I Stumbled Upon A Crystal Cave
by Marie McKenzie
"Tactile and textural, my recent wood sculptures highlight the earth's ever-changing surface. I've found endless fulfillment in investigating and visualizing topographies, natural forms and landscapes -then producing them in a way that celebrates their essence. A recurring theme in my work is to peel back the layers of an environment to fully immerse the viewer. In this instance, I have appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to investigate the inward and outward display of growth, separation and collision of the earth's crust. By carefully cutting patterns in layer after layer of wood, I am working alongside the growth of the grain while simultaneously referencing the natural world's formations and transformations."
Marie McKenzie was raised on a rural property on the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri, where she developed an appreciation for the natural environment. After a recent trip to the Southwest and viewing the red rock of Sedona, Arizona as well as the Grand Canyon, her work was influenced by the desert skyline and the layers of sediment and erosion found in rock formations. Since receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting in 2009 from the University of Kansas, McKenzie has been working exclusively with wood and has exhibited in numerous galleries, non profit venues and flash spaces in Missouri, Kansas and Colorado.
McKenzie's process is centered at Seed Co. Studios. a shared artist collective and event space based in Lawrence, Kansas.
Opening Reception on December 6th from 6:00-10:00p.m.