THE wonders of the arts and science are being explored at Pontio in Bangor.

The Pontio-led project Synthesis, is holding a free fun discovery event for the public from 2-6pm, on Saturday, June 22

Seasoning food with salt or delighting in the elegance of a bird in flight are everyday occurrences for many.

However two projects; Synthesis 19: Carnival of Flight and Slow-Time, take a look at the natural phenomenon of salt crystallisation and bird flight, to explore both their beauty and the science behind them.

Carnival of Flight is led by musician and movement artist Colin Daimond, avian scientist Dr Kristen Crandell, and multidisciplinary artist Peter Powell is exploring the anatomy, physics and beauty of how birds fly in their natural environments.

Slow-Time, is led by interdisciplinary artist Rachel Rosen and expert in sustainable Chemistry Dr Vera Fitzsimmons-Thoss looks at the fascinating world of salt crystals.

It takes people on a visual journey into the atomic world, looking under the microscope and watching as an everyday substance slowly changes.

The Carnival of Flight project will offer multiple activities including constructing models of bird anatomy from recycled materials and taking on the physical challenges of airflow and flocking patterns.

The public can take part in Carnival of Flight performances - party-like parades through Pontio, with dancers, puppeteers and “samba” band Bloco Sŵn.

At the Slow-Time project, there are crafting opportunities as the public become ‘chemical catalysts’ in the crystallisation process by helping make giant crystals that will grow over and encrust part of the Pontio building.

The Studio Theatre will become a participatory installation for the day, with a display of artefacts from the experimental process that the team have been working on, including salt crystals and salt-encrusted or corroded objects.

There will be models, images and projections that explore crystallisation, including a special time-lapse projection of crystals growing.

On the hour from 3pm, there will be ‘science on the sofa’ talks, with experts including Alison Lea-Wilson from Halen Môn, Dr Leigh Jones, lecturer in Chemistry at Bangor University and others.

Rachel Rosen from the Slow-Time project said, “As an artist, working on this project about salt crystallisation has been fascinating because it has opened up a whole new way of thinking about materials for me - as a dynamic, changing, growing substance.

“Our work is a live experiment, I like to play with space, light and time and this combines well with the scientific techniques to investigate crystallisation processes and for finding ways of giving people insight.”

Colin Daimond, artistic lead on Carnival of Flight added, “For me this project brings everyday things into a new focus: physics and mechanics, biology and ecology, music and dance, artistry and creativity.”

No ticket is needed but space is limited for some activities. See www.pontio.co.uk