A DAZZLING new exhibition sees a unique collaboration between Watchet geologists Geckoella and artists in residence in the nearby East Quay, bringing together art and science in a celebration of crystals, light, and structure.

The exhibition in the East Quay’s Studio 10, titled ‘Refraction’, runs until March 29 and is the culmination of a project which began last May when geologists Dr Andy King and Dr Dave Evans introduced the artists to Geckoella’s crystal collection and shared insights into the science behind crystal formation.

They relished working alongside artists Alison Jacobs, Melanie Deegan, Amanda Shears, Georgina Towler, Vanessa Clegg, Sarah Ward, Sue Lowe, and Zoe Snape.

Sharing a fascination with crystalline forms, the group is presenting an exhibition which promises to captivate visitors with painting, sculpture, film, and striking mineral specimens.

From early research sessions grew a hands-on, collaborative process, revealing the compelling connections between geological science and creative practice.

As part of the exhibition, Geckoella’s workshop windows have been transformed with the larger window featuring The Seven Primitive Crystal Systems, floating above an image of a Gabbro thin section.

Conceived by one of Geckoella’s geologists, Jamie Foster, the design was brought to life in chalk paint by the company’s ecologists Mireya García Tamayo and Allison Clarke, under the guidance of artist Alison Jacobs.

Jamie also photographed various thin sections of rock using Geckoella’s petrographic microscopes.

The intricate images were developed by Alison into vinyl installations for the workshop’s smaller entrance window, forming a luminous, stained-glass-like composition reminiscent of planets in a distant galaxy.

Illuminated from within after dark, the effect is particularly spectacular and reveals at architectural scale what is usually only seen under a microscope.

The collaboration will continue beyond the gallery walls with Geckoella holding a special workshop in March led by Alison to explore the fertile ground between creative thinking and scientific endeavour.