Base Pair paintingBrush with Science Logo

...Julie Newdoll merges life science and culture, myths and molecules in her
paintings, music, journal covers and science games.

Shakespeare:
A Mirror up to Science

Spindles of Necessity

Spindles of Necessity No. One - Prophase, oil on canvas, 3' x 4', 2005. This nicely framed series is still available for $4,000 each or all five for $16,500. Prints available $450.

A dividing cell goes through beautiful and dramatic changes. In this series of five main stages of cell division, a goddess has been created to presides over these events. She is modelled after the greek goddess Ananke as she appeared in one of Plato's visions about his republic (Plato's Republic Book 10). Her spinning wheel is at the center of control. As in a real cell, threads emerge from the wheel as the control center goes from a small incidental part, to a grand elaborate structure, and back down to a small part at the end of the process.
Depiction of the cycle of life is a prevalent theme in mythology. Scenes from the lives of cyclic greek characters after images from ancient greek pottery and wall frescoes appear across the bottom in sepia tones.

Spindles of Necessity No. Two - Metaphase. $4,000 or $3,300 if purchase all five. Prints available $450.

The goddess of cell division travels to the upper half of the cell with her spinning wheel in preparation for cell division. Her reflection can be seen below, where her double is forming to preside over the other half of the cell. Across the bottom, Persephone and her mother, Demeter, are united while the cell is whole.

Spindles of Necessity No. Three - Anaphase, oil on canvas, 3' x 4', 2005. $4,000 or $3,300 if purchase all five. Prints available $450.

The goddess of cell division is now reeling up souls into the sky, like chromosomes would be drawn to the sides of a dividing cell. The cell is becoming pinched at the middle, in preparation for division into two separate cells. A scene from the life of Dionysus is pictured across the bottom.

Spindles of Necessity No. Four - Late Anaphase, 3' x 4', oil on canvas, 2005. $4000 or $3,000 if purchase all five. Prints available $450.

The souls (chromosomes) are now at the opposite ends of the cell - a set for each side. The reformation of the cell nuclei are echoed by the rising moon and sun. As the cell prepares to rip apart, it pinches dramatically at the waist. A scene from the death of Dionysus is pictured across the bottom left, and Dionysus as a bunch of grapes is on the right.

Spindles of Necessity No. Five - Telophase, 3' x 4', oil on canvas, 2005. $4000 or $3,000 if purchase all five. Prints available $450.

The cell has now divided into two cells - mother and daughter cell. Across the bottom, Persephone is pictured with Hades, with whom she must spend half of each year. The divided cell reflects her thoughts of living in two different worlds.

The Elements

Emergence

Life Forms

Spindles of Necessity

Fountain of Youth

Inside Time

Kimonos of the Senses

Sense of Hearing

Programmed
Cell Death:
Apoptosis

Greek Tragedy
in Prague

Nanotechnology

Microscopy
Inspirations

Membrane Proteins

Unclassifiable