Art students to showcase works at arboretum

November 3, 2011 | Arts, UToday
By Staff



Seven UT students in the Installation Art class will create site-specific works at Stranahan Arboretum, 4131 Tantara Drive.

The special exhibition may be seen Saturday, Nov. 5, from 4 to 6 p.m., weather permitting. If it rains, the exhibit will be moved to Sunday, Nov. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m.

UT art student Kari Kaser posed for a photo after pouring salt circles at Stranahan Arboretum. She said deer will eat the salt and create natural craters in the ground.

“Walk the grounds and enjoy the changing leaves and discover unique, ephemeral artworks tucked into the beautiful landscape,” said Barbara Miner, UT associate professor of art, who is teaching the class.

UT art student Kari Kaser drew on inspirations from her childhood for the special project.

“As a little kid, I would use the inside of Frisbees to make ‘gourmet mud pies,’” she said. “I decided to update my pie recipe, so I made my own ‘deer pies,’ which are completely edible. Sticking my hands into the molasses, honey and stale bread mixture reminded me of making those ever-so-sloppy mud pies as a child.”

In addition, Kaser will create some natural pieces — with a little help from the deer.

“I discovered that deer will dig out hollows where they find minerals to eat. So I decided to entice the natural appetites of the deer further,” she said. “I poured mineralized salt onto the ground in a circular pattern. The deer actually eat the salt-soaked soil, resulting in beautiful, natural-looking craters on the earth’s surface.”

Kaser hopes the works will provoke thought: “When people see this work, I’d like them to think about how humans and nature interact with one another.”

Refreshments will be served at the arboretum welcome center during the free, public event.

For more information on the special event, call the UT Department of Art at 419.530.8300.

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