no such thing as natural beauty

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oola

SNAG

Past work

Jul 21—Dec 10, 2023
Plein Air @ Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena

"...a compelling take on our relationship to land and what it means to spend time trying to understand the outdoors."
— Hyperallergic

2022-2023
Surveillance

At work in a landscape monitored by the virtual wall of surveillance along the US-Mexico border. Applying paint colors mixed by the Bureau of Land Management. The tradition of plein air disappears and documents.

2020-2023
Leave No Trace

A research and development grant from the AZ Commission on the Arts will support the next phase of my work, Leave No Trace, and take me to the Upper Colorado Basin in 2023 to study the BLM color palette.

2020-2022
Wings at Work

Getting into the weeds
I wonder—is there a new environmental worker of the world?

One who transcends nature culture borders to find a confluence?

One who has plastic in her gut
and boots on her feet?

2020-2023
Nine Colors of the West

Part of my ongoing exploration of the Bureau of Land Management's 'Standard Environmental Colors' nine color paint palette.

2019-2021
Painted Landscapes

The thrift store is an essential stop for goods to recirculate in our consumer waste stream. A series of American landscapes gone second hand.

2019
How to View a Landfill

‘How to View a Landfill’, artist book, risograph edition of 60, printed by Super Hit Press and Los Angeles Contemporary Archive, 2019.

08.31—09.28.2018
Key Observation Point

Acrylic and graphite on canvas, monofilament, Gateway laptop, printed mouse pad, mouse, Final Environmental Impact Report from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill 2017 (printed and on CD-R), internet image archive (printed and digital files), laminated gallery maps, ‘Landscape Scenic Quality Scale’ graphite wall text, paintings each 20” x 16”, research materials various dimensions. Solo exhibition at Los Angeles Contemporary Archive.

2018
Gas-for Water

Petroleum is plentiful and water is scarce. ‘Meadmaids’ are now climate refugees from drought-stricken Lake Mead. They exchange one for the other to replenish their home lake’s holdings.

02.08.2019
Sunshine Landfills

Skies above landfills across the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

2017-2018
It’s Not Easy Seeing Green

Come here exotic coyote,
more salt bushes let out wind.
It’s up crane go same to food-chain.

2015
Sculpture Garden / Las Vegas Pinks

Sandstone boulders, kinetic sand, laserjet print, Gallery A402, Calarts, Valencia, CA. HD Video Installation, Human Resources, LA.

06.07-09.22.2013
Dada d’Adda

An hommage to Nancy Holt’s 1972 Missoula Ranch Locators: Vision Encompassed. Installation and island tour featured at Ecoismi, Curated by Ylbert Durishti, Milan, Italy, 2013.

12.02.2011
Window

Digital billboard installation with mountain range, Interstate 15, Corona CA.

All works and images copyright © Susanna Battin, 2023