Edge of Life: Forest Pathology Art

Edge of Life Catalog in Print

2012-02-17T23:28:00.000-06:00

The Edge of Life: Forest Pathology Art exhibition catalog is back from the printers and available for purchase. The 78-page color catalog is a cloth bound hardcover with a dust jacket. The book includes a foreward by Dr. David Lewis, grounding the project in the history of art and science’s collaboration. An introduction by myself and Dr. David Kulhavy details the scope of the project as well as background on art and forestry. The book structure is shaped by the forest continuum illustration with a section each for hardwood, conifer, and urban forests. Each page spread includes the specimen photograph along with scientific writing by Dr. Kulhavy on the left side, and artwork image and artist statement on the right.

The catalog is also available for purchase on Amazon. If you are interested in obtaining copies for sale at local venues please contact Kimberly Verhines at the SFA Press at (936) 468-1078 or sfapress@sfasu.edu.

Edge of Life at UNT's Eagle Exhibit Hall

2011-04-24T16:15:00.000-05:00

UNT Edge of Life poster

2011-04-19T16:39:00.002-05:00

Edge of Life at UNT

2011-04-17T20:19:00.010-05:00

The Edge of Life exhibit opens this Wednesday, April 20, at the Eagle Exhibit Hall in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology (EESAT) building at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Dr. Kulhavy and I will present a lecture on how the show came together from 2:30-3:30 in EESAT 130 on Wednesday, with an opening reception from 5-8 in conjunction with eARTh Day events. The show runs through June 10th.

A big thank you goes to Lari Gibbons, Brian Wheeler and James Kennedy of UNT for all of their help bringing the show to Denton. Thank you goes to Gary Parker for all of his efforts getting the show packed safely, and to Lisa Steed, Joseph Alford, Kira Kalondy, and the Cole Art Center gallery guards for their contributions.

We received an Arts Respond Natural Resources and Agriculture Grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts to help get the show to Denton and to help with producing the exhibit catalog this summer.

Additional sponsors include the University of North Texas' Elm Fork Education Center and the Natural Heritage Museum, the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department of Studio in the College of Visual Arts and Design.

Installation of the exhibit.

The Daily Sentinel article: Forest pathogens come alive in Art Center's 'Edge of Life' exhibit

2011-03-25T13:33:00.000-05:00

Edge of Life opening at the Cole Art Center

2011-02-18T13:17:00.034-06:00

Installation

The Opening

Photos by Mandi Clay, Lisa Steed and Michelle Rozic

Edge of Life: Press Release

2011-01-21T10:00:00.004-06:00

SFA's 'Edge of Life' exhibition bridges forestry and art

Written by Sylvia Bierschenk

SFA Professor of Art Robert Kinsell's "Family Portrait," an oil on canvas inspired by the pathogen Yellow Cap Fungus, is one of the pieces included in "Edge of Life: Forest Pathology Art," which will open at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Works by 32 artists and the forest pathogen specimens that inspired them are included in "Edge of Life: Forest Pathology Art," which the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will open with a 6 p.m. reception Friday, Jan. 21, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Each of the participating artists (members of the SFA art faculty and ecological artists from across the United States) was assigned a specific forest pathogen, or agent of disease, and given the task to use any medium to create an artwork inspired by that pathogen.

The result is collection of art that ranges from traditional to contemporary, laborious to spontaneous, in both two- and three-dimensional works, explained Michelle Rozic, SFA assistant professor of art and one of the exhibition's curators.

"Our three-part goal is to share science's ability to inspire culture through art, to present a wide range of innovative approaches to making art, and to educate about the field of forest pathology," Rozic continued.

Rozic and assistant curator Dr. David Kulhavy, SFA professor of forestry, organized the collaborative project between the SFA College of Fine Arts and the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

The exhibition, which also includes artist statements and short writings from forest pathologists explaining each pathogen and its significance within its ecosystem, is designed as a traveling show that will be supplemented with a 100-page, full-color book scheduled for publication in August.

'Edge of Life' bridges the fields of forestry and art and provides a catalyst for discussion over pathogens and invasive species affecting the health of our forests, as well as how artists communicate concerns about contemporary ecological issues," said Kulhavy. "By making the exhibition available to other museums and galleries, we can share its messages with viewers outside of East Texas."

The opening will include a panel discussion in which the curators will be participating, and many of the artists will be in attendance. "Edge of Life" will be on display in the Ledbetter Gallery until Saturday, March 26. Regular gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.

The exhibition is sponsored in part by a Faculty Research Grant provided through SFA's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, SFA Friends of the Visual Arts and Nacogdoches Junior Forum.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, please call (936) 468-1131.

Pathogen Distribution in the Forest

2011-01-18T17:02:00.004-06:00

This image shows the relationship the pathogens in the exhibition have with their host and the environment.

Please click on the illustration for a larger view.
Design by Michelle Rozic with technical assistance by Dr. David Kulhavy.

