By Shelby Westinghouse, Chadron State College
CHADRON, Neb. – Point of Origin: Bridging Realities through Collage, Technology and Identity, an exhibition by Natalie Tyree, is on display in Memorial Hall’s Main Gallery now through March 11. The gallery is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The show features a mix between traditional art forms and modern digital technology including hand-printed letterpress works, collage, prints and digital media. Tyree includes two types of prints: gelli monotypes and risograph.
Gelli monotypes are one-of-a-kind prints created by applying paint to a flexible, reusable and synthetic gelatin plate then pressing paper or fabric onto it. Risograph prints are vibrant pieces made with soy-based ink and unique spot colors to create distinct and textured results.
Tyree’s digital media incorporates the techniques videography and augmented reality. Through a projector, abstract images, color and movement are displayed. Augmented reality can be viewed through a phone screen, distorting the hanging letterpress poster.
The works engage with themes like humor, irony, overconsumption, grief, loss and generational identity, particularly the millennial experience, while questioning the overwhelming flow of information from social media, daily routines and technology.
Tyree is currently an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Western Kentucky University. She graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design at the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2007 and an MFA in Graphic Design at Indiana State University in 2013.
“With a foundation in graphic design, my work initially focused on digitally manipulated imagery. Over time, I moved away from the computer, incorporating watercolors, doodles and collage to blend organic elements with the concept of the machine as a creative tool,” she said.
One of Tyree’s main goals for the exhibition is to create a conversation around generational identity and how factors such as technology, media and culture can influence the way people view themselves and others. She aims to present work that is both thought-provoking and approachable.