This ceramic mosaic, 3 feet wide and 5 feet tall, is another element of the Art-Science Fusion Program's spring quarter exhibition at the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, through July 27.

Students in Science and Society 98 (Connecting Art and Science) and community members created the California landform (true to topographical research and representations, with dark greens representing the low elevations of the valleys; rich chartreuse, golds and rusts revealing the higher elevations; and white on the highest peaks) and surrounded it with birds, marine life and agricultural commodities, among the state's rich treasures.

Each piece expresses the research and creativity of the individual artists, listed in parentheses: state bird, California quail (Stacy Matsuura); sea stars and barnacles (Ariadne Vlahakis and Lesli Hamamoto); state flower, California golden poppy (Barbara Engel); mallards (Donna Billick); robin (Sierra Nelmes); golden trout (Joji Kume); pileated woodpecker (Diane Ullman); king salmon (Andreana Cipollone); and pheasant (community member contribution). Agriculture's contribution to California is revealed in almonds and honey bees (Engel, from a mold created by Artemis Nelson), grapes (Frank Sousa), olives (Engel), oranges (Elly Fairclough), dairy cow (Ullman) and garlic plant (Joy Elson).

From this exhibition, California's Gold is bound for Washington, D.C., to be displayed in the office of Rep. Mike Thompson, whose congressional district includes a major portion of Yolo County, including Davis, Winters, West Sacramento and most of Woodland.

To learn about the photography side of the exhibition, and see two examples, click here.