“The Nature of Representation: Evidence and Metaphor" by Esther Macy Nooner
“Utah Rock Formations” (detail) by Esther Macy Nooner
“This body of work continues the thread of challenging the expectation of what a photograph of Nature ‘should’ be.”
Carbondale Arts presentsed a solo exhibition by Esther Macy Nooner at the Carbondale Arts R2 Gallery, on display May 27 - July 1, 2022. The public was invited to the opening reception on First Friday, June 3, from 6-8pm at The Launchpad, with an artist talk at 5:30pm with Esther as well as Hannah Stoll, whose solo show “Prospects” opened the same evening.
Historically the romantic ideologies of the sublime have followed the beauty of Landscape in paintings and photography through the centuries. This body of work continues the thread of challenging the expectation of what a photograph of Nature “should” be. In our current political and ecological climate, I believe these historic ideologies are an inappropriate approach to how we regard the landscape and can be threatening to the attention it demands.
My strategy of manipulating the ink on the paper is a metaphorical approach to our human consumption of Nature. By treating the image in an objective manner, continuing to break the expectation of the traditional frame, the viewer is given the opportunity to reflect on the marks made on the paper as well as the scars we’ve left behind.
This exhibition was generously supported by DHM Design, an employee-owned planning and landscape architecture firm that provides a range of services, including landscape architecture, land planning, ecological planning and urban design to clients nationwide since 1975.
Esther Macy Nooner, photographer, Snowmass Village, CO
Esther Macy Nooner received her M.F.A. in Photography from the University of Arkansas, School of Art in 2018. She has participated in Artist in Residencies in the National Park System and at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Ireland. Her work has been exhibited nationally and is currently the Studio Coordinator for Photography and New Media at Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
She spent much of her childhood exploring coastal and rural terrains that provided a fundamental belief in the necessity and importance of Nature to human beings. Historic photographers and travel influence her research and studio practice.
Enjoy a virtual tour video from Esther’s exhibition here!
An artist talk from the opening night of 2 solo exhibitions by Hannah Stoll and Esther Macy Nooner on First Friday, June 3, 2022.