Wildland, a satellite exhibition in conjunction with Artscape, features the work of nine local artists; Ryan Browning, Travis Childers, Frank Day, Elizabeth Hoeckel, Savanna Leigh, Susan Main, Joshua Smith, Peter Stern, and Polly Townsend.
While viewing submissions from the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts and looking for an overall arching theme, I was struck by the large number of local artists whose work seemed to be derived from the landscape. Landscape, as a topic, has been around for centuries. In fact, Goucher College has mounted a few shows surrounding the topic in the past. However, in this case I noticed a narrower or sub-theme of wilderness and outdoor recreation. Images of camper trailers nestled in the woods, wild animals, mountaineers, and people gathered together as if looking out over a scenic view mingled with more traditional nature imagery. Thus, each artist in Wildland draws inspiration from the great outdoors, inviting the viewer to explore the wilderness as seen through their eyes and experiences. As Wallace Stegner wrote in the Wilderness Letter, “We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in.” Curated by: Laura Amussen
Wildland will be presented at Goucher College’s Silber Art Gallery in the Athenaeum from June 28th through August 7th, 2011. This exhibit, which is free and open to the public, can be viewed Tuesday through Sunday from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. An artist’s reception will be held Saturday, July 9th, 2011 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Silber Gallery. Please call 410-337-6477 or visit www.goucher.edu/silber for more information.
