Elements of Nature: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
Date: August 22, 2009 – December 20, 2009
Curated By: Billie Milam Weisman
Venue: Pepperdine University, Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art
24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90263
(310) 506-4851
Exhibited Artists:
Lita Albuquerque, Peter Alexander, Charles Arnoldi, James Bachman, David Bates, Scott Brennan, Veronica Brovall, Roger Brown, Vija Celmins, Chema Cobo, Dawn Dedeaux, Lesley Dill, Richard Ehrlich, Tracy Felix, Torben Giehler, Jack Goldstein, Joe Goode, Brandon Graving, Karen Heagle, Todd Hebert, Wade Hoefer, Gegam Kacherian, Marina Kappos, Christopher Le Brun, Jen Liu, Srdjan Loncar, Andy Moses, Isamu Noguchi, Linda Ridgeway, Thomas Rose, Ed Ruscha, Christoph Schmidberger, Ryozo Tsumaki, Tyler Vlahovich, Christian Ward, Neil Welliver, and Dustin Yellin.
Elements of Nature: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
The works in this exhibition reveal the ability of art to interpret, replicate, and reimagine the natural world. Some artists authentically depict the ephemeral beauty of the landscape, while others draw from nature to create their own fantasy environments. By constructing works from natural materials such as tree branches, artists like Charles Arnoldi and James Bachman are able to convey their personal visions while paying homage to the intrinsic beauty of the wilderness. Others capture the elusive aspects of nature through more tangible mediums, as in Srdjan Loncar’s clouds or Cindy Loehr’s flower, which never deteriorate from environmental factors.
The exhibition investigates the ways in which man and nature interact. It demonstrates a range of approaches to the subject, from the degradation of the environment through pollution and the depletion of resources to the impact of natural disasters upon society. The splendors of untouched nature as well as its destructive powers are explored with equal reverence. While California artist Lita Albuquerque explores the spiritual aspects of the cosmos, Louisiana artist Dawn Dedeaux takes inspiration from her immediate environment by exploring how severe atmospheric conditions have impacted New Orleans.
This international collection of artists explores diverse aspects of the natural environment, inspired by personal experiences as well as universal concepts. While the exhibition brings together perspectives from many areas of the world, such as Japan and Germany, a number of Southern California artists are represented by responding to their regional environment. The unique landscape, climate and culture of Los Angeles have continued to inspire the work of Joe Goode and Ed Ruscha.
The works in this exhibition awaken an awareness of nature in everyday life. From images of vast landscapes to simple piles of leaves, each composition explores an aspect of the environment that allows greater insight into the complex relationship between man and nature. Viewing the world through the unique perspective of the artist, it is possible to explore the power and beauty of the environment and rethink our relationship to it.