Opening September 12 in our Members’ Gallery is Future Archeology!
There is one thing that seems to stick out in almost every environment, no matter how urban or entirely remote. That is trash, unfortunately. It’s as common as dirt or rocks at this point. We have created a world that has fundamentally affected the global environment and the reminders are everywhere.
Future Archeology deals with the Anthropocene - that being the current geological age we live in, defined by the existence and impact of humans on the environment. This series of cans, of which there was originally 100 made, are created from 3 slip cast moulds. Each can, once removed was then crushed individually. Sometimes by the artist, other times by people they knew. Freezing in time objects that no longer have use. Are they still trash? And at what point does trash become artifact, then go back to the earth?
What legacy will we leave? It appears that it’s a lot more than pottery sherds. Our time on this earth is dotted in layers of ash, carbon and plastic. And one day when history moves on without us, that will be our legacy. So how have the clashing worlds of “natural” and “unnatural” interacted? And how do we define our place within it? There seems to be this idea in the modern age that people are not nature – “man-made”, and “unnatural” are words used to describe things produced by humans, so that it distinguishes us as other than our surroundings. We are not. We are nature and always will be.
Please join us from 6 - 8pm on Friday September 12th for the opening reception. This special opening includes a live performance by fellow exhibiting artists Kendell Yan, Chris Reed, and Romi Kim; you don’t want to miss this! The opening is free and open to the public, with light snacks and refreshments provided. RSVP here
In the present day, where every environment has been impacted by the effects of the Anthropocene, how have the clashing worlds of “natural” and “unnatural” interacted?
In her work, Ella Cottier explores the relationships between our selves and our environments in the modern day. Specifically, she focuses on the items we discard and deem as “trash” and mix them in with more traditional depictions of landscape.
As of recent, they have been interested in exploring archeology. Specifically, the permanence that objects can have when buried and forgotten. What will our future artifacts and fossils be? What legacy will we leave? It appears that it’s a lot more than pottery sherds. Our time on this earth is dotted in layers of ash, carbon and plastic. And one day when history moves on without us, that will be our legacy.