I Am the Problem Part 2

"Colorless & Odorless"

a solo exhibit of drawings and paintings by Edward Burke September 6 – October 4

Opening Reception September 6, 2019, 6 - 8 PM Hankin Academic Arts Building – Fine Arts Gallery 75 Grasslands Rd, Valhalla, NY

With more then fifty drawings and paintings relating to environmental issues, this exhibit is my shared artistic journey--- a quest to encourage awareness of the pollution problem manifested through my creative “lens” as a visual artist. The exhibition presents artwork created over the past decade driven by the impact of environmental violations upon our planet. I hope this presentation presents an acknowledgment of our silent participation. We are one together in what can be a harsh awareness. My artwork intends to create a dialog and discussion regarding the ever-increasing threat to life on earth from the pollution of the air, sea, and land.

The drawings and paintings in the exhibit speak to the issues of ecological threats from carbon dioxide, micro plastics, and massive amounts of trash negatively impacting the existence of all life forms.

“Synthetic Landscapes and Organism”

“Lady of The Snow” Acrylic on Canvas  60” x 48 (Inspired by Terry Lennon’s poem Blizzard - Circa 2011 “Blizzard” )

Excerpt, “…We are drawn to herpeering through small white driftson a mullioned gridinto the faint ice blue of her belly, until, with cold chortleshe blows our world black…”

This period of work evolved from the idea of nature being so disrupted and stressed by our careless disregard for chemical waste and the manufacturing of disposable products that I began to invent my own reality. The imagery in this artwork is what I have dubbed “Synthetics.”  These landscapes and organisms are presented as a reality of organic life; however, they are fantasy - nonexistent reality.

“Synthetic Landscapes” 1, 2, 3, and 4, Acrylic on Canvas 24” x 24

I see them in the vain of science fiction (a great love of mine) where art exaggerates and projects current societal problems into an alternative reality, which in many cases over time is drawn remarkably close to our future.

"Synthetic Landscape 05" 2014 Graphite and Charcoal on Paper 14” x 16”

“Synthetic Organism 2015”  Acrylic on Canvas 30” x 40”

These fanciful forms and composition elements are subconscious ramblings as in dreams. However, dreams often piece together a visual experience distorted and assembled from actual daily events. What I find is that the reporting and studies of these types of environmental issues seep into my dreams and then without conscious thought emerge in the art I create.

Synthetic Organism 02 2014”  Graphite and Charcoal on Paper  14” x 16”

“Synthetic Organism 01 2009”  Graphite on Paper  14” x 16”

With the advent of plastics, the concept of manufacturing disposable products and the built-in obsolescence of merchandise in the landfills and waste management including recycling have grown at an exponential rate. We have reached a point of such enormous proportions that we now ship some of our disposable objects and waste to other countries. Unfortunately our economy and the sustainability of ours and other nations are reliant on the constant manufacturing of “stuff.”

"AI” 2011, Acrylic Paint Marker on Gray Paper 18” x 24"

“In Out” 2012, Acrylic on Canvas 60” x 48”

This work conveys endless amounts of manufactured disposable goods filling metaphorical landscapes, or what I call “More Stuff.” Sometimes there is a whimsical communication, as in the painting “AI” or conversely a symbolic metaphor appears that evokes a precarious balance to our lifestyles in “In Out.”

As a whole, we must grasp the severity of the endless manufacturing of stuff. Our voices are the precursors to the solutions, as they will hopefully command those in power to finally implement critical environmental changes.

“Discarded Landscape” Acrylic on Canvas 30” x 40"