Culture

Travel through a wonderland made of discarded cardboard

The expansive exhibit hopes to inspire visitors to create, and shows that art and STEM aren't so distinct.

James Martin

James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.

See full bio

James Martin

June 17, 2017 5:00 a.m. PT

1 of 8 James Martin/CNET

Cardboard caverns

The "Welcome to WildCard" exhibit at San Francisco's Exploratorium museum uses plain brown cardboard to replicate a host of things, includingcaves complete with hanging bats and stalactites. The show runs from June 17 to Sept. 4.

2 of 8 James Martin/CNET

A complex undertaking

The installation required about 600 hours of labor, according to Jesse "Roadkill" Wilson, one of the seven artists from the Cardboard Institute of Technology collective who put the show together.

3 of 8 James Martin/CNET

Exit onto Tweet Street

The exhibit has fun with a few recent memes. This "Hot Covfefe" sign mocks a recent Twitter post by President Donald Trump.

4 of 8 James Martin/CNET

Science meets art

"We realize that a lot of artists and a lot of scientists start in the same place – which is about observation, about noticing your world," says Robyn Higdon, the Exploratorium's director of museum experience. The museum works to bridge the perceived gap between art and science.

5 of 8 James Martin/CNET

Reuse versus the landfill

Plastic wrappers falling from a trash truck contrast harshly with the clean, creative and repurposed vibe of the overall installation. This small tableau makes a big statement, says Exploratorium Director of Museum Experience Robyn Higdon: Disrupt the waste stream, and reuse materials when you can.

6 of 8 James Martin/CNET

Plain brown town

An entire village of cardboard.

7 of 8 James Martin/CNET

Corrugated monument

"Cardhenge" is a play on Stonehenge.

8 of 8 James Martin/CNET

Rivery road trip

One of the central themes of "Welcome to WildCard" is water. The exhibit reimagines Route 66 as a river, carrying travelers past various sights, such as motels and natural attractions.