A Soil Story: A Photographic Atlas of Our Natural Resource
Ruby Merritt
CEPA Gallery presents the work of Ruby Merritt (August 6th – Oct 7th with an opening reception Saturday, the 6th 5-8pm.) investigating the relationships between soil and the climate with an immersive spectacle of the microscopic world photographed from our soils, woodlands, and compost piles. Merritt is the selected recipient of the Global Warming Art Project from Ben Perrone and the Environment Maze project donors. Facilitated by Art Services1, of Buffalo, NY.
The exhibition reveals the world of art and science with an emphasis on environmental awareness for our fertile soils alongside exhibited art. Come and explore a visual renewal of our soil’s relationship with the climate. See hundreds of hand-altered photographic collages of soil and lush underearth ecosystems. Revealing the world of the invisible but at a scale that engulfs you.
Often, fertile soil is forgotten about as a natural resource. Merritt’s studio time preparing for this exhibition was spent by capturing investigations behind the microscope. Merritt’s trademark laboratory-like installations that abound with natural history sensations have been cultivated to explore and encourage art as a tool for science education.
Merritt’s exhibition emphasizes soil’s relationship with climate change and offers ways to engage the local community with urban farms and encourages composting at home to help rebuild the green around their neighborhood and backyards.
The exhibition will feature gallery hikes (artist talks) discussing the state of soil and its relationship to the climate. Virtual gallery tours and CEPA’s on screen Happy Hour with local guests that specialize on environmental topics. Professionally developed art lessons and workshops will be carried out by Merritt, allowing participants to take home what they make while learning about an often forgotten natural resource. Projects are suitable for all ages and include building your own underground collages, veggie scrap mono-printing gift cards, cameras made from recycled seed paper, stitch and stick photo albums and interactive outdoor collaborations at Silo City.
Workshops
Thursday August 11th, 5-7 Plant-able paper camera seed nugget
Saturday August 13th, time to be determined, Cyanotypes with earthly objects
Thursday August 18th, 5-7, Veggie/Leaf monoprint stationary sets
Saturday August 20th, 5-5:30, Virtual Happy Hour
Thursday August 25th, 5-7, Recycled Photo Buttons/Fern Buttons or “green” Buttons
Saturday August 27th, time to be determined, Cyanotypes with earthly objects
Thursday September 1st, 5-7, Stich and Stick, Make your own photo album
Saturday September 3rd, time to be determined, Artist Hike (talk) through the gallery
Thursday September 8th, 5-7, Plant-able paper camera seed nugget
Saturday September 10th, 5-5:30, Virtual Happy Hour
Thursday September 15th, 5-7, Recycled Photo Buttons/Fern Buttons “green” Buttons
Saturday September 17th, time to be determined, Cyanotypes with earthly objects
Thursday September 22nd, 5-7, Stich and Stick, Make your own photo album
Saturday September 24th, time to be determined, Artist Hike (talk) through the gallery
Thursday September 29th, 5-7, Veggie/Leaf monoprint stationary sets
Saturday October 1st, 5-5:30, Virtual Happy Hour
Thursday October 6th, 5-7, Recycled Photo Buttons or Fern Buttons “green” Buttons
Friday October 7th, 5-8, closing dance party
Arts Services Inc.’s (ASI’s) Global Warming Art Project fund supported qualified individuals and organizations from across Western New York in their creation of artistic projects related to the dangers of global warming and climate change. Selected projects had the strong potential to impact and inspire the community to change its behaviors in a meaningful way. Funding for the Global Warming Art Project came from Ben Perrone and the many ‘Environment Maze’ project donors.
