Beth Spergel/University Photography

Noel Yap, a researcher in plant breeding, teaches origami to Sean Norton, left, and Maura McCavley in the Light in Winter festival's Hall of Wonders in Statler Hall Jan. 24.

Cries of "abracadabra!" filled the Statler Atrium Jan. 24 as wandering magicians Mike Stanley and Mickey Mars delighted scores of families and community members with their card, coin, rubber band and puzzle tricks.

As children laughed in disbelief, Stanley asserted, "That's what happens when magic and science combine."

That was the general theme in the "Hall of Wonders," a presentation of interactive displays of science, art and music in Statler Hall, Jan. 24. The exhibit was part of the annual Light in Winter Festival of Science and the Arts, which some 6,000 people attended, Jan. 23-25, at venues in Ithaca, including Cornell, which has been one of its sponsors since the festival began six years ago.

Barbara Mink, founder and artistic director of the festival and a senior lecturer in the Johnson School, noted that "Cornell faculty and performers have been mainstays in creating this synergy of art and science."

At one table in Statler Hall, children learned to make origami in the shape of rockets and cars. Nearby, a model steamboat ran on candlepower to demonstrate the mechanics of steam power. Meanwhile, complex audio-kinetic sculptures by local artist George Rhoads ticked and swayed gently as families gathered to watch.

Children were also invited by Family Math, a local group that organizes weekly club meetings, to try out Scratch, a programming language that is used by students in public school math clubs.

"Part of learning is figuring out why it doesn't work," said Larry Clarkberg, a Family Math instructor and a local graphic designer.

Farther down the hall, Kevin Ernste, Cornell assistant professor of music and director of the Cornell Electroacoustic Music Center, revealed his digital music-composing and recording software, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology's exhibit allowed children to paint and decorate tiles celebrating urban birds.

Catalina Lupu '10 is a writer intern at the Cornell Chronicle.