Katie Creyts: Wilderland

This exhibition is a collection of fable-like scenes. Objects, characters, and places are constructed to highlight peculiar or stressed relationships and adaptations. These images examine the peculiar coexistence of wildlife with modern humanity. Typically fables and tales have a storyline that evokes a mora; a metaphor that is charged with changing bad behavior to better behavior or understanding.

The scenes that Creyts creates are often a point departure from a familiar narrative that encourage a new way of thinking about a story. Take Never Tire for example: the viewer may recognize that the snake eating its own tale is the ancient symbol of the orobouros, which represented the infinite cycle of life and death in nature. However, the snake is wrapped around tires that appear to be abandoned. Many of Creyts’ artworks comment on environmental issues and interactions between people and nature. Nature may be excellent at rebirth, but what about products like tires?

Creyts lives on the edge of Spokane near the Latah River and Indian Canyon, the final home of Chief Spokane Garry. The land has been witness to bad behavior and suffering, and now Creyts walks the area with her dog to pick up trash that has been tossed aside. Often she will bring back objects from her excursions to draw and they serve as inspiration, or jumping off point, for her artworks. Her exhibit will include both drawings and etched window panes with fantastical subject matter. The viewer may recognize certain characters from fables or fairy tales, but a metaphor will emerge through the process of viewing.