THUNDER BAY – Blake Evans has always taken inspiration from the environment and used it to create his artwork.
It’s seen in both of his works being showcased between now and April 15 at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, part of the Lakehead University’s fourth-year art students annual Major Studio Exhibition.
The first, Unity, is a self-portrait depicting the connection between plant and animal life and the human world, and the effects man-made chemicals are having on the planet.
“So I drew corn growing out of my arm and used copper wire to form the roots that are connected from the plants into the sternum of the figure,” Evans said.
“It is a self-portrait due to the memories I have growing up in southwestern Ontario, around agricultural fields and the effects that I’d seen from different planes and different tractors spraying chemicals on the plants. Now that I’ve grown up and learned about the hazards I want to broadcast that to a different area, so they’re aware of all the effects that go through the life cycle when you’re eating those plants.”
His other work, Cormorant in Canada, is a sculpture made from the innards of an old VHS tape, drawing similarities between the inability for the tape to break down when thrown away with the effects of the bird’s guano on the environment.
“Its waste excrement is very nitrogen rich, so it kind of burns the land,” Evans said.
“They nest is large areas with large populations, which can have a damaging effect on the land.”
Evans and his classmates have spent several months working on their projects, narrowing them down to their two best to enter into the Art Gallery show.
Courtney Davis, who specializes in first impressions and voyeurism, said she chose a striking self-portrait as one of her entries, breaking away from the first impressions and emotions she usually incorporates into her work.
“I like the idea of telling stories through portraiture. It’s one of those things, when you see people’s faces you automatically think about what they could be thinking or what they’re doing,” she said.
“This portrait, in particular, was kind of a reversal of roles. My whole thesis is about looking into other people’s stories, but I started thinking about how I would feel if someone where invading my space and wanting to go deep into my story without even knowing me.”
It’s aptly titled, What the F*** Are You Looking At?
Marielle Orr, who has also taken part in the Gallery’s juried art show during her LU tenure, chose to tackle urban sprawl with her sculpture.
“It’s made from metal, wood and burning and carving components. It has to do with the idea of the relationship that humans have with nature. There are carvings on the back of it of nature scenes as well as cityscapes,” Orr said.
“It basically explains how the city is taking over nature as well as the impact nature has on man-made objects and the city.”
On display now, the opening reception for the Major Studio Exhibition is scheduled for March 22 at 7:30 p.m.
