BRIAN BURKHARDT
bi(h)ome
November 8th - December 20th, 2008
Opening Reception: November 8th 7 - 10 PM
Brian Burkhardt has spent the past decade as a sort of mad scientist, fabricating insects, plants, and marine life that appear to have been altered and adapted to human commodity and necessity; ranging from jellyfish that ring with cell phones inside their bellies to militant dragonflies that operate for the United States government as miniature spies. Delving into the absurdity of his fabricated world, Burkhardt created a geodesic dome in which to work. Reminiscent of the organic farm the artist called home prior to his life in the arts, the dome has become a catalog of sorts, containing samples of every work the artist has ever made. Where previous works were pristinely displayed as if in museums of natural history, the dome alludes to the humble beginnings of early growth and development. Transporting the dome into the gallery space, viewers will be able to spend time inside the structure, discovering for themselves the various species in Burkhardt’s repertoire.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a 170 page full color catalog published by Image Theory Group. The extensive text written by Megan McShane will situate Burkhardt in relation to other Contemporary artists working in ecological and natural systems theory, a subject McShane has been working on since 1992.
Watch the A-Roll video of Brian working in his studio, created by our friends at The Wet Heat Project
and a recent Plum TV spot:
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