Garden in Bloom: Nature Neon

Curated by Tri.

(Documented by McKenzie Fitz)

As humans advance with theoretical concepts of capital gain, the wondrous natural world suffers from over consumption. Many of us have lost our connection to the earth, our first Mother, and have lost our way from the roots that have provided us exponential growth as a species. The earth provides us with countless resources from the air we breathe to plants and animals we eat. Its significance is something we must be reminded of and not take for granted. Often used to promote consumerism, neon calls upon one’s undivided attention and allures them into a reactionary response. Neon is rooted in a tradition of promotion, advertisement, and consumer culture, and we often forget the organic materials used to create it such as fire, breath, and glass. Garden in Bloom: Nature Neon asks the viewer to see the inherent nature in neon while being reminded of our connection to greater ecosystems through the lustful allure of a city glow. From provocative eroticism such as an eagle's mating ritual seen in Emma Varano’s Release, to a butterfly’s journey of life found through Daniella Thach’s Butterfly Net; the observer is asked to consider how different they are from the beasts displayed before them in these pieces. While the observer connects with their feral side they are greeted with serenity from Leticia Maldonado’s El Conejo moon, and the simple joys found through the imagery of Megan Stelljes’ Pilchuck Flowers. In the end, the viewer is asked to consider the duration and value of life through the temporality of JiaHao Peng’s floral based installations which start fresh, but will wither over the duration of this exhibition. All these works are crafted by human hands, a natural method of creation. Their imagery connects to the beauty of plants and animals, and ushers visitors into an illuminated garden made of glass and light. This garden is in hopes that we don’t lose sight of this wondrous world, and to help guide us back to it. As humans we must remember we are a part of nature and not the capitalist system that threatens our lives.

Artists featured: JiaHao Peng, Megan Stelljes, Leticia Maldonado, Daniella Thach, and Emma Varano.