Eminent terrain: MFA Thesis - Printmaking

Abstract

It can be simple to take for granted how much land there is around us. There are fewer places now that are unseen and unpossessed, but, on the other hand, we also easily overlook the places we have already been. These are places that pull. My works are objects that aid in a discussion on our historic relationship with the natural world, our intentions, successes, and failures. What do we think of when we think of America’s National Parks? By now, we are all aware of these areas that are marked as sacred lands, but their formation was anything but smooth and the intent of their designation has, in some ways work against itself. At the beginning, there was a fissure between the ideas of conservation and preservation of land. Conservationists advocated for the wise use of land, securing natural resources for future generations. On the other side of the conversation were those that sided with the preservation of the land. This would save the land for its own sake, keeping these areas pristine, naturally changing over time. Accessible to those who wished to tackle the environments imposed obstacles. My work pays homage to these landscapes life in their authentic form while still referencing the man-made restrictions and boundaries we have added in the name of protection. An interaction, a chance to create, can only strengthen the bond between a person and the piece. Ultimately, this gives the viewer an opportunity to make a profound connection to a place they may never have laid eyes on, but now understand its impact. In defense of this scenery, the view, it simply being should have been enough.