Martha Glowacki’s Natural History, Observations and Reflections Martha Glowacki’s Natural History | Page 32

early museums. Although I often couldn’t read the text
because I don’t know how to read Italian, French, or
German, I could appreciate the illustrations. This led to
a fascination with the development of scientific illustra-
tion, a fascination that has greatly enriched my own art
work.
At first, I was primarily interested in the aesthetic
qualities of the illustrations. I am attracted to their
visual richness, to the quality of the paper and printing,
to the ways that the illustrators often combine a literal
depiction of natural phenomena with abstraction. I
am also intrigued by the unexpected ways that many
of these illustrations mesh beauty with morbidity, or
by their odd juxtapositions of text with inscrutable
processes.
The illustrations have fueled my interest in learning
more about the history of scientific discoveries and
thought. They have influenced that way that I look at
the world around me: what I notice when I’m walking in
the woods, what I collect, and how I develop ideas and
metaphors.
The work that I have made for Martha Glowacki’s Natural
History, Reflections and Observations results from my
lifetime of direct observation and intuitive experience in
nature, enriched by the study of recorded observations
made by others.
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Martha Glowacki’s Natural History, Observations and Reflections
I am grateful to many people who have helped me to
develop this exhibition. I would like to thank Lynn
Nyhart, Robin Rider, and Micaela Sullivan-Fowler, who
have encouraged my interest in the history of science and
facilitated my research work. David Appleyard, Jim Di-
etz, and Gregory Vershbow have shared their expertise,
helping to develop the work in the show. My catalogue
essayists, Shira Brisman and Sarah Carter, have gener-
ously given their time and shared their analytical skills
by writing about my work. Finally, this show would not
have been possible without Russell Panczenko’s support.
I thank him and the Chazen staff who have worked with
me to make this show a reality.

Martha Glowacki