Backus Museum Presents Two Engaging Lectures Exploring the Powerful Intersection of Art and Science
The A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery is proud to present a pair of compelling lectures that illuminate the often-surprising connections between art and science. From the healing potential of visual art in clinical environments to the hidden beauty of aquatic life revealed through x‑ray imaging, these programs invite audiences to discover how creativity and scientific inquiry enrich one another.
As part of the Museum’s ongoing commitment to offering thought‑provoking cultural experiences, these talks highlight how artistic expression and scientific understanding work together to expand our sense of the world — its complexity, its beauty, and its capacity to inspire.
FEBRUARY 26 • 6:00 PM
ART IN CLINICAL SPACES: WHY IT MATTERS FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS
The Museum welcomes David Friedman, MD, for an insightful exploration of how thoughtfully curated art in healthcare settings can transform patient experiences and support caregiver well‑being. Dr. Friedman will discuss the growing scientific evidence demonstrating art’s role in reducing stress, strengthening emotional resilience, and contributing to healing—revealing why visual art is increasingly recognized as a vital component of holistic care.
David W. Friedman, MD, FACS, leads the Section of Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida and serves as Director of the Arts & Medicine Center. His clinical expertise includes hand, wrist, and distal radius fractures; microsurgery; nerve compression; sports injuries; arthritis; and reconstructive surgery. He collaborates closely with the Departments of Orthopaedic and Plastic Surgery.
This lecture is free. Space is limited; doors open at 5:30 PM.
MARCH 17 • 6:00 PM
X‑RAY VISION: FISH INSIDE OUT
Dive into the unseen world beneath the scales with Lynne Parenti, PhD, who will guide audiences through the intricate skeletal structures of fish, stingrays, eels, and seahorses using dramatic black‑and‑white x‑ray images. With the precision of fine engraving, these radiographs reveal surprising insights into fish evolution, anatomy, and the environmental forces shaping aquatic species today.
Dr. Lynne Parenti has served as Curator of Fishes and Research Scientist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History since 1990. Together with NMNH photographer and radiographer Sandra Raredon, she co‑created the exhibition X‑Ray Vision: Fish Inside Out, featuring 40 radiographs and photographs that celebrate the beauty and diversity of fish skeletons and underscore the importance of natural history collections.
This lecture is free. Space is limited; doors open at 5:30 PM.
ALL DATES AND PROGRAMMING ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE; PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR ANY UPDATES OR CANCELLATIONS.
About the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery
Since its founding in 1960 and the first day the doors opened in 1961, the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery has been a center and catalyst for creativity and culture in our region. The Museum houses the nation’s largest public presentation of artwork by Florida’s preeminent painter, A.E. “Bean” Backus (1906-1990), and also continues its more than sixty-year tradition of exhibiting and celebrating the paintings of the original Florida Highwaymen, who got their start here. In addition, the Museum organizes and hosts changing exhibitions from artists of regional, national and international acclaim. The Backus Museum was recognized as the 2026 Best Museum, 2021 Best Tourist Attraction, 2018 Best Museum in the Best of the Treasure Coast by the readers of Indian River Magazine; 2025 & 2022 Best of the Best Community Choice Award for Best Art Gallery; and the 2024 Best Art Gallery by Hometown News.
