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Talking Art with Mia Feuer

Canadian artist Mia Feuer’s solo exhibition Totems of the Anthropocene will be shown Sept 21 through Dec 29, 2019 at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA.  Described as a “research driven interdisciplinary sculptor,” her work asks us to ponder the destruction of our natural world through our exploitation of petroleum and by climate change.

Based on direct observations from diverse areas of the world including the Alberta tar sands in Canada, the Arctic Circle, and the bayous of Louisiana, Mia Feuer has created works including Rink.  In this installation, viewers can take a solo indoor skate around a black petrol rink on checked out hockey skates beneath a suspended mass of upended trees and ravens, highlighting the consequences of mining for petroleum and global warming.  The assemblage Totems of the Anthropocene – from which the exhibit title is based – consists of found objects including sleds and vessels formerly containing petroleum, intermingled with hand assembled geodes.  A collaboration with Dr. Grant Deane resulted in the creation of Mesh, in which audio of glacial sonic activity can be heard while the visitor watches indigo ink dripping onto salt casts shaped in the form of vulnerable land masses anticipated to be underwater due to climate change.

Listen to our conversation here about the inspiration for her work, why it is important for art to make us uncomfortable in order to stimulate critical thinking, and how being a parent has intensified her passion for environmental protection.

Mia Feuer will give a free lecture at the Figge Art Museum on Thurs Sept 19 at 5:30 PM about her unique, philosophical approach to her work.

Additional related artist talks include Dr. Grant Deane on Thurs Oct 3 at 6:30 PM, and Donald and Theresa Daradar of the Point-au-Chien Indian Tribe of Louisiana on Thurs Nov 7 at 6:30 PM. Dr. Deane’s program is presented in partnership with the Center for Polar Studies at Augustana College. 

The Figge is offering free admission every Thursday after 5 PM and all day on Sat Nov 23, 2019.

Mia Feuer

You can follow Mia Feuer on Instagram.

Carolyn Martin joined WVIK as a host of Talking Art in 2017. A long-time fan of NPR programming with a love of storytelling and all art forms, she is thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with creative people who beautify our community and make the Quad Cities region an even better place to live.