Whose Curious Tree by Elisabeth Condon and Twice: Migration by Kirstin Furlong

This Earth 

 Notes and Observations by Montello Foundation Artists 

Southern Utah Museum of Art in Cedar City, Utah 

On view October 16th to December 23rd,2021.

This Earth, an exhibition curated by Hikmet Loe and Stefan Hagen at Southern Utah Museum of Art under the direction of Jessica Kinsey in Cedar City, UT.

The audience experiences nature from artists’ perspectives. While we were presenting finished work of 37 artists who have been artists-in-residence at the Montello Foundation retreat, it is the processes of the artists that were the focus of the exhibition. The guiding principals of the show were the artists’ various approaches and personal relationships to nature. Documentary photography was shown alongside abstract paintings, alongside intimate drawings, and also large-scale sculpture.

Organized was This Earth in four sections: 

• Observing Nature 

• In Dialog with Nature 

• Human Interaction with Nature 

• Preserving Nature

Observing Nature 

is focused on the great tradition of artists as observers and note takers. While some meticulously record the sights and sounds experienced in nature, others abstract these observations, while others are focused on transcendental experiences with nature.

Twice: Migration by Kirstin Furlong

Westfjords, July and June Windows by Eleanor Ray  

Montello Book of Hours by Patricia Watwood, Basin and Range by Ash Ferlito, Monument of a Dead Tree and The Grid by Markus Guschelbauer, Ascent, Shelter, likewise and Proto-Narcissus by James Kao, Dark Nebula by Lee Arnold and Plot by Cedra Wood

Aokigahara by Summer McCorkle, Plot by Cedra Wood and Westfjords, July and June Windows by Eleanor Ray

Montello Book of Hours by Patricia Watwood, Basin and Range by Ash Ferlito, Monument of a Dead Tree and The Grid by Markus Guschelbauer, Ascent and Shelter, likewise and Proto-Narcissus by James Kao

Montello Book of Hours by Patricia Watwood

High Desert Tapestry and Desert Driftwood by Laurie Lambrecht and Montello Book of Hours by Patricia Watwood

In Dialog with Nature 

presents a number of artists working with natural elements and materials, transforming them with their practice. Others recreate aspects of nature, allowing the audience to witness a dialog between artist and nature.

Plein Air Arctic Permafrost Landscape II by Blane De St. Croix, To get out of the Way by Diana Shpungin, Watching the Waves by Lea Thomas, Closing In On Opening Up, 132lbs, by Brie Ruais and Desiccation drawing, unknown hours by SaraNoa Mark

Walks for Richard by Sara Morawetz, Watching the Waves by Lea Thomas and Closing In On Opening Up, 132lbs by Brie Ruais

Watching the Waves by Lea Thomas, Closing In On Opening Up, 132lbs (Nevada Site 3), by Brie Ruais, Plein Air Arctic Permafrost Landscape II by Blane De St. Croix, Desiccation drawing, unknown hours by SaraNoa Mark and Tracing the Arc of the Solstice by Michael Dax Iacovone

Sculpture Park Montello by Lea Titz, Rings by Kirsten Furlong, Animal Friends by Mihi Suzuki, Disease of the Heart, Disease of the Flesh, the Boastful Pride of Life by Ryan Dewey, Truck by Fred Holcomb, Plein Air Arctic Permafrost Landscape II by Blane De St.Croix and 572 Fahrenheit by Dylan Gauthier

Ghost Limb (Split) by Diana Shpungin, Shelter by Martha Tuttle and Sculpture Park Montello by Lea Titz

Turf and Tokens by Tyler Beard and Steel Face Concrete Bend (Valley of Fire Kilauea) by Letha Wilson

NN by SaraNoa Mark

Tidal by Kevin Cooley and Watching the Waves by Lea Thomas

Human Interactions with Nature 

finds artists focused on the effect humans have on the natural world. Some artists display well-meaning and caring interactions, while others show the devastating outcomes humans have on nature.

Rot Pile by Nina Elder, Lur with Clearcut by Matthew Hamon, Rings by Kirsten Furlong, Animal Friends by Miho Suzuki, Truck by Fred Holcomb and Disease of the Heart, Disease of the Flesh, the Boastful Pride of Life by Ryan Dewey

Rings by Kirsten Furlong, Red Lines by Cynthia Brinich-Langlois, Hells Bells and Cactus with Brains by Evie McKenna, Barn Owl, Hoary Bat and Porcupine by Nicole Jean Hill and Rot Pile by Nina Elder

Oak Street, Landings LAX Runway 25R and Desert Driftwood by Kevin Cooley, Hells Bells and Cactus with Brains by Evie McKenna and Barn Owl, Hoary Bat and Porcupine by Nicole Jean Hill

Animal Friends by Miho Suzuki, Rings by Kirstin Furlong, Truck by Fred Holcomb, La Tuna Fire by Kevin Cooley, Disease of the Heart, Disease of the Flesh, the Boastful Pride of Life by Ryan Dewey and Red Lines by Cynthia Brinich-Langlois

Animal Friends by Miho Suzuki, Truck by Fred Holcomb and La Tuna Fire Mount McGroarty Cross by Kevin Cooley

Animal Land by Lauren Strohacker and Kendra Sollars

572 Fahrenheit by Dylan Gauthier

flow through me by bug carlson and Watergrass

The full catalog can be viewed here.

This Earth Walkthrough

This Earth Tour for K12

Podcast with Hikmet Loe, Patricia Watwood and Stefan Hagen, directed by Emily Ronquillo: