Strange Loop - Art and Science Workshop

Join artists Sita Pieraccini and Jamie Wardrop for Strange Loop, a hands-on workshop, as part of the Art Collection's Art and Science Exhibition Series.

Strange Loop is an interactive workshop and gentle meditation on the hidden realms of nature found at our feet. The day begins with a guided walk around the University campus to gather organic materials, before returning to the tech lab to explore these findings using digital microscopes.

Your discoveries will be examined up close, collaged, and projected live, accompanied by an evolving music soundtrack.

This hands on workshop invites participants to use digital microscopes as creative tools to explore biodiversity and cellular forms, allowing the beautiful geometries of nature to take centre stage. Using techniques drawn from video art and live visual performance, you will learn to work with four live capture microscopes. Through observation, improvisation, and play, the group will collaboratively create a moving, animated collage that reflects the unique local ecology of the area.

Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for outdoor terrain and changeable weather.

Age 10+ (all children must be accompanied by a responsible adult)

About the Artists

Sita Pieraccini

Sita Pieraccini is an award winning performer and artist from Paisley, Scotland, working professionally as an actor, musician, director, and hospital clown. Her embodied practice spans writing, performance video, and voice, with live works exploring collaboration between physical performance, live music, and innovative uses of projection.

Recent work includes performing and assisting as a filmmaker on a new feature length film by artist Martin Creed, and directing Club Life, an immersive club-theatre production by Fred Deakin, which won a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023. Her collaborations fuel an ongoing interest in artistic thresholds and interdisciplinary performance practices.

Sita’s projects and collaborations have been associated with Sanctuary Festival; Manipulate Festival / Puppet Animation Scotland; the National Theatre of Scotland; Institut Français; The Actors Space (Catalunya); UZ Arts / Sura Medura (Sri Lanka); The Arches; Cumbernauld Theatre; Paisley Arts Centre; Renfrewshire Leisure; Surge; and Dance Base.

Alongside her performance work, Sita has spent many years working as a clown doctor and healthcare practitioner with Hearts and Minds Charity, supporting patients in hospitals, schools, and hospices across Scotland. She is also the vocalist and bassist for the independent Scottish band Teencanteen.

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Jamie Wardrop

Jamie Wardrop is a Glasgow based digital artist working across visual design, projection, installation, 3D animation, and experimental art. He grew up in Stirling and now creates work for projects and productions that tour internationally, including to Poland, Palestine, and Sri Lanka.

His practice increasingly explores how digital technologies can deepen ecological awareness. Recent projects in 2025 include Windblown with Karine Polwart; HOLDFAST, an exhibition at Kilmartin Museum exploring marine biodiversity in the Argyll Hope Spot; Let Glasgow Flourish, a video installation on the Buck’s Head Building for Glasgow’s Christmas, focused on urban bird biodiversity; and a climate focused residency with Refractive Paisley.

In 2026, Jamie will investigate river health through a residency with the University of the West of Scotland and serve as projection and animation designer for three new theatre and dance works as part of Made in Scotland’s prestigious showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Alongside his installation and theatre work, Jamie is an experienced live visual artist and VJ, including residency on the Arc Stage at Creamfields Festival, and collaborations with artists such as Simple Minds, Lewis Capaldi, and Basement Jaxx.

Together, they have toured Strange Loop to locations across Scotland, including Galloway Forest Park, and presented the work at festivals such as Dandelion Festival, Kelburn Festival, Galoshans Festival, and COP26 in Glasgow.

About the University of Stirling Art Collection

Through a series of exhibitions, events and workshops, the University Art Collection aims to make art and culture a part of daily life for students, staff and visitors. All are welcome to the Pathfoot Building to explore our collection of Scottish contemporary art and to participate in our events. Each year our work focused on a theme, relating to the research of the University. This year our theme is Art & Science where we are exploring the shared communities of practice between artists and scientific

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Host or Publisher Art Collection, University of Stirling