June
4 - July 18, 2004
ELEMENTAL PRAIRIE: GEORGE OLSON & MARGARET WHITING
George Olson
George Olson
George Olson
George Olson
Iowa Artisans Gallery presents Elemental
Prairie: Prairie Drawings by George Olson and Altered Books
by Margaret Whiting, June 4- July 18, 2004. This show includes
a traditional exploration of prairie botanical illustration
by George Olson along with Margaret Whiting’s sculptural
altered books that comment powerfully on environmental concerns.
Both artists will be in attendance during the Gallery Walk,
held during the Iowa Arts Festival, Friday June 4, 5-8pm.
George
Olson’s careful attention to botanical detail reflects
his active involvement with prairie restoration near Woodhull,
Illinois. He has shown work in more than 32 one person exhibitions
in the US and England, including the British Museum of Natural
History, the Chicago Botanic Garden, Missouri Botanic Gardens
and the Royal Horticultural Society in London. Olson retired
from the art faculty at the College of Wooster (OH) and received
an MFA in Printmaking from the University of Iowa.
Waterloo
resident Margaret Whiting continues to draw national attention
for her altered books commenting on environmental concerns.
Her “Commentaries on American Law” series makes
use of altered law books. “I collect old law books that
most people would discard, particularly ones dealing with
land use and property rights. Although I am not a lawyer,
these books are interesting to me because a great deal of
our past and recent history is contained in them. Much of
our culture has been constructed upon opposition between man
and nature…”
“While reading law books, I circle
words in the text to build new statements regarding land use
and protection of the inheritance for the future. Found images
of animals from old science books or drawing of the land from
geologic surveys are placed next to law book text pages from
the same period. Sometimes I juxtapose law pages with seeds,
leaves and other natural materials, making a literal connection
between our human laws and nature’s laws. I respond
to the texture of the pages while tearing, crumpling, piercing,
rolling and baling the books into landscape forms…This
manipulation of books is not meant to destroy them or to refer
to the destruction of our laws. It is intended to transform
them into objects that propose new relationships.” Whiting
exhibits widely across the USA.
“All laws are dispositions for the
future…protect the land…it is one estate of inheritance.”
-Margaret Whiting, altered text from law book.
George
Olson’s careful attention to botanical detail reflects
his active involvement with prairie restoration near Woodhull,
Illinois. He has shown work in more than 32 one person exhibitions
in the US and England, including the British Museum of Natural
History, the Chicago Botanic Garden, Missouri Botanic Gardens
and the Royal Horticultural Society in London. Olson retired
from the art faculty at the College of Wooster (OH) and received
an MFA in Printmaking from the University of Iowa.
Waterloo
resident Margaret Whiting continues to draw national attention
for her altered books commenting on environmental concerns.
Her “Commentaries on American Law” series makes
use of altered law books. “I collect old law books that
most people would discard, particularly ones dealing with
land use and property rights. Although I am not a lawyer,
these books are interesting to me because a great deal of
our past and recent history is contained in them. Much of
our culture has been constructed upon opposition between man
and nature…”