New works by Inked Animal will be on display at the University Galleries at Texas State University – San Marcos from June 3 – June 30, 2013. The works appear courtesy of Art.Science.Gallery. (Austin, TX). Reception Sunday, June 9th, 2013 4pm-6pm. Gallery [1] is located in the Joan Cole Mitte Building across from the Supple Science Building, on the corner of Sessom and Comanche St. The galleries are open daily 9am – 10pm. Click here for directions.
Mexican Free-Tailed Bat | Tadarida brasiliensis
2011 | India ink and clay on paper (digital inversion)
Adam Cohen and Ben Labay make their living as biologists at the Texas Natural History Collection (Ichthyology Collection) and the Fishes of Texas Project at the University of Texas at Austin. Their professions and their enthusiasm for art and nature come together in a project called Inked Animal, as a place for them to explore the reasons and inspirations they chose to become biologists.
Cohen and Labay’s Inked Animal collection features stunning prints of animals using ink, clay, paper and fabric. Inked Animal takes inspiration and techniques from the classic Gyotaku concept (Japanese fish pressing), in which ink or pigment is rubbed onto the surface of a fish which is then pressed on paper or cloth. This art form originated among Japanese fishermen, who used the impressions to record the size and quantity of their catch before taking it to market. Gyotaku has now evolved into a beautiful and culturally important art form in Japan. Cohen and Labay expand their work well beyond the ichthyological, to include fur (mammals), scale (reptiles), and feather (birds).
Their work reveals the importance of careful observation in both the natural sciences and the arts. Observations that the artists make while creating Inked Animal impressions often filter back into their roles as scientists in the natural history collections, as the printing process can help reveal previously un-noticed physiological characteristics.
“Through working with specimens as objects of art we’ve noticed bits of specimen anatomy that we’ve overlooked before or otherwise never took the time to take a close look at. Some come to mind immediately: sensory pores on alligator chins, dense hair in opossum pouches and their fingerprints, bifurcating genitalia of snakes, unusual mutated scales on fish. The most striking kinds of things we notice are related to various pores and crevices which become very obvious once ink fills them in.” -Adam Cohen, Inked Animal
This exhibition also provides the viewer with a stark reminder of how human activities affect wildlife; all of the mammals, birds and reptiles printed were found dead on the road. The ink and clay impressions of these animals serve as both ethereal and elegant records of biological diversity in North America. In that way, the Inked Animal collection pays homage to the estimated 1.5 million wildlife-vehicle collisions in the United States each year.
“We create the work out of respect for what creates the impression, trying to capture a special and unique version of it that simultaneously acknowledges the corporeal and spirit of the animal.” -Ben Labay, Inked Animal
An interview with Adam Cohen + Ben Labay about their work (ECO Art + Science Series: The Inked Animals of Adam Cohen + Ben Labay) was published in May 2012 on the biocreativity blog. Many of the original artworks featured in this interview will be on display as Art.Science.Gallery. and the South Corridor Gallery @ First Presbyterian Church co-present the work of these two artists.
NOTE: No animals are killed explicitly for the purpose of making this artwork. The artists work with roadkill animals or fish specimen collections that are then deposited in natural history museums whenever possible and become a permanent record of biological diversity for future scientific studies.Please contact Hayley at Art.Science.Gallery. for pricing and availability. (512)522-8278 or hayley@artsciencegallery.com
Emerald Ash Borer © 2010 Emily Bryant. Pressed invasive plant collage on sustainable bamboo paper.
Emily Bryant was born and raised near Cleveland, Ohio. Drawing animals from a young age, her fascination with wildlife led her to pursue degrees in Sustainability and Studio Art with a Biology minor. While completing her education at Baldwin-Wallace College, Bryant began to explore how sustainability could be incorporated into art. Utilizing sustainable materials to produce art with environmental messages, such as the impact of native and invasive species in local ecosystems, she hopes to inspire others to explore and conserve the natural world.
Using pressed specimens of invasive plant material, Bryant creates stunning collages that represent some of America’s most invasive insect species. Thus, her work simultaneously provides invasive species control by removing invasive plants from wild places and creates artworks that educate the public about the threats associated with invasive insects. All of her work is mounted to sustainably-produced archival bamboo papers using natural plant-based glues.
Bryant’s series of nature photographs utilize a digital form of collage that complement her invasive species series by depicting what are often considered fragile native species and ecosystems that can be disrupted by invasives. A celebration of the natives of her home state of Ohio and her current home in Texas, Bryant’s photographs are rich in both color and biodiversity.
An interview with Emily Bryant about her work (ECO Art + Science Series: The Sustainable Art of Emily Bryant) was published in March 2012 on the biocreativity blog. Many of the original artworks featured in this interview will be on display as Art.Science.Gallery. and the South Corridor Gallery @ First Presbyterian Church co-present the artists work.
Please contact the gallery for availability and pricing.