Edge of Life: Postcard for the Cole Art Center Exhibition

2011-01-13T16:58:00.003-06:00

Edge of Life: Complete Prospectus

2010-12-19T17:04:00.016-06:00

Please click on the images to view full size.
For a .pdf of the prospectus, please e-mail Michelle Rozic at rozicmm@sfasu.edu

Art work arriving!

2010-10-19T15:45:00.010-05:00

Art work is arriving with preparations underway for the opening exhibition at SFA in January.

Museum studies students Richard and Brian filling out condition reports on the art work.

Pathogen specimens.

Lauren McAdams installing her work for photography.

McAdams pathogen, Indian Paint Fungus.

David Lewis' Museum Studies class is collaborating on the project.

Dr. David Lewis and the museum studies class.

Preparator Gary Parker talking with museum studies students.

Chris Talbot is scheduled to begin photographing art work and pathogen specimens next Monday.

Artist Update

2010-09-22T14:12:00.001-05:00

The deadline for receipt of artwork is now extended to October 18. Please send the well packaged work to the following address:

Stephen F. Austin State University
ATTN: SFA Art Galleries, Edge of Life
Central Receiving
2124 Wilson Dr.
Nacogdoches, TX 75962

A contract and inventory form will be emailed in September. Please return a signed copy of the contract and filled out inventory form with your work.

Please remember to include a professional quality, large format digital image of your work. These may be emailed to rozicmm@sfasu.edu, size permitting. Here are general guidelines:

-Uncompressed, high quality TIFF or RAW files.
-All files must be cross-platform compatible.
-24-bit RGB color
-3000 minimum pixels on the long side of the image
-300 ppi minimum

If possible, include an image that has a ColorChecker Grey Scale card in it for the most accurate color reproduction. Do not color correct or manipulate the image unless you are trained to do so.

Contact Michelle Rozic with any questions at either 936.468.4491 or rozicmm@sfasu.edu.

Artists & Their Diseases

2010-05-04T09:00:00.067-05:00

Peter Andrew

Landscape

Oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches, 2006

Zonate Leaf Spot

Marsha Blount

Birch conk Piptoporus betulinus

Elaine Bradford

Mongolian Knotted Deer
Taxidermy Mongolian spotted deer, crocheted yarn, fabric, fiberfil, 96 x 36 x 28 inches, 2007.

Strangling vine

Amy Chan

Mossbow (detail)
Gouache and acrylic on paper, 22 x 32 inches, 2009

Japanese dodder

Neal Cox

Untitled (Pecan Park)
Pinhole photograph, 24 x 24 inches, 2009

Phellinus fungus

Chad Curtis

Random Seed (Orange Conifers), 2008

Dog vomit slime mold

Dornith Doherty

Archiving Eden, Corncockle, 36.5 x 36.5 inches

Chad Erpelding

Embassies: Washington DC

Acrylic on wood, 84 x 72 inches, 2009

Dutch elm disease Ophiostoma ulmi

Piero Fenci

Gray Etruscan Pouring Vessel
Earthenware, 24 x 28 x 11 inches

Eastern pine gall rust Cronartium quercuum

Lari Gibbons

Herbarium
Intaglio, relief, chine collé, 11 x 8 inches, 2010

Mistletoe Phoradendron sp.

M aki Hajikano

Silent Fear
Cast glass and mixed media, 28 feet x 10 feet

Fusiform rust Cronartium quercuum f. sp. fusiforme

Charles Jones

Samuel Becket
Wood cut, 20 x 20 inches

Fasciation

Corinne Jones

Diving Raven
Colored pastels and charcoal, 38 x 50 inches, 2009

Turkey tail Trametes versicolor

Kira Kalondy

Frustration
Ceramics earthenware, 8 x 12 x 10 1/2 inches, 2009

Artist's conk Ganoderma applanatum

Bob Kinsell

Migration
Oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches, 2009

Yellow cap fungus Pholiota sp.

Aloma Marquis

Ganoderma root rot

Lauren McAdams

Indian paint fungus Echinodontium tinctorium

Gary Parker

Palace in the Wild
Mixed media on canvas, 84 x 96 inches, 2009

Lion's mane Hericium erinaceus

Marguerite Perret

The Commons, University of Kansas installation, Curtains, unique digital textile, 152 x 692 inches

Pine Drops

Joseph Philips

Alpine Terrain
18 x 24 inches, 2009

Red heart Phellinus pini

Amy Ross

Fairy Ring
Collage on paper, 15 x 22 inches, 2008

Fairy ring Fruiting bodies

Michelle Rozic

The Birds and the Bees (detail)
Koolaid dyed wool, wet and needle felted, taxidermy eyes, fly tying wings, insect pins, fake flower parts, Dimensions variable, elements life size, 2009

Schweinitzii root and butt rot Phaeolus schweinitzii

Scott Runnels

Quinine conk

Jeff Schmuki

Chia Enhancements for Woodland Intervention, Recycled materials, chia, 2009 performance

Ballmoss

Joshua Smith

From The Suburbs of the Emerald City series, Emerald Basin Phase 1
Monopoly houses cast in crystal resin, 2008

Poria cocos

James Snyder

White Mountain in Winter, 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches

Matthew Sutherlin

X-disease Phytoplasma MLO

Chris Talbot

Oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus

Jennifer Trask

Fructus Plumbum
Frame and encaustic panel, brooch, set with moonstones, lead leaves, snake vertebrae, and aquamarine, 2008.

