The Petri Series' Benzene Reception was held Saturday at the University Art Gallery, displaying Michails' pedal-powered mechanism. The New York artist and 2012-13 Barstow Artist in Residence designed a piece of art that reflects the petrochemical benzene.

Benzene is the colorless vapor smelled when gas is pumped into a car. The chemical compound is a main contributor of CO2 to the environment. Michails created a structure that demonstrates the effect Benzene has on the world through diseases.

“For a very long time, I have been thinking about the adverse health effects on the body and the environment from petrochemicals. When a dear friend of mine died of cancer last fall, it prompted me to look a little deeper into my initial questioning about petrochemicals,” Michails said. “Study after study revealed the health and environmental hazards of petroleum products in use in our every day lives. Needless to say, we are addicted in every aspect of our existence to this fossil fuel in particular.”

Michails’ project is a mechanism that uses the concept of an automobile for the installation, symbolizing benzene as the driving force of disease.

The pedal-powered vehicle allows users to light up the microscopy cancer cell-filled petri dishes, ultimately presenting the linkage between the benzene molecule and four types of cancer: Leukemia, lung, breast and kidney cancers.

This mechanism followed a design similar to a vehicle with headlights and tail lights, although it also took on a bicycle formation, due to the pedals and bike chain. When a user pedals the vehicle with enough force, a connection between the vehicle and the cancer cells is created.

This is shown by the petri dishes being lit and the microscopic cancer cells becoming bright and easily visible, portraying how a devastating disease can come to be through such a chemical.

“The small sculptures in this installation are shaped to represent the benzene organic chemical compound, which is classified as hydrocarbon,” Michails said. “Benzene is the most basic of petrochemicals and a natural constituent of crude oil. As the first in The Petri Series, Benzene has been linked to several types of leukemia, kidney, lung and breast cancers, as well as a long list of other health problems.

Matt Morrow found enjoyed the artwork not only for its aesthetic appeal, but also its educational quality.

“This is fascinating, simply because there aren’t many artists who work with chemicals, benzene in particular,” the Westland alum said. “This artist is both expressing herself artistically and educating the public.”

Michails did not have prior experience with components of science, which was particularly shocking to Mount Pleasant senior Sara Hicks.

“Originally, I thought she was an artist who had already worked with science, but really, she is working with science to expand her artistic endeavor,” Hicks said. “It is an interesting design. The sublime colors and automobile that allows users to create the light definitely portrays the idea this chemical can lead to the types of cancers. It was a bold choice.”