The question of what art beyond re-use art we might consider showing at BRING Gallery has come up in several different discussions lately. Everyone seems to want to know where we draw the line. Is a landscape painting enough to fulfill the mission of promoting artists "that aim to improve our relationship with the natural world through the use of reclaimed materials and by addressing pressing environmental issues in their art."
The short answer is no. Of course it is much more complicated than that. If the landscape paintings were made with discarded materials, that would give it more credibility, or if there was an explicit message about consumption or waste, then it would get further consideration.
A great example would be the photography of Chris Jordan. Photography in itself is not reuse art, nor is it particularly environmentally friendly. Yet the message Jordan is able to communicate through his photography is a valuable one. His "Intolerable Beauty: Protraits of American Mass Consumption" series would be hard to pass up should he want to show at BRING.
The images are compelling because they address our unabashed consumption and waste. The images are both beautiful and repelling. They draw you in and spit you out. I find it fascinating that I am entranced with the images themselves, but repulsed by the story they tell. Taken as formal works of art they are as beautiful as any number of abstract paintings, still-life photographs or landscapes. Seen in context of modern society and a body work, the message is clear that we need to reflect on the way we live.
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