Photo Credit: Jeff Minton
Courtney Mattison
Visualizing Climate Change Through the Fragile Beauty of Marine Life
Thursday, August 10, 2023 | 6:30pm CST
Hybrid in-person + VIRTUAL EVENT
$8 MMAM Members | $12 Non-members | Free for MMAM Volunteers
Join artist and ocean advocate Courtney Mattison for a virtual presentation about her intricate and large-scale ceramic sculptural work inspired by the plight of coral reefs. Her work visualizes the effects of carbon dioxide emissions, such as coral bleaching caused by warming waters, and ocean acidification. Mattison’s work raises awareness about the threatened state of reefs due to climate change, overfishing, and chemical and plastic pollution. Few of us may feel connected to marine environments in our daily lives, but all local waters (including the Mississippi) filter into the sea and affect coral reefs thousands of miles away. Although these ecosystems are losing their battle to endure, Mattison’s message is one of hope—there is still time for some reefs to recover if we reconsider our treatment of the environment and its resources.
Courtney Mattison is currently exhibiting her work at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Courtney Mattison: Undercurrent is on view now through September 3.
Hybrid Event [In-person and virtual]
This is a hybrid of an in-person and virtual event. The artist, Courtney Mattison, will be streaming live virtually. You are welcome to register and watch the event from the comfort of your own home, or you can to come into the galleries at MMAM, and watch the talk in Courtney Mattison’s gallery, and be immersed in her work, while you listen to the artist speak about her work.
Photos of Courtney Mattison: Undercurrent, on view at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Photos by Bailey Tillman.
This project is presented by the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, with support in part from our Board of Directors, the Elizabeth Calendar King Foundation, Gundersen Medical Foundation, Winona Foundation, the Winona Community Foundation, and other generous sustaining contributions from foundations, corporations, individuals, members and volunteers.
Special thanks to our sponsors and partners, Lake and Company (Media Partner), and the Blue Heron Coffeehouse (Hospitality Partner).
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
