Primordial Shift: The Science and Art of Genetic Modification

The traveling exhibition “Primordial Shift: The Science and Art of Genetic Modification,” has made its way to Houston for the first time, at The John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science. Consisting of 32 hand-blown glass ears of corn hung from the ceiling, with each averaging 4 feet tall and suspended on stalks of cord with leaves of cast bronze, this stunning blown glass exhibit was created by nationally known glass artist Michael (Mick) Meilahn. The exhibition opens on September 22, 2022 and will be on display until May 2023.

“Primordial Shift” uses art to bring attention to the history of corn, the implications of its genetic modification and the ecology of food. Visitors will learn about how unraveling the genetic code has impacted everyday lives. The glasswork itself is exhibited surrounded by a video of a cornfield on Meilahn’s own family farm projected on gallery walls, nestled in surround-sound audio which includes the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves, with the illusion of gentle swaying in the field.