In her artistic practice, Dagmar Nickerson embarks on a journey through time, exploring the intricate dialogue between fossils, preservation, and the narrative of Earth’s history. Each work is a visceral meditation on the remnants of life from eons past—an invitation to reflect on the delicate balance between existence and extinction. Through her chosen medium of encaustics, she engages directly with the elemental forces of fire and heat, mirroring the natural processes that have preserved these ancient echoes of life.
Fossils are not merely remnants; they are storytellers, whispering secrets of ecosystems long gone, climates that have shifted, and organisms that have thrived and perished. They are our tangible connection to the deep history of our planet, revealing the rhythms of evolution and the consequences of change. In the layers of wax that she builds upon the canvas, she finds a powerful metaphor for these geological and biological layers of time. Each application is a tribute to the transformative power of heat, much like the geological forces that forge and fracture the Earth.
The translucent qualities of encaustic allow me to encapsulate the essence of these ancient beings while honoring their fragility. As she manipulates the wax, melting and molding it into organic forms, she pays homage to the cycles of life and decay—reminding us that we, too, are part of this continuum. The interplay of light and shadow within the layers serves as a reflection on our place in the cosmos; just as fossils span millions of years, our lives and actions ripple through time, contributing to a story larger than ourselves. In this body of work, Dagmar aims to capture the beauty and complexity of preservation, highlighting the richness of the past while urging contemplation of our future. Each layer of wax stands as a reminder of the many stories hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered. Her creative process becomes a ritual of recognition, a celebration of those who have come before us, and an exploration of the connectedness of all life.
Through her art, Dagmar invites viewers to engage with the echoes of Earth’s history, to appreciate the intricate details that define our existence, and to honor the layers of time that shape our understanding of the universe. Let us reflect upon these remnants of life, recognizing the importance of preservation in our quest to understand—and ultimately, to cherish—our place within the cosmos.
Phyllis Rider is an accomplished artist of many mediums of expression. Experiencing seeing glaciers for the first time on a recent trip to South America, Phyllis decided this would be her next focus of creative works. She challenged herself by creating new works with a variety of mediums all relating to her experience of seeing glaciers with their magnificent power and beauty. Acrylic paintings, solar relief etchings, photos, monotypes and sculptures all relating to her travel experience. She found this a perfect way of digesting such an overwhelming experience.