Conversations from the Mess of the Star Fleet, USS Enterprise
by Lisa Duncan
Opening Reception: July 3, 5pm–7pm
Closing Reception: August 30, 3pm–5pm
Artist Statement: Gene Roddenberry envisioned the Star Trek universe as a future in which diversity, curiosity, and mutual respect allow society to flourish. In that imagined future, people from vastly different cultures and worlds work together toward a common good, recognizing that every individual has something valuable to contribute.
This installation imagines conversations overheard in the mess hall of the USS Enterprise, using science fiction as a lens through which to examine our own world. The dialogue invites viewers to consider how we might build a more equitable, compassionate, and functional society—one where disagreement can coexist with empathy, and where community can be found across differences.
I dream of a future in which we gather around shared tables, listen deeply to one another, and confront the challenges facing our planet with imagination, generosity, and hope.
Artist Bio: Lisa Duncan is an artist, engineer, optimist, pragmatist, dreamer, and lifelong maker of things that invite curiosity and joy. Her work blends science, storytelling, humor, and imagination to create objects that encourage people to see the familiar in unexpected ways.
What began as a whimsical Star Trek themed table setting for the San Mateo County Fair evolved into an exploration of democracy, community, and the conversations that shape our future. Duncan invites viewers to imagine not just where humanity might go, but who we might become if we choose empathy, creativity, and connection.