Artist Statement:
The physical domain of the country had its counterpart in me.
The trails I made led outward into the hills and swamps, but they led inward also.
And from the study of things underfoot . . . came a kind of exploration, myself and the land.
In time the two became one in my mind.
– John Haines
All of my art is inspired by nature: specifically, landscapes and geology. My love of landscape is revealed in mixed media paintings layered with maps and scientific illustrations. I study physical geology and the interconnectedness between surface and subterranean landscapes: exploring the relationships between developments underground and the evolution of the landscape that takes place on the surface – incorporating images from geological diagrams of land formations to incorporate into my paintings. I am captivated by the idea that geological shifts and transformations seem to parallel both individuals and their relationships: continually changing, varying, shifting and developing, too.
I spent time living and painting in the southwest, examining desert landscapes, where the combination of aridity and erosion exposed the earth’s composition, structure, and layers, the relationships between them, and the deep time they represent. During a residency, I had the unique opportunity to use an Omax waterjet, using elements of the earth (water and garnet) to cut. The process is the same as water erosion found in nature but greatly accelerated and concentrated. Inspired by topographical maps of places I’ve lived and painted, I created 120 drawings that I then scanned and saved into DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) files. The waterjet cut each plywood section directly from these DXF files. Afterwards, I painted and assembled these into 40 low-relief topographic sculptures.
After visiting extinct volcanoes in New Mexico, I longed to see active volcanoes. As a result, I embarked on a residency at Red Cinder Creativity Center, located between the active and accessible volcanoes Kilauea and Mauna Loa, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Immersed in eleven of the world’s thirteen climate zones, I experienced and studied the various landscapes and dynamic geology of the island. I had the unique opportunities of
watching landscape being created and standing on the newest land on earth: landscape created by lava hardening into rock, which, in time, will transform into soil where plants will sprout and grow. Consequently, the dramatic volcanic landscapes continue to inform and influence my work.
The trails I made led outward into the hills and swamps, but they led inward also.
And from the study of things underfoot . . . came a kind of exploration, myself and the land.
In time the two became one in my mind.
– John Haines
All of my art is inspired by nature: specifically, landscapes and geology. My love of landscape is revealed in mixed media paintings layered with maps and scientific illustrations. I study physical geology and the interconnectedness between surface and subterranean landscapes: exploring the relationships between developments underground and the evolution of the landscape that takes place on the surface – incorporating images from geological diagrams of land formations to incorporate into my paintings. I am captivated by the idea that geological shifts and transformations seem to parallel both individuals and their relationships: continually changing, varying, shifting and developing, too.
I spent time living and painting in the southwest, examining desert landscapes, where the combination of aridity and erosion exposed the earth’s composition, structure, and layers, the relationships between them, and the deep time they represent. During a residency, I had the unique opportunity to use an Omax waterjet, using elements of the earth (water and garnet) to cut. The process is the same as water erosion found in nature but greatly accelerated and concentrated. Inspired by topographical maps of places I’ve lived and painted, I created 120 drawings that I then scanned and saved into DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) files. The waterjet cut each plywood section directly from these DXF files. Afterwards, I painted and assembled these into 40 low-relief topographic sculptures.
After visiting extinct volcanoes in New Mexico, I longed to see active volcanoes. As a result, I embarked on a residency at Red Cinder Creativity Center, located between the active and accessible volcanoes Kilauea and Mauna Loa, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Immersed in eleven of the world’s thirteen climate zones, I experienced and studied the various landscapes and dynamic geology of the island. I had the unique opportunities of
watching landscape being created and standing on the newest land on earth: landscape created by lava hardening into rock, which, in time, will transform into soil where plants will sprout and grow. Consequently, the dramatic volcanic landscapes continue to inform and influence my work.
About the Artist:
Mary C. Nasser earned her Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art: Painting from Michigan State University. During her graduate studies, Mary also studied Medieval Art History abroad in London, England, and attended a monotype workshop in Mexico City. In 1996 she was a visiting artist and guest lecturer in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where she lectured at Academia de Arte Vizuale “IOAN ANDREESCU” (Academy of Visual Arts) and exhibited her work in "Deschideti U.S.A." (Open the Door) at the Casa Matei.
Mary has had more than 20 solo shows in the past 10 years and has been awarded numerous residency opportunities. She was Artist-in-Residence in 2008 at Red Cinder Creativity Center in Hawaii, where she lived near active volcanoes that continually recreate the landscape. Her latest residency was at Osage Arts Community.
In 2010, a jury selected Mary's sculpture proposal for Wings in the City – a project to raise funds for the Jennifer and Jim Koman Expressive Therapy Program at Wings, a BJC pediatric hospice and palliative care program. Mary's 5-foot by 4-foot fiberglass butterfly sculpture is entitled Journey and is sponsored by Plaza Mercedes Benz. It is embellished with metallic acrylics and maps, much like her recent paintings. The butterflies were auctioned off May 21, 2011, at Wings in the City's Art Takes Flight auction. The public art project raised $1.3 million dollars for BJC's pediatric hospice program Wings.
Throughout the year, Mary leads Garden Art activities at St. Louis Children's Hospital and Healing Through the Arts workshops at Mercy Children’s Hospital and the David C. Pratt Cancer Center.
Mary has had more than 20 solo shows in the past 10 years and has been awarded numerous residency opportunities. She was Artist-in-Residence in 2008 at Red Cinder Creativity Center in Hawaii, where she lived near active volcanoes that continually recreate the landscape. Her latest residency was at Osage Arts Community.
In 2010, a jury selected Mary's sculpture proposal for Wings in the City – a project to raise funds for the Jennifer and Jim Koman Expressive Therapy Program at Wings, a BJC pediatric hospice and palliative care program. Mary's 5-foot by 4-foot fiberglass butterfly sculpture is entitled Journey and is sponsored by Plaza Mercedes Benz. It is embellished with metallic acrylics and maps, much like her recent paintings. The butterflies were auctioned off May 21, 2011, at Wings in the City's Art Takes Flight auction. The public art project raised $1.3 million dollars for BJC's pediatric hospice program Wings.
Throughout the year, Mary leads Garden Art activities at St. Louis Children's Hospital and Healing Through the Arts workshops at Mercy Children’s Hospital and the David C. Pratt Cancer Center.
