Artist Beth Cochran stands next to one of her pieces at the Berry Center’s first art show Wednesday night.
The Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center held its first student art show Wednesday night, which is its first step to bridging the gap between arts and sciences.
Fur and Feathers: A Photography Show by Beth Cochran was the first show in the Berry Center, though it is hoping to have more in the future.
“The reason this is such a big deal is that this is the first art show the Berry Center has ever had,” Cochran said. “It’s created a new approach to accepting work that talks about science in the Berry Center.”
The Berry Center is part of the Biodiversity Institute, which is centered on research that seeks to “increase understanding of biological diversity in Wyoming and beyond,” according to the Biodiversity Institute website.
Cochran graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2012 with a degree in art and has remained in Laramie temporarily to continue working on art pieces. Cochran’s work on Wednesday mainly consisted of photos of dead animals that have been preserved.
“In my work, I am obsessed with dead and dying animals. I make work that challenges the viewer to face these images directly,” Cochran said. “This can evoke an instinctual reaction by the viewer. This reaction is similar to how people react to train wrecks; we don’t want to see, though we can’t seem to look away.”
Cochran went on to discuss her work and the power she believes it can hold over people.
“These specimens are powerful objects. Though they are no longer alive, we treat them with the authority and respect we would treat the actual animal,” she said. “These animals still hold power over us as viewers and this creates an emotional reaction from the viewer, whether it is in disgust or to admire.”
Cochran is excited about this new venture because she feels it is a new step in bringing arts and science majors together.
“I think this show is the start of bringing together new ideas and perspectives to science and art and getting students who would probably only meet on graduation day, to talk and share ideas about these subjects,” she said. “It’s the start of a great program and a lot of new ideas.”
The art show in the Berry Center was made possible by Dr. James Maley, the Vertebrae Museum Manager who has given Cochran access to his collection and taught her about specimen keeping for her show and Dr. Dorothy Tuthill who is the Berry Center’s Associate Director.
Cochran’s show will be in the Berry Center until March 12.
