"UnNaturally" Art Show at USC Gallery

Traveling show 'UnNaturally' to open at USC Fisher Gallery

'Virtual reality' takes on new meaning in 'UnNaturally'.
Featuring sculpture, photography and mixed-media installations by 15 artists who make replicas of nature, the show blurs the distinctions between natural and artificial, created and constructed.

It opens at USC Fisher Gallery Nov. 19th.

The artists included are Chris Astley, Gregory Crewdson, Jacci DenHartog, Allan deSouza, Keith Edmier, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, JasonMiddlebrook, Nicoletta Munroe, Roxy Paine, Michael Pierzynski, MarcQuinn, Michelle Segre, Alyson Shotz, Frances Whitehead and ClaraWilliams.

Lombino ú curator of exhibitions at the University Art Museum at CalState Long Beach and a graduate of USC's Museum Studies Program ú saidthe inspiration for the show came from sculptor George Stone's public art project for the Vermont/Beverly Metro Rail station in Los Angeles.

Stone replicated the rocks that were there before the city took over,and he incorporated them into the station design, Lombino said. Driving past these giant fakes every day got me thinking about ourcomplicated attitudes toward nature.

We have an ambivalent relationship with nature, Lombino said. We want to control it and live in a technologically advanced society. Yetwe also want to preserve it.

'UnNaturally' runs at USC Fisher Gallery through Jan. 17.
USC Fisher Gallery is located in Harris Hall, 823 Exposition Blvd., on USC's University Park campus. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.