Artist Steve Miller Speaks on His New Book ‘Surfing the Cosmos’

On Thursday, November 10, at 6 p.m., The Church in Sag harbor will host a conversation between artist Steve Miller and The Church Chief Curator Sara Cochran on Miller’s newest book “Surfing the Cosmos,” an original book of photographs and text that provides a unique perspective on energy and the unplanned sculptural beauty of electrical wires that power the world.

In his book, Miller explores the energy and wiring systems in the slums of Rio de Janeiro juxtaposing them with the high-tech infrastructure and physics of CERN, the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. The wires inspired a series of artworks and photographs that blur the line between science and art — two different expressions that are often indistinguishable from one another. Miller compares the complex but simple wires that power the slums, better known as the favela, to the simple but complex wires that decode the foundations of particle physics, reminding us of our increasing demand for power and the impact of that need on our environment.

“Surfing the Cosmos” begins with a foreword, “The Currents of Our Times” by Neil deGrasse Tyson where Tyson states, “Like Joyce Kilmer’s famous poem, which forced us all to pause as we reflect on a tree’s beauty that would otherwise go unnoticed, so too is our power grid something to behold, but only if someone compels you to take notice. That’s the job of an artist.”

The evening will end with a Q&A and a book signing with the author.

Steve Miller has explored scientific concepts and experimented with new technologies in his photographic work since the 1970s. He is interested in our relationship to the planet and to each other, and has published two previous books “Radiographic” and “Surf/Skate” on the subject. Miller lives and works in Sagaponack and is recognized as an early pioneer of the “sciart” (science-based art) movement. In 2013, and 2017 the National Academy of Science mounted exhibitions of his work, each of which explored aspects of the deforestation of the Amazon and the impact on the fauna living there.

Tickets to Steve Miller’s book talk are $15 at thechurchsagharbor.org. The Church is at 48 Madison Street, Sag Harbor.