Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Tammy Renée Brackett: Dear Deer
Syracuse University Art Museum

Syracuse University Art Museum, Shaffer Art Building
Syracuse University, Syracuse

Curated by SUArt Galleries Associate Director and Curator of Collections David L. Prince, Brackett's recent work combines the digital and natural world to explore humans' relationship with animals. The exhibition focuses on the white-tailed deer, posing questions about population control, loss of habitat, and mortality. Presented concurrently with the exhibition "Margaret Bourke-White: Moments in History 1930-1945," this exhibition is the first in a series of presentations that celebrate women and the arts at the Syracuse University Art Galleries.

Brackett took a doe in her second season as a hunter and learned from a neighbor how to stretch and tan the hide. She then designed small light silhouettes that replicated running deer. Using computer software, Brackett multiplied the silhouettes into virtual herds, running in place on the tanned deer skin. An accompanying audio soundtrack describes the many manmade sounds heard by wildlife in the woods. Bracket's soundtrack raises the question of who, humans or deer, has a larger environmental impact.