Catalyst Conversations

What does light reveal and what can darkness teach us?

Join us on September 17th at the GBH Boston Public Library Studio for Catalyst Conversations: Matters of Light.

Photographic artist Marsha Wilcox and astrophysicist Sara Seager, moderated by Jennifer L. Roberts, explore the many meanings of light, from artistic expression and visual perception to the mysteries of the universe. Together, they’ll examine how light and darkness shape discovery, imagination, and our understanding of the world.

✨ An evening where art and science meet.💫

What does light reveal—and what can darkness teach us?

Join us on September 17 at the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library for Catalyst Conversations: Matters of Light.

Artist Marsha Wilcox and astrophysicist Sara Seager, moderated by Jennifer Roberts, explore the many meanings of light, from artistic expression and visual perception to the mysteries of the universe. Together, they’ll examine how light and darkness shape discovery, imagination, and our understanding of the world.

✨ An evening where art and science meet.

ART + SCIENCE. Come for the ideas. Stay for the conversation.

Catalyst Conversations brings together scientists and artists into panel discussions for free public programs across Boston, built on community and access for all.

Sponsors help us reach new audiences, including communities often left out of these conversations. Want to help ideas travel further? Reach out about sponsorship.

⚫️⚫️Catalyst Conversations

ZOOM WITH US. This season we’re reading *Attention Is Discovery* by Anna Von Mertens (MIT Press, 2025), a book about looking closely, noticing what gets overlooked, and what attention itself can teach us.

Reading Circle with the Author via Zoom on Monday, September 28th at 8:00PM EST.

Come to listen, discuss and participate, whether you have finished the book or not.

RSVP via Link in Bio 🔗

Something entirely new can emerge when a question is explored through another discipline. 🖼️🔭🎨🔬🖼️🧬🎨🧫

The most compelling discoveries begin with curiosity, conversation, and the courage to see familiar ideas from a different perspective.

That’s the kind of thinking we’re here for.

Join our next conversation, share your perspective, and help us discover where curiosity can lead.

SAVE THE DATE ✨

What does light reveal, and what can darkness make possible?

On September 17, Catalyst Conversations brings together artist Marsha Wilcox and astrophysicist Sara Seager, moderated by Jennifer Roberts, for Matters of Light at the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library.

Together, they’ll explore light and darkness across art and science, from visual perception and artistic expression to distant worlds and the mysteries of the cosmos.

An evening of ideas, curiosity, and discovery at the intersection of art and science.

Thursday, September 17, 2026
GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street, Boston

🌟 More details coming soon.

SUMMER READING CIRCLE IN PROGRESS

This summer we’re reading Attention Is Discovery by Anna Von Mertens (MIT Press, 2025), a book about looking closely, noticing what gets overlooked, and what attention itself can teach us.

On Sunday September 27th at 5:30pm Anna will join Luminous Circle patrons for in person for an Author Dinner Salon, an evening of conversation over a delicious meal and more lively conversation with the person who wrote the book you just spent weeks thinking about.

The following day, on Monday September 28th at 8pm, our Reading Circle Zoom discussion with the author will take place. There’s still time to read Attention Is Discovery before we meet, but either way, come to listen, discuss, and participate, whether you’ve read the book or not.

RSVP: Link In Bio to sign up!

Maria Molteni joined us in April for our Catalyst Conversations “Transcendence and Entanglement.” Molteni’s work lives at the edges of art, science, mysticism, and the sea, so it makes perfect sense that their next destination is the Arctic Circle Residency.

They are currently raising funds in support of their expedition for spring of 2027. Check out the landing page on their site to learn how you can support them!

http://mariamolteni.com/arctic-circle-residency

You can also check out their online store, which offers limited edition artwork, tarot readings, apparel, publications and more!

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Finally, you can sign up for their newsletters and follow along on social media @‌strega_maria for special offers, including a forthcoming tarot portrait series, which also supports this work!

http://mariamolteni.com/newsletters