During our visit to the CU Art Museum, I focused my attention primarily on the first room with David Maisel's work. Maisel's work relies very heavily on man's interaction with nature. I wanted to call attention, specifically, to the pieces selected from The Lake Project. This project is investigating and re-contextualizing the effects that man is having on the environment through its attempt to re route water sources to service its cities. I think the removed scope of these landscapes are in line with the perception we may hold for God in a biblical sense. Particularly, in line with Genesis 6:7 "And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." I think his work, from a biblical lens, may be seen to represent this image of a replete earth, void of any remaining life with only remnants of man's influence as proof of its existence. I do not think this work was created intent on referencing the bible, however, I do believe that the choice to photograph these compositions from such an abstracted aerial view was an artistic choice that may nod to a view from the omnipotent. I see them as sad realizations of the damage that the collective of man can inflict on something we should revere as most holy of all, the Earth. Depending on the viewer, this "holy" reverence may refer to anything from a Biblical holiness to a Scientific holiness. I think the work is striking and bleak in the most important ways.
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