Pamela Caughey – Ubiquitous: Migration of Pathogens

Ubiquitous: Migration of Pathogens envisions the ubiquitous transmission of pathogens on a global scale. Pathogens rely on humans’ international travel or migration to carry them from place to place and host to host, existing in harmonious balance or deadly imbalance made more precarious by modern transportation technologies. Ubiquitous visualizes pathogens such as salmonella, streptococcus, parainfluenza, MRSA, herpes, and pneumonia etched in glass mounted over a shuffled global map, encouraging viewers to see the world through the eyes of the pathogen, as boundless.

Pam Caughey graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in biochemistry, but soon decided that her real passion was for creating art.  In this artwork she combines science and art to create an installation that is both engaging and instructive.  Sunlight from the  adjacent window wall illuminates the piece creating  different shadow patterns throughout the day.  The artwork was gifted to the university by the artist, and dedicated by her during a visit in the spring of 2018.

LOCATION 

Ubiquitous: Migration of Pathogens is located on the first floor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Genetics-Biotechnology Center building at 425 Henry Mall. Enter through the west doorway on Henry Mall. Go straight through a set of double doors and turn to your right heading toward the main office. The artwork is installed in an alcove to the left and facing the main office. Main entrance includes an accessibility ramp.