Imitation of life
For possibly the first time in history, the fear of air pollution in our own community has struck nearly every citizen of Cache Valley. Although this concern is new among many Cache Valley residents, it is not new to Jane Catlin.
Thursday, a room full of viewers in the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of art observed and listened to nationally recognized local artist Catlin. Her views and opinions about specific issues were expressed verbally, and more thoroughly, through her art.
Catlin’s exhibition, “Adaptations,” refers to alterations organisms go through in order to survive changes in the earth’s environment, Catlin said.
“My work depicts the ever-changing state of our water and air as if it could be seen and understood by one person,” she said. “I embody the forces of the earth that affect the quality of the air and water within my own frame of reference,” she said.
Jan Tucker, a citizen of Cache Valley, attended the speech and expressed her opinions about Catlin and her work.
“I think she has found a strong way to express her opinions. The subjects expressed are very important to her,” she said.
Each year the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art chooses a solo exhibition to open the new year. Catlin was chosen as the 2004 exhibitionist, and her works, “Adaptations,” officially opened Thursday and are on display in the museum.
“Adaptations” is a series of recent artworks completed during Catlin’s 2002-03 sabbatical. According to the museum’s press release, the images portray her exploration of environmental changes resulting from population growth and increased consumption. She is particularly interested in the operations at 12 sites of concern that lie within a 100-mile radius of Salt Lake City.
“Concerns about the quality of our air and water have been the driving force behind my sequence of mixed media on environmental degradation. Using paper or cloth, I synthesize painting, drawing and printmaking to construct biological forms that symbolize spiraling changes brought on by rapid population growth and rampant industrialization,” Catlin said.
A particular concern to Catlin is a dangerous chemical agent called Sarin gas, also known as GB.
“I use an array of art forms and techniques, to create biomorphic abstractions that symbolize the physical systems of the human body that are affected by this lethal chemical agent: the brain, lungs, spine, nerves – all the major organs that are directly or indirectly stressed,” Catlin said.
Catlin is a Utah State alumna. She received her fine arts degree from USU, and received her master’s degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. Currently an associate professor in the USU art department, Catlin’s works have been exhibited in Connecticut, and Washington, D.C. She was awarded the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant in 2002, the 2001 Artist of the Year from Utah State University, and the Visual Arts Fellowship, Utah Arts Council in 2000.
Katie Armstrong, a senior in American studies, attended the artist’s talk that was held Thursday.
“I love [her artwork.] It gives a different perspective and magnifies in detail the function of the body,” Armstrong said.
Christine Hult, associate dean of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences also attended the artist’s talk and commented on “Adaptations.”
“It is wonderful and beautiful, yet the disturbing comes through,” she said.
Jay Heuman, curator of Education, said Catlin “is a timely and a contemporary artist working on contemporary issues.” He said that is so valuable because her artwork is about things that are happening in our very own community here and now.
“The colors are so strikingly beautiful,” he said.
“As a person new to Utah, information that this artwork is giving is concerning and frightful, there is an element of wonderment at the complexity of everything,” Heuman said.
“Her art is an interpretation of an aspect of life, and that she is sharing an expression with the public.”
He expressed his hope that people will come and give an attempt to understand its significance.
-syllee@cc.usu.edu
Jane Catlin, adviser over art education, speaks about her artwork. The “Adaptations” exhibition will be shown at the Nora Eccles Museum of Art until May 1st. (Photo by Jessica Wheatley)