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Tech Worker’s ‘Beautiful and Spooky’ Artwork: A Unique Blend of Science and Art

From Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to Artistic Creator

Bergen McMurray, a Principal Technical Program Manager at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure in Seattle, pursues a fascinating passion outside of her professional life: creating captivating wall art using scientific specimens – insects, bones, and butterflies.

McMurray’s background is deeply rooted in the Seattle tech and science landscape. She’s held positions at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, her own biotech startup, HiveBio, and Tableau Software. At Oracle, she focuses on workflow management, system design, and automation.

Ebb & Bone: A Collaborative Artistic Journey

Alongside her tech work, McMurray collaborates with Bevin Duncan as Ebb & Bone. This artistic partnership regularly exhibits their unique creations at art shows and festivals. Their artwork features meticulously framed spiders, butterflies, beetles, cockroaches, small mammal skulls, snake skeletons, and other upcycled objects sourced from the woods or reclaimed from decommissioned entomology collections.

The Philosophy Behind the Art

McMurray expresses a profound love for the juxtaposition of beauty and spookiness. “We call it dead things art,” she states, emphasizing her commitment to ethically and sustainably sourcing her materials and avoiding the exploitation of living creatures.

A Shift in Perspective

What McMurray finds most rewarding is the ability to encourage viewers to reconsider their perceptions. The experience of observing a giant spider or a detailed animal skull can be surprisingly unsettling, prompting a deeper appreciation for the beauty hidden within the unexpected.

Skills Transferred to Work

Like many tech professionals, McMurray spends considerable time working at a computer. Her artistic endeavor offers her a tangible outlet to create and touch, while simultaneously honing her problem-solving skills. Addressing the presentation of a rabbit skull artfully or sourcing insects sustainably provides valuable insights that she applies to her work as a program manager.

Unexpected Connections

Beyond the creative process, McMurray values the opportunity to engage in unconventional conversations with others, further developing her social skills and influencing abilities.

Do you have an out-of-office hobby or interesting side hustle that you’re passionate about that would make for a fun profile on GeekWire? Drop us a line: [email protected].

NASA Announces New Class of Astronauts, Including Geologist with Space Research Experience

NASA has unveiled its latest cohort of astronauts, comprising ten individuals poised to play a crucial role in the agency’s ambitious space exploration endeavors. Among them is Lauren Edgar, a geologist from the Pacific Northwest, adding a unique expertise to the team. This marks the first time in NASA’s history that a female astronaut graduate has already journeyed into orbit, setting a new record.

The ‘Class of 2025’ was introduced at Johnson Space Center in Houston, with prominent figures in Congress and other VIPs in attendance. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy emphasized the rigorous selection process, noting the application of over 8,000 people, highlighting the agency’s commitment to recruiting the ‘best and brightest.’

Edgar, a 40-year-old native of Washington, D.C., who grew up in Sammamish, Wash., and graduated from Skyline High School, brings extensive experience in space research. She previously worked at the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA, leading the USGS’ TARGET training program and supporting missions like the Mars Science Laboratory and Mars Exploration Rover. Her career highlights include a stint as deputy principal investigator on the Artemis 3 Geology Team.

Other members of the new class include Ben Bailey, Adam Fuhrmann, Cameron Jones, Yuri Kubo, Rebecca Lawler, Anna Menon, Imelda Muller, Erin Overcash, and Katherine Spies. Each brings diverse backgrounds and expertise – from military aviation and test piloting to engineering and medical experience. These individuals will undergo extensive training in preparation for future missions, including the Artemis program’s planned trips to the moon and, ultimately, to Mars.

NASA has a rich history of astronaut recruitment, having selected the original Mercury Seven in 1959, with a total of 370 candidates chosen to date. The upcoming Artemis 2 mission, slated for launch next year, aims to send a crew of four astronauts around the moon, setting the stage for a subsequent mission to land on the lunar surface in 2027. Despite challenges and questions surrounding the timeline, NASA remains committed to its leadership in space exploration, asserting its determination to return to the moon and eventually, to Mars.