New Exhibit At American University Museum Sheds Light On Climate Change Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center recently premiered its newest installation, “Landscape in an Eroded Field” By Carol Barsha, Heather Theresa Clark, and Artemis Herber. The Exhibit will run from now until March 15, 2020.
Immersive paintings of natural landscapes surround a jarring installation that displays the intense physical attributes of the world around us. However, it is evident that the artists wish to convey a deeper meaning about the seriousness of climate change through their work.
“Landscape in an Eroded Field” has three parts, each designed by a different artist. Carol Barsha strategically pairs paintings of flowery landscapes with Artemis Herber’s Acrylic and mixed media paintings. These images surround the centerpiece of the exhibit which is an installation and soundscape created by Heather Theresa Clark. The installation is interactive, as guests can take a seat directly in the center of the fixture. Unsettling music echoes throughout the room, representing the horrific sound of humans destroying our planet, mixed with the trickling of a water fountain and the muffled noise of fans sitting on top of the artwork.
“Through the use of cardboard, an omnipresent raw industrial material used for packing and shipping everything we consume, I raise questions about sustainability and how human and tectonic activities on Earth create a new strata, hydro- and atmosphere on the planet,” says Herber about her painting style. “Through the juxtaposition of permanence and impermanence in various motifs of our changing environment, I employ several different approaches to tearing and collaging.”
As a whole, the three parts of the exhibit compare non-politicized works of art to an intentionally thought-provoking narrative. Climate change is not a new story, however, more and more artists are speaking up about the issue by using visual information to explain the frightening reality that humans will face in the near future.
According to NASA, “The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely likely (greater than 95 percent probability) to be the result of human activity since the mid-20th century and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented over decades to millennia.” NASA goes on to explain some of the detrimental effects of climate change. These include more droughts and heatwaves, increasing temperatures, stronger hurricanes, the rise of sea levels, the arctic being ice-free, and much more.
Climate change is having particularly negative effects on the earth’s landscapes. In Alaska for example, rising temperatures have begun melting away ice and threatening wildlife. In Ezulwini, Swaziland late seasonal rains have made water holes that animals usually drink out of, filled with mud.
“Landscape in an Eroded Field” is diving deeper into what it means to be the cause of our planet’s increase in temperature. The very real issue of climate change is sometimes hard to understand, but exhibitions like this one allow people to connect with the topic in a new way.
Be sure to check out this introspective exhibit at the American University Art Museum which runs until March 15th, 2020!
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