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BEGIN:VEVENT
CATEGORIES:College of Visual and Performing Arts,Lectures and Seminars,Thes
is/Dissertations
DESCRIPTION:Advisor: Elena Peteva Subject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defen
se by: Maya August Palmer Topic: Microlandscapes and the Ordinary: An Expl
oration in Space and Belonging Committee: Elena Peteva, Serra Victoria Fel
ls, Suzy Schireson, Jess Worby Date: May 1, 2026 Time: 2:00 PM Location: N
ew Bedford Art Museum Abstract Due to the evolution and expansion of human
society and infrastructure, the ecosystem where the human and non-human r
eside has become a novel, constantly shifting landscