UW Professors Metal Artwork Featured in Casper College Gallery

The metal artwork of University of Wyoming Professor Leah Hardy is featured in the first art exhibition of the 2019-2020 school year at Casper College’s Mildred Zahradnicek Gallery this fall.

“Awakening Awareness: An Offering of Collected Insights” runs through Thursday, Oct. 3.

Hardy, who is Casper College’s Traut Visiting Artist in the visual arts department, has taught at UW since 2001 and established the university’s metalsmithing program in 2009.

“(My) newest work has been focused on insect-inspired forms,” Hardy says.

According to Hardy, those forms become “metaphors for the present human condition and also serve as an ethical inquiry into the scientific ability to genetically modify our food, alter our bodies and prolong life. Fragmented, altered with mechanical elements or recontextualized, these life forms are narratively presented to reference our fascination with mortality and desire with the underlying yearning to connect and communicate. The intended effect is for the pieces to be specimens -- beautiful, yet at times, disturbing.”

In addition to the exhibition of her intricate works, Hardy will give an artist’s talk Wednesday, Oct. 2, at noon in Room 102 and a workshop Oct. 3 from 9 a.m.-noon, both in the Goodstein Visual Arts Center at Casper College. The exhibition, artist’s talk and workshop are free and open to the public, but those wanting to attend the workshop need to RSVP by calling Valerie Innella Maiers at (307) 268-2060.

The Mildred Zahradnicek Gallery is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday in the Music Building. Both the Goodstein Visual Arts Center and the Music Building are located on the Casper College campus.