Seeds Orbit invites viewers into a decelerated, mindful encounter with the fundamental nature of light. As an open-water swimmer in the San Francisco Bay, Thérèse Lahaie’s practice is deeply attuned to the rhythms of the tides, the arc of the sun, and the delicate survival of seabirds in a changing climate. This exhibition—developed in conjunction with her residency as a visiting artist at KCAI—presents the movement of photons from the core of the sun to the walls of the gallery through light-based phenomena, kinetic sculpture, and camera-less photography.

A Visual Cosmology and Architecture of Light

Through previous experimentation, Lahaie has developed a “visual cosmology” using photograms—images created without a camera by placing textured architectural glass directly onto photosensitive surfaces. In these environmentally responsive compositions, the tiny air bubbles trapped within glass are enlarged to reveal intricate landscapes and "homunculi" (tiny human forms), bridging the microscopic and the celestial. Lahaie’s sculptures utilizing reflected sun,, and video reflections on heat-formed mirrors reflect the solar arc across walls by day, shifting into ethereal migrations through video reflections in low-light times and spaces.

Current Perspectives Lecture Series + Extended Viewing Hours

Join us on Thursday, March 12th at 7pm in Epperson Auditorium at KCAI for a presentation by the artist. KCAI Gallery will be open before the lecture from 5-7 p.m. and after until 9 p.m.