Earth Oracles
Earth Oracles
by Allison Maria Rodriguez
multi-channel immersive video installation (detail)
on view in University Gallery at UMASS Lowell, 2024
(photo by Julia Featheringill)
Artist Statement
Earth Oracles is a multi-channel immersive video installation that creates a sacred space centered around moving image portraits of various endangered species. The individual portraits merge iconography and stylistic devices of catholic prayer cards and contemporary oracle decks, using a blend of mediums including video, animation, photography, drawing and collage. Each video portrait is presented as an object of reverence and contemplation. Lighting and auditory effects are also used to create a sense of the blending of interior and exterior realms, suggesting not only a false demarcation between the two, but ultimately their interconnection. Together the portraits ask the viewer to question who it is they seek guidance from. The work urges us not only to look above or below, to the past or the future, but also to the present world around us and our fellow species, who hold an incredible amount of wisdom and knowledge that is often overlooked.
This project has been supported in part by a grant from the Artist’s Trust Resource.
(image above is also a detail from solo exhibition at University Gallery, 2024, photo by Julia Featheringill)
“Earth Oracles”
video installation by Allison Maria Rodriguez, 2024
at University Gallery at UMASS Lowell
on view Jan 31 – Mar 22, 2024
(video documentation by Sue Murad)
video stills (2) from Earth Oracles multi-channel immersive video installation project
by Allison Maria Rodriguez
Earth Oracles
by Allison Maria Rodriguez
multi-channel immersive video installation
documentation from premiere version of project
Fountain Street Gallery, Nov. 2 – 27, 2022
(documentation video by Sue Murad)
Earth Oracles
solo exhibition on view
Digital Arts Studios, Belfast, Northern Ireland
July – August 2023
Earth Oracles has been on view as unique, site-responsive iterations of the project in the following exhibitions:
– Earth Oracles. solo exhibition in University Gallery at University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA. January 31 – March 22, 2024
– Earth Oracles. solo exhibition at Digital Arts Studios, Belfast, Northern Ireland. July 6 – August 18, 2023
– SYNERGY. (2-person exhibition with Shaun Clarke) at Fountain Street Gallery, Boston, MA. November 2 – 27, 2022