Land Ethic Exhibition Opens

Artworks by Katie Ries Ries is concerned about modern life: the resources it requires, the lure of screens and “likes”, and the sobering forecasts of climate change. In response to these concerns, she makes art that invites viewers to engage in small, concrete steps toward environmental sustainability and community engagement. These themes show up in two ongoing bodies of work: the Land Scouts and Plants to Know. Borrowing from the aesthetics of scouting, The Land Scouts introduce ideas of land stewardship and conservation. Through a series of ten values and associate badges, participants gain awareness of and appreciation for the interconnectedness of the natural world. Plants to Know draws from the visual language of printed ephemera to highlight common plants. The plants included are good ones to know both for their ubiquity in our urban environment, and for their traditions of medicinal and culinary use. This work seeks to turn viewers on to the wonders and complexities of our world.