The Sault Ste. Marie Museum will host the opening reception for "A Fragile Beauty," a compelling new exhibition featuring the collaborative works of three renowned artists: Gordon Burke, Michael Burtch, and Annie King. The opening event will take place on November 6 at 6:30 p.m., running until 9:30 p.m. at the museum located at 690 Queen Street East.
This thought-provoking exhibition presents a diverse collection of artistic mediums, including sculpture and painting, multimedia works, ceramics, and natural specimens. The three established artists have come together to explore themes centered around butterflies, moths, and small birds, using these delicate creatures as powerful symbols for broader environmental and existential concerns.
Rather than falling into the trap of superficial beauty that these subjects often inspire in popular culture, Burke, Burtch, and King have delved deeper into more profound themes. Their works investigate the existential threats facing not only their chosen subjects in a microcosmic sense, but also all of humanity and the planet itself in a macrocosmic perspective. The exhibition thoughtfully balances these serious concerns with a celebration of nature's inherent wonder.
The artists explore the instinctive drives that inform the behavior of all life at deeply unconscious levels. Their works capture the remarkable natural phenomena such as the metamorphosis and migration cycles of monarch butterflies, the mysterious attraction of moths to light, the collective murmuration patterns of starlings, and the dazzling color patterns and luminescence found in butterflies, moths, and birds.
Michael Burtch's sculptural works create a striking visual dialogue between human form and butterfly wings, powerfully suggesting the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living creatures. His sculptures are crafted in high relief and designed to be wall-mounted, creating an immersive viewing experience that draws visitors into contemplation of these relationships.
Annie King's artistic exploration focuses on the eternal cycles of life, death, and rebirth through her innovative sculpted collages and crystal-clear starling sculptures. Each of her starling pieces is individually cast and suspended from above, allowing them to gently sway in air currents and create a dynamic, living installation that responds to the environment around it.
Gordon Burke contributes to the exhibition through his masterful ceramics that celebrate the natural beauty of butterflies and their life cycles. His work is complemented by an impressive butterfly collection that represents specimens from around the globe, providing visitors with both artistic interpretation and scientific documentation of these remarkable creatures. The combination of his artistic ceramics with actual specimens creates a unique dialogue between art and nature, highlighting both the fragility and resilience of these species.
