Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, in partnership with Vermont Public
BURLINGTON — A new exhibition examining humanity’s relationship with the natural world opened March 20 at Burlington City Arts.
“Human Impact: Contemporary Art and Our Environment” brings together work from multiple contemporary artists responding to climate change, land use, and humanity’s impact on the natural world.
Heather Ferrell, the Curator and Director of Exhibitions at Burlington City Arts, said the exhibition is meant to engage audiences through art and open conversations about how humans impact the planet.
“The idea is that, as human development really reshapes the planet, artists in this show invite us to rethink our relationship with the land and our role within it,” Ferrell said.
The artwork reflects personal narratives while also probing broader social, political, and economic issues tied to shared ecology, according to the Burlington City Arts website.
Adriane Colburn is one of the featured artists in the exhibition. She’s based in Jersey City and Vermont, and according to her website, her recent work focuses on large scale installations exploring the relationship between humans and the natural world. Colburn said her goal is to allow people more room to think about their own connection to the environment.
“We might think deeply at times about the cost of how we live, but as we move about our day in immense distraction, we don’t really meditate on that a whole lot,” Colburn said.
Featured artists in the exhibition include Diane Burko, Adriane Colburn, John Gerrard, Renée Greenlee, Kari Greer, Nicolei Buendia Gupit, Sallie Dean Shatz, and Rebecca McGee Tuck.
“Human Impact: Contemporary Art and Our Environment” will be on view through June 20.