Hailey Becker, a Master of Fine Arts candidate at Michigan State University, has debuted a large-scale ecological sound sculpture at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum. The installation features over 10,000 hand-cracked walnut shells suspended in a human-sized chime, which are struck by a mechanical arm to mimic the sound of water hitting a coastline. The project is the culmination of Becker’s interdisciplinary research, blending her background in engineering and material science with her current studies in forestry and fine arts.
This installation matters because it exemplifies the growing trend of biomimicry and interdisciplinary practice within contemporary art. By translating complex hydrodynamic theories—specifically the mitigation of coastal sand erosion—into an aesthetic and auditory experience, Becker demonstrates how artistic abstraction can make scientific concepts accessible to the public. The collaboration between the university's STEM departments and the Broad Art Museum highlights the role of institutional galleries in fostering experimental, research-based art that addresses environmental sustainability.