Exobasidium

Joni Younkins-Herzog

Lust and Anxiety
Cast hydrocal, each piece 40 x 45 x 22 inches

Octopus Stinkhorn, Photograph by Steve Reekie

Keith Yurdana


The Trinity of Demise: Exposure (Abevolparen barbatus - panel #3)
Mixed media on wood panel, 71 x 82 3/4 inches, 2008

Gnarled root

Pathogen images from bugwood.org, except as noted. Artwork images courtesy the artists, copyright the artists. No artwork images may be copied without express written permission of the artist.

Edge of Life Project Overview

2010-04-01T08:25:00.005-05:00

The arts and sciences are rooted together in a long, interdependent tradition. Art delves into humanity’s internal questions about our understanding of our place within nature. Science delves into the external mechanics of nature in search of similar knowledge and understanding of these problems. Art imaginatively makes visible intangible ideas by placing abstract concepts into concrete form. Forest pathology makes evident tree diseases through identifying signs and symptoms of forest pathogens. Both art and science develop understanding through creativity, experimentation, trial and error, and the discovery and testing of hypothesis. Both attempt to reveal unseen aspects of the world, reflecting on the macro through understanding the micro. The Edge of Life forest pathology art exhibition will explore these connections between art and science through both a collaborative art and science exhibition, including 32 artists, and a 100 page, full-color book.

Edge of Life will bridge the fields of forestry and art. Forest pathology is an important aspect of forestry, especially now with the influx of invasive species, activity in the ecotones, and spread of pathogens. Artists naturally gravitate to contemporary concerns and socially conscious issues. Each artist will be assigned a forest pathology specimen to use as the impetus for creation. Participating artists will include 22 artists in Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Art and 13 professional artists in the field whose work deals with ecological issues. The project will highlight the talent housed within the School of Art. Our diverse and active faculty showcases the diversity of contemporary art practices and concerns. Media will range from pin-hole photography, hand-felted wool sculpture, wood cut printmaking, to digital media mapping.

This exhibition will provide the catalyst for discussion over pathogens and invasive species affecting the health of our forests, as well as how artists communicate concerns about contemporary ecological issues, translating their ideas through their artistic media. Pathogens and invasive species have an inherent allure that calls for attention. The forms can be beautiful and repulsive, elegant in simplicity and complex. Awareness of pathogens leads to understanding their mechanics, which leads to cognizance on how our actions affect global, natural health. Humanity has planted non-native trees that are harbingers of disease to the native woods. These diseases mutate and spread. Forest pathologists study the unseen microscopic diseases through the visible symptoms – such as shelf fungi, known as conks – learning to read the health of a forest ecosystem through the health of individual trees. The disease triangle shows the intrinsically linked co-dependency of Host, Pathogen, and Environment. Pathogens can transfer between and depend on host/s for survival and reproduction. Environment can enable rapid spread of pathogens. Transference of pathogens is fertile ground for lessons of human behavior through artistically illuminated metaphor.

Forest pathology, as a field of study, has declined across the United States. Universities often house forest pathology in the departments of biology or agriculture as a sub-category. As the educational programs wither so will the number of minds that store the knowledge needed to protect the health of the forests. Despite its decline, this field is still pertinent to today’s ecosystems.

The project will culminate in both a traveling exhibition, pairing specimen and artwork, and a book. This book will contain full-color reproductions of the artwork in the exhibition, including an artist statement and short biography of each artist, as well as full-color images of the specimens and writings from forest pathologists explaining each pathogen and its significance to their ecosystem.

Edge of Life will provide the impetus for conversations over pathogens affecting the health of our forests.

Information for Participating Artists

2010-04-01T08:08:00.001-05:00

To allow adequate time for curatorial preparations, all art must be completed and submitted by September 15^th, 2010.

Artwork will travel for approximately 2 years.

We will need permission to reproduce and distribute images of your work in print and electronic media for publicity, documentation, publications, and educational purposes, though copyright for the work will remain in your name. A contract will be sent at a later date.

Specifications for artwork:

Open media, in direct response to selected Forest Pathogen
24” x 24” x 24” maximum for 3D work, including base if specialty base is needed, which must be provided
24” x 36” maximum for 2D work, including frame
2D work must be framed and hang ready, plexiglass glazing only
10 pound maximum
Special hardware needed for installation must be included
No complicated installations or delicate work that cannot withstand travel

Please contact me if you have ideas that extend beyond these specifications.