
Los Alamos ScienceFest
July 14–16, 2016: Projecting Particles Workshop at the Los Alamos ScienceFest
This two-day Projecting Particles workshop, held at the Los Alamos Teen Center during the Los Alamos ScienceFest, combined art and science in an unforgettable experience. Students delved into the world of particle physics and then harnessed their creativity using Tagtool, a live painting app, to design animations. These animations were projected onto the Teen Center during the summer concert at the park, transforming the space into a vibrant, physics-inspired canvas.
To close the performance, students engaged the public in a live painting session, inviting kids to experiment with painting light onto the building. This interactive activity brought the community together to explore the fusion of art and science in a hands-on, creative way.
ATLAS@CERN + Taos High School + The Harwood Museum: ATLAS Masterclass comes to Taos
ATLAS@CERN + Taos High School + The Harwood Museum: Bringing the ATLAS Masterclass to Taos
March 18–26, 2016: This collaborative event brought the ATLAS Experiment @CERN to Taos High School, led by QuarkNet physics teacher Dr. Michael Wadness from Medford High School near Boston, whose expertise in science education enriched the program. Dr. Wadness facilitated the exciting International Masterclass engaging students in the fundamentals of particle physics. On March 19, physicist Dr. Sally Seidel from UNM Albuquerque delivered a special presentation, adding further depth to the experience.
Students continued with a three-day workshop, where they coordinated and documented a live projection on March 24 and 25. The event culminated on March 26 with an Artist Talk at The The Harwood Museum From 2–4 pm, students joined agnes chavez, Marcel Schwittlick, and Robert Schirmer—artists and creators of the physics-inspired installation Origination Point. Together, they shared insights into how particle physics inspired and informed their artistic creations.
Twirl Invent Event at Enos Garcia Gym
April 23, 2016: Teen-Led Coding Corner at a Maker Event
Teen leads from the Harwood Museum-STEMarts LAB collaboration came together to design an interactive coding corner for this engaging Maker event. Using NetLogo, a programmable modeling environment for simulating natural and social phenomena, students developed an interactive art display inspired by particle physics. Participants had the opportunity to interact with the code, manipulating imagery to create dynamic, ever-changing visuals. This workshop grew out of an artist residency at the Santa Fe Art Institute, showcasing the synergy between art, science, and technology while empowering teens to lead and innovate.
516 Arts: Digital Latin America
June 2013: The First Projecting Particles Workshop at the National Hispanic Cultural Center
In June 2013, the first Projecting Particles workshop took place at the National Hispanic Cultural Center as part of the 516 Arts exhibit Digital Latin America. This workshop introduced students to the fascinating connection between art, science, and technology. Participants enjoyed a virtual tour of the ATLAS control room at CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider, gaining insight into the world of particle physics.
Using Tagtool, a live painting app, students learned to translate scientific concepts, such as particle collisions and the origins of the universe, into creative and engaging visual art. The experience offered a unique opportunity to combine scientific learning with hands-on artistic expression.
Supported in part by Los Alamos National Laboratory, this workshop demonstrated the value of collaboration between science and the arts to inspire new ways of thinking. It became the foundation for future Projecting Particles workshops, encouraging students to explore and express their understanding of the universe through creativity.
The PASEO: STEMarts LAB workshop with Markus Dorninger
September 2014: Projecting Particles Workshop at The PASEO
In September 2014, artist and Tagtool app developer Markus Dorninger joined STEMarts to lead a Projecting Particles workshop, which concluded with a stunning student projection performance at The PASEO, an outdoor participatory art festival in Taos, New Mexico.
Markus, as part of the OMAi team, brought his expertise in live painting and digital creativity to the workshop, helping students explore the intersection of particle physics and interactive art. Under his guidance, participants learned to use Tagtool, a powerful app for creating live projection art, to transform complex scientific ideas into visually captivating narratives.
The collaboration highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships, blending Markus’ technological and artistic innovations with the Projecting Particles mission to inspire youth through science and creativity. Supported in part by Los Alamos National Laboratory, the workshop offered students the opportunity to develop new skills, culminating in a public performance that brought their work to life for the local community. This event showcased the power of collaboration between artists, educators, and institutions to engage young minds and communities through art and science.
Havana Biennial: Projecting Particles visits Cuba
May 2015: Projecting Particles at the Havana Biennial.
In May 2015, agnes chavez was invited to present a Projecting Particles installation and youth workshop at the prestigiousHavana Biennial. in Cuba. To bring this vision to life, she assembled a talented interdisciplinary team, including artist-programmer Marcel Schwittlick, sound engineer Robert Schirmer, CERN physicist and researcher Dr. Luis Flores Castillo, and workshop artist Markus Dorninger, co-creator of the Tagtool app and a member of the OMAi team.
The team delivered the interactive installation Origination Point, a visually and sonically immersive piece inspired by particle physics and the origins of the universe. Alongside the installation, they led a two-day workshop at a high school in Havana, where students explored the creative possibilities of science and art. Under the guidance of Markus Dorninger, students used Tagtool to translate scientific concepts into captivating projection art, blending technology, creativity, and cultural expression.
The event highlighted the power of collaboration across disciplines and borders, offering Cuban students a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge art and science while celebrating the universal language of creativity.
The Harwood Museum: Projecting Particles Lights up Ledoux
December 2015: The First Projecting Particles Workshop at The Harwood
The inaugural Projecting Particles at the Harwood took place in December 2015 as part of the annual Lighting of Ledoux holiday event. This workshop marked the beginning of a collaboration between The Harwood Museum and agnes chavez, designed to deliver a series of teen-led Projecting Particles workshops and events throughout 2015 and 2016.
The workshop introduced teens to the creative potential of combining science and art, using Tagtool, a live painting app, to explore particle physics concepts and transform them into vibrant projection art. During the Lighting of Ledoux, students showcased their work to the community, creating a festive and thought-provoking visual experience.
This partnership between The Harwood Museum and Projecting Particles aimed to empower youth through hands-on, interdisciplinary learning, fostering creativity and leadership skills while connecting science with artistic expression.
New Media Arts Festival@NMSA
In February 2016, STEMarts Lab conducted a Projecting Particles workshop at the New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) in Santa Fe. This initiative aimed to guide students in creating projection installations for the school’s inaugural New Media Arts Festival.. Over the course of the workshop, students engaged with Tagtool, a live painting app, to develop physics-inspired visual art. This hands-on experience allowed them to explore the intersection of science and art, culminating in dynamic projections displayed during the festival. The event not only showcased the students’ creativity but also highlighted the collaborative efforts between STEMarts Lab and NMSA in integrating new media into arts education.