Title

Our Mother Never Asked for This

Author

Casey CataldoFollow

Date of Award

Summer 6-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MFA - Master of Fine Arts

Department

Fine Arts

First Advisor

Deb Todd Wheeler

Second Advisor

Oliver Wasow

Abstract

Abstract

Our Mother Never Asked for This, is a series of artworks consisting of paintings, sculptures, installations, and fiber art. The aim of the work is to capture the colors and emotion that I have encountered in my time outdoors.

My work examines a human connection with nature through the use of naturally derived materials used to create pigments, and recycled linen. In the age of Anthropocene and the ever present advancement of technology, and consumerism, my work looks at how these “advancements” have changed my relationship to the natural world. I use the context of art to explore the bigger issues of humankind's relationship to nature, and my own. World renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy once said, “We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say we have lost our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves.” In this paper I discuss developing connection to what grows around me and how I came to rediscover the very nature of my artistic practice.

Recommended Citation

Cataldo, Casey, "Our Mother Never Asked for This" (2021). MFA in Visual Arts Theses. 12.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/mfa_visual_theses/12