Corrie Francis Parks
freeze/thaw
A meditative moment in the throes of climate anxiety
Exhibition Opening: Wednesday, 19 April, 18:30 @ Raum-D quartier 21 / MQ
Animator Corrie Francis Parks investigates themes of human individuality and significance through a geological lens, manipulating time and scale to evoke the illusion of life. Using sand collected from the base of Austrian glaciers and water from the Donaukanal, her installation in the Asifakeil offers a connection to Deep Time through materiality, scale, and movement.
freeze/thaw is inspired by rock glaciers, an essential and largely unknown part of alpine environments. Rock glaciers are hidden ice caches protected from warming temperatures by a blanket of rock meters thick. Due to the seasonal freeze-thaw cycle, these massive rock piles also creep slowly forward, creating striking ripples and furrows in their form. Though they have stronger defenses than ice glaciers, rock glaciers are also receding due to climate change. Austria is home to 5769 rock glaciers, but only 2309 still contain ice and feed their hydrological catchments. The viewer is encouraged to pause and sync their breath with the miniature rock glaciers, wrapped cozily to protect them from the urban environment, and experiencing a brief connection with Deep Time as an antidote to climate anxiety.
Artist Statement and video: http://www.corrieparks.com/freeze-thaw.html
Corrie Francis Parks
Animator Corrie Francis Parks investigates themes of human individuality and significance through a geological lens, manipulating time and scale to evoke the illusion of life. She is an Associate Professor of Visual Arts at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and author of the book, Fluid Frames: Animating Under the Camera with Sand, Clay, Paint and Pixels.