Comparing and Contrasting

You can arrive at your own conclusions and decide if the line blurs between animal and human behavior, between the raw and refined at the mixed-media exhibit “Feral Nature.”

At the University of Texas at Dallas Visual Arts Building, 2601 N. Floyd Road in Richardson, TX through Sept. 27th the free event has hours of Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday 9-6.

The show, which started Aug. 25th, looks at the symbolism of the animal body by incorporating various works from artists, depicting that humans and these creatures aren’t so easily set up as opposites.

Two of the artists, Will Rogan and Jenny Schleif use a human body isolated, resulting in uncivilized behavior. Thomas Muller, Clayton Hurt, and John Byrd use animals as metaphor in the exhibit, as well.

The show also explores animals’ roles in fairy tales and pop culture. Artwork ranges from drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture to video. Scale, color, and context in a tense analysis are a feature of the exhibit.

Curator Margaret Meehan, said in a statement that the exhibit will push visitors to examine animals’ roles and how humans relate to animals.

For instance, animals and humans share a tendency of being in mobs though the cultural gaps can slip as to what’s civilized, says Meehan.

The University, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano, and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor �® enrolls nearly 14,500 students, according to research.

For more information on the exhibit, go to ah.utdallas.edu.