Marguerita Hagan

Philadelphia, U.SA — Oceano mas cercano:  Northern Atlantic
Older Adult (50 and over)

Sobre la obra de arte

Interdependence: ceramic sculpture & animated video installation, 33'w x 15'h created for Rising Tides: Contemporary Art & the Ecology of Water Exhibit curated by Laura Turner Igoe at the Michener Art Museum. This clip also spans my abstract ceramic sculpture in the exhibit inspired by spawning female brain coral, deep sea coral and microscopic marine primary producers like diatoms and radiolarians.

A projection of Earth illuminating the ceramic flowing with ocean currents and a marine milky way, offer a big picture and the interconnectedness of life. The initial video sequence is accompanied by the sound of space fading into a constant heartbeat of our planet’s blue heart, the ocean. The most recognized photograph in the world, The Blue Marble, captured in 1972 by the astronauts of Apollo 17 became the symbol of Earth Day and today honors this 50th anniversary.

A mother and calf humpback whale serenade as the lens and viewer plunge into the sea. Sculptures pulse and fade, creating reverberating ripples across the gallery wall.

Murmuring plankton blooms immerse the sea and ceramic works in green to emphasize the one-cell organisms that provide over 50% of Earth’s oxygen. Hagan plays with scale and the diversity of marine ecosystems, from microscopic to massive organisms like coral and the blue whale.

Interdependence emphasizes the wonder and critically fragile state of our planet as a result of climate change from human damages. Hagan magnifies what is invisible to most, although its well-being is deeply intertwined with our own. She advocates for responsibility for our impact and relationship to the environment as if our lives depend on it, because they do. If colonies of microscopic organisms have supported the entire planet for millions of years, imagine what we can achieve together.

Sobre el/la artista

Marguerita Hagan is a ceramic sculptor based in Philadelphia. She is an advocate for the thriving of all life in mutually sustainable communities and environments. The concept of interdependence plays throughout her sculpture, teaching and community arts.

Throughout her career, Hagan has brought to light the beauty and engineering of our planet’s diverse ecosystems and our powerful role as stewards. At this climacteric time of change, her work focuses on the largest and essential element on earth, the ocean from its micro to macro scale. The intricate ceramic forms shine light on the wonder and respect for the fragile, diverse life of the sea with which our lives are intrinsically linked. Hagan’s practice is an ongoing discovery, magnifying our awareness, reciprocal responsibility and protection of each other and our planet.

She received her MFA from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and her BFA in Ceramics at James Madison University. Her projects include collaborations with artists, scientists and community, environmental art-science residencies, lectures and exhibits nationally and internationally.
http://margueritahagan.com
https://www.instagram.com/marguerita