A Soil Story: A Photographic Atlas of Our Natural Resource
Dates: Aug 6, 2022- Oct 7, 2022. Free admission for exhibit.
Opening Aug 6th 5-8pm
Location: CEPA Gallery, 617 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14203
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. Merritt is the selected recipient of the Global Warming Art Project from Ben Perrone and the Environment Maze project donors.
Facilitated by Arts Services, 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 inspired by what’s underneath ground. Come and explore a visual renewal of our soil’s relationship with the climate. See hand-altered photographic collages of soil and lush underearth ecosystems. Revealing the world of the invisible but at a scale that engulfs you. 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. While hosting many related art workshops during the exhibition.
Merritt’s exhibition emphasizes and explains 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) on Saturdays that will discuss the state of soil and it’s relationship to the climate. Virtual gallery tours and CEPA’s on screen Happy Hour with local guests that specialize on environmental topics will be held.
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 cyanotypes with natural objects, veggie mono-printing gift cards, cameras made from recycled seed paper, stitch and stick photo albums and interactive outdoor collaborations at Silo City.
GALLERY HOURS
- Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 4:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
- ruby@cepagallery.org
- www.rubymerritt.com (716) 856 2717
Ruby Merritt is a professional visual artist that works with multiple mediums ranging from printmaking, painting, photography, paper making to interactive installation spaces. Merritt considers herself as an Eco-Artist and has found a familiar niche in the art and science biome, producing work that is process based, using physical change, to manipulate and nurture her work. Conceptually, Merritt uses her artwork to share awareness for environmental issues and promote the pursuit of a sustainable and conserved planet.
Additionally, Merritt is an fine arts adjunct professor and a professional teaching artist for 11 years and continuing. Growing up in between the Great Lakes the lush natural ecosystems of wetlands, and old growth forests, these special places immensely influences Merritt’s artwork, drive and interactive performance work. Merritt received her BFA, concentrating in Drawing and Painting from the State University of New York at New Paltz and a MFA at the University at Buffalo, in 2013.
Thursdays: Art workshops led & created by Ruby: 5-7pm COME IN AND TAKE HOME WHAT YOU MAKE.
Each class is $15 at the door or take all 4 classes (at no cost) when an individual or family CEPA membership is purchased.
- Aug 11th Plantable paper camera with seeds.
- Aug 18th Veggie/Leaf monoprint stationary sets.
- Aug 25th Recycled Photo & Fern Buttons.
- Sept 1st Stich and Stick, Make your own photo album.
- Sept 8th Plantable paper camera with seeds.
- Sept 15th Recycled Photo & Fern Buttons.
- Sept 22nd Stich and Stick,Make your own photo album.
- Sept 29th Veggie/Leaf monoprint stationary sets.
- Oct 6th Recycled Photo & Fern Buttons.
Fridays:
- Sept 2nd First Friday celebration 12-4pm
- Oct 7th Closing, Dance Party for the Planet 5-8pm
Saturdays: Art workshops led & created by Ruby: 2-4pm COME IN AND TAKE HOME WHAT YOU MAKE. Each class is $25 at the door or take all 3 classes (at no cost) when an individual or family CEPA membership is purchased.
Artist talk and Live FB events are free.
- Aug 13th Cyanotypes with earthly objects.
- Aug 20th Virtual Happy Hour 1 on FB Live 5-5:30pm
- Aug 27th Cyanotypes with earthly objects.
- Sept 3rd Artist talk with a hike through the exhibition.
- Sept 10th Virtual Happy Hour 2 on FB Live 5-5:30pm
Photo Credit: Black & White image is by David Moog, courtesy of Burchfield Penney Art Center