Dots and Drinks: Make Glowing Art, One Living Dot at a Time

It's a paint-and-sip night, except the paint is alive. Grab a drink, bring a friend or come solo, and spend an evening dotting live bacteria onto a petri dish, building your design one colony at a time. The technique takes a couple of minutes to learn. Then you head home. Over the next few days the colonies grow and take on color on their own, until the design you laid out appears, glowing under blue light.

How it works

• At the lab: We start with a short intro to the technique, then you plan your design, either using one of ours or sketching your own. From there you place the bacteria onto your dish, with instructors on hand to help.
• Over the next few days: The bacteria grow and the colors develop, gradually filling in your design.
• After three or four days: We send you high-resolution photos of the finished piece, and you're welcome to come by BOSLab to see the original in person.

What you'll walk away with
Photos of your finished art to print, frame, or share.

Good for
A date, a night out with friends, or a low-key birthday. Plenty of people also come on their own.

Our space
BOSLab is a nonprofit community lab in Somerville. The bacteria are harmless, and we provide everything you need.

Logistics

• When: Thursday, September 3rd, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
• Where: BOSLab, 561 Windsor St, Suite B405 (The Hive at Boynton Yards), Somerville, MA 02143, 4th floor. Accessible by elevator. Near Union Square green line.
• Price: $30 per person. Ticket sales help support BOSLab's mission of making science accessible to all.
• Drinks: One complimentary drink included, with a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options on hand. Alcoholic drinks are available for guests 21 and over with valid ID.
• Group size: Capped at 10 to keep it small.
• Bring: Just yourself.
• Registration: Sign up through this Meetup.