Cedar Breaks Color 2015

Editor: So, this is Erin Hanson's "Cedar Breaks Color," from 2015. It's an acrylic plein-air painting of, well, trees. The colours are just so vibrant; it almost feels Fauvist. What do you see in this piece, beyond the immediately obvious landscape? Curator: Well, beyond the visually striking, almost aggressive, colour palette, I see a contemporary revisiting of Impressionistic and Expressionistic traditions. But to what end? Hanson isn't simply replicating a style; she's actively engaging with the historical context of landscape painting, a genre often associated with romantic nationalism and the taming of the wilderness. Editor: Taming? Curator: Yes, consider the history. Landscape paintings historically served to visually stake claim on territory, often at the expense of Indigenous populations. How does Hanson's vibrant, almost feverish depiction challenge or reinforce that colonial gaze? The intensely saturated colours and textured brushstrokes, reminiscent of Van Gogh, convey an emotionality that pulls us in. Editor: So, you're suggesting the bright colors and almost chaotic brushstrokes hint at something more than just a pretty scene? That there might be an implied critique of how we see and represent nature? Curator: Precisely! Is she glorifying the landscape, or is she asking us to question our relationship with it? To see it not just as a resource, but as a dynamic, complex entity? This location, Cedar Breaks, is not without its own history. Considering its unique geographical formations and place, what dialogues about geological formations and time might Hanson be provoking? Editor: Wow, I hadn't thought about any of that. I was just enjoying the colours! Curator: And that’s perfectly valid! Art functions on many levels. But engaging with its historical and social context can enrich our understanding and deepen our appreciation, no? I think this piece pushes us to reflect on our own positionality within the landscape, both literally and figuratively. Editor: I definitely have a lot more to consider when I look at this piece now. Curator: And I’m keen to visit Cedar Breaks!