Fresh! AiR July 1 - 30, 2013: Ellen Rogers, New York

Fresh! AiR July 1 - 30, 2013 Ellen Rogers

Demonstration by Artist-in-Residence sculptor Ellen Rogers during the Viva d'Arte Art Market and Studio ToursSaturday, July 20, 10 - 11 amCaetani Centre, 3401 Pleasant Valley RoadPresentation by Ellen RogersTuesday evening, July 30, 7 - 9 pmAllan Brooks Nature Centre Summer Sunset Speaker Series ~ meet the artist, view the new project, and take part in the presentation of recent and past works leading to this project!Caetani Cultural Centre and Allan Brooks Nature Centre PartnershipMeet Ellen Rogers from New York StateEllen Messner Rogers is a recent MFA graduate from Visual Studies Department at the University at Buffalo, as well as an alumnus of Harvard and Tufts University. Her background combines science and art, allowing Rogers to examine and critique both fields from a unique perspective. She earned her BFA at the Maine College of Art, in Portland, Maine.Her background combines science and art, allowing Rogers to examine and critique both fields from a unique perspective. Through her art practice, Rogers examines anthrozoology (human-animal relations) and visual representation of animals in the contemporary world.Prior to becoming an artist, Rogers earned her bachelor's degree at Harvard and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Tufts Veterinary School. Awarded the African Wildlife Medicine and Conservation Fellowship, Rogers trained in South Africa working hands-on with elephants, lions,rhinos, hippos, giraffe, zebras and more. During this time she was filmed for the thirteen-episode documentary, The Great African Wildlife Rescue, produced by Disney and shown on Animal Planet Channel and the Disney International Channel. Rogers taught at Tufts Veterinary School and wildlife conservation medicine courses in South Africa and appeared as an "on camera expert" on the Discovery Channel TV series, Animal Face-Off.Her studio research and artwork are direct results of her fieldwork in Africa as a wildlife veterinarian. She has shown her work in Portland, Maine, upstate New York (including the Buffalo Zoo, The University at Buffalo Art Gallery, Big Orbit Gallery, and Paul Smiths College Joan Weill Library), Tennessee (Murray College), Michigan (Frederick Meijers Sculpture Garden), and Beijing, China (Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Today Gallery). Rogers also spent a year as the Artist-In-Residence at Paul Smith's College in upstate New York, and has given artist talks in the USA, Britain, and China. She now lives in New York State in the USA.Her goal for the residency is to build sculptures and installations that visually tie together the interconnectedness of people and nature. The sculptures will be displayed for the public. Rogers will present a talk to the local community that introduces her past and present artwork and her wildlife conservation history. She will donate a sculpture to the residency.Ellen is residing at the Caetani House during her residency. She is working primarily on-site at the Allan Brooks Nature Centre, and also at the Caetani Cultural Centre - please feel free to visit her on-site during their regular hours. Watch for additional programming during the month of July.

Presentation by Ellen RogersTuesday evening, July 30, 7 - 9 pmAllan Brooks Nature Centre Summer Sunset Speaker Series

Thanks to Aaron Deans and the Allan Brooks Nature Centre for providing endless studio space for Ellen Rogers and subsequent Fresh! AiR artists.We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the City of Vernon, Regional District of the North Okanagan, BC Arts Council, Province of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada, members, donors, and patrons