Syracuse University

News Archive


Light Work to showcase art, language, earth

March 11, 2004


Anisha Joseph








With a March 15 opening, Light Work's latest exhibition, "EarthWords," will bring the intricate natural images of photographer Judy Natal to Syracuse University. The show will run through June 30 at 316 Waverly Ave., with a free, public opening reception to be held April 1 from 6-8 p.m.

Natal is known for her images of archaeological ruins, and creation of "parallel relationships between archaeology and photography." With the inspiration of writings by sculptor Robert Smithson, Natal says she "began to envision texts in the earth much like the archaeological fragments that I had been photographing." With this vision, Natal made the images for "EarthWords" while on an artist's residency at Joshua Tree National Park in California, making more than 200 prints of landscape and archaeological details in the process. She has since extended her study of the parallels between language, art and the Earth to Italy and France.

Judy Natal lives in Chicago and participated in Light Work's Artist-in-Residence program in August 2002. She has an extensive resume of solo and group exhibitions, published works and lectures. Her work is part of several private collections, including the Polaroid Collection in Massachusetts and the Museum of Art in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

For more information, call 443-1300 or visit http://www.lightwork.org.