Phoenix Tillman, Arts and Entertainment Editor
Blue jeans frame a unique wilderness as bird calls echo through the contemplative quiet of The University Art Gallery (UAG). This new exhibit, Indigo Hallow, is a work of brilliance, cultivating an immersive experience that invites the viewer to engage in a new way with the art. It engages visual, auditory and textural senses that bring to life an entire atmosphere. Indigo Hallow is on display from Aug 27 through Oct 15. This inventive work of art is not merely to be admired from a distance but to be engaged with and explored.
The artist behind this stunning display is named Baggs McKelvey. McKelvey graduated from the University of Georgia with a BFA in painting, got her MFA at the University of Carbondale, and is the current Assistant Art Professor at Chattanooga State Community College. Her work has been featured in AVA in Chattanooga, the Creative Discovery Museum, the Hunter Museum of American Art and many other places. She specializes in creating large-scale installations using a variety of materials, from plastic cars to denim. Her artwork is heavily inspired by the landscape of the surrounding area. The placement of the denim structures against the walls is structured after aerial maps of the landscape.
McKelvey’s structures have long strips of denim tied to each other, connecting the floor, walls and ceiling like they are the tendons holding the building together. She expresses how versatile denim is, in use and meaning. It holds significance in history, whether that be race and gender equality or ecological concerns of the present day. The process of creation includes cutting the long strips of denim and tying them together, pushing the boundaries of fibre arts.
Indigo Hallow was inspired by the land and environment of Shakerag Hallow. Upon entry, you are greeted by a large denim bird, frozen mid call. As you progress through the exhibit, tall denim strips extend far above, tracing a winding path that is reminiscent of the many trails on the Domain. Hidden beneath this large structure is a waterfall of jean scraps. In the background play the gentle melodies of the forest; bird songs and the occasional bug sounds.
McKelvey’s art speaks to many things, but it truly sings the praises of nature and creativity. It pushes the boundaries between art and viewer, and creates a holistic experience in which we are encouraged to think, wonder and enjoy the beauty that is all around us.