Perspectives Art Gallery: Human Nature
Human Nature Woodcuts by Kerry Cesen
Human Nature re-opened with success on February 18th, 2011 featuring woodcuts by Kerry Cesen. Born in Cleveland, Kerry spent his younger years growing in the countryside of northeastern Ohio “exploring nature, meeting mischief, and breathing fresh air”. In 2005, Kerry moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
In a written response to the artist’s pieces Kerry stated the following:
"It’s easy to forget that we’re originally from a very untamed and natural world. A world that was once free of concrete and rebar, cell-phone towers, and cars. Without any doubt, much time and history has passed. We are new people. The world is quite civilized and regularly groomed. Our expansive wild lands have shrunk into park systems and our cities now dominate the world we inhabit. Our steady growth over time has turned to exponential growth. And we are hurtling toward a new, and quite rapid, transformation.
For decades we have been absorbed in an industrial ear, and we are hastily turning pages into a new technological age. Our transformations and the majority of our new technologies are destroying our connection with the natural world – in a tactical sense as well as emotionally. Overtime our deteriorating connection has led to changes in our attitudes. Our attitude adjustments have led to changes in our actions. And our actions – besides being merely disconnected – are now becoming detrimental to nature. We exhaust its resources, pollute its air, and poison its waterways. We act malevolent, as if humans are the center and everything else merely revolves around us. But we aren’t the center. We are probably very far from it, and we’re just revolving along too.
I am convinced that in order to make forward progress, we need to reestablish our intrinsic link to nature and search for our lost compassions. I consider these woodcuts as step one in this reestablishment process. To me, step one would be to recognize some commonalities, and perhaps begin to empathize with the natural, beautiful world and our numerous counterparts. But step one is just one of many equally important steps that should be taken. Once taken, these steps should be mimicked by many more. After all, there is much common ground that we share."
—Kerry L. Cesen
Several other artists familiar to Perspectives Art Gallery have joined Kerry in this exhibition. Among them are: Charlie Barton, Tara Slifer, David Lychenheim, Sarina Meshulam, Nicole Galanakis, Marcie Erickson, Margaret “Muffi” Lavigne and Susie Lipscher.
A portion of all sales will go towards nature conservation in Maryland. Human Nature will remain open from February 18th through May 31st, 2011. For additional information please contact Lauren Erickson at (410) 461-7763 or email: lauren@jsrassociates.net.