- 10/11/2024 3:46:11 PM
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Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of art that resonates with the essence of nature! The Maude Kerns Art Center is currently showcasing the captivating works of four talented artists who masterfully weave elements from the natural world into their creations. The exhibitions, Land as Deity by Barbara Counsil Burney and Circling the Grove, a group showcase featuring Lisa Brinkman, Carissa Burkett, and Leanne Ellis, invite viewers into a realm where art meets reverence for the environment. Both exhibitions will be on display until August 23.
In her solo exhibition, Burney aims to “inspire people to protect undeveloped wilderness areas.” Her artworks, designed as altars, feature evocative titles such as The Altar to Fort Rock and The Altar to the Mount Hood National Forest. These pieces encapsulate the beauty of landscapes, flora, and fauna, urging us to appreciate and safeguard our natural surroundings.
Burney’s concept of framing her art as altars resonates deeply, as the notion of land as sacred is a universal theme across cultures. From the revered Mount Sinai in Egypt to the spiritually significant Mount Hood for Indigenous cultures like the Clackamas and Cascade Chinook, this idea transcends geographical boundaries.
Each of Burney’s creations is a multimedia composite, featuring a central large painting surrounded by smaller oil artworks, all arranged in a circular altar-like formation. The main painting portrays the landscape associated with the altar's title, while the smaller pieces depict the vibrant wildlife inhabiting that environment.
While her works evoke a sense of worship, they also occupy a commercial space. For instance, Altar to Lake Superior includes a central painting priced at $1,500, while smaller works like Snapping Turtle are available for $75. This duality raises intriguing questions about the relationship between art, value, and spirituality.
Some may wonder if disassembling these altars undermines their integrity. However, cultural practices, such as the destruction of traditional sandpaintings after ceremonies, suggest otherwise. Burney’s pieces are sold rather than scattered, yet each sale aims to foster appreciation for the land they represent.
In Circling the Grove, the spiritual undertones are palpable without being overtly religious. Lisa Brinkman’s eco-printed paintings feature botanical prints on raw silk, blending celestial and earthly themes in a harmonious design. Her artwork often pairs the moon with seeds, creating a surreal yet rooted visual narrative.
Carissa Burkett’s three-dimensional pieces offer a form of meditation through art. Utilizing acorn caps as foundational elements, her sculptures take on organic shapes, emphasizing the beauty of nature's minutiae.
Leanne Ellis, who transitioned from clay to botanical art, draws inspiration from the plants around her. She collects various natural elements, including lichen and ferns, to create unique pressed flower artworks, claiming they are like “using paints.”
The exhibition features four remarkable women at different life stages, each reflecting on their artistic journeys. For Ellis, evolving mediums signify a lifelong commitment to creativity, stating, “I still need to be creative. It’s just part of me.”
Curious about the interplay of nature and art? Join us at Maude Kerns Art Center for the artist talk by Barbara Counsil Burney on August 17 at 1 PM, and don't miss the opportunity to explore these thought-provoking exhibitions.
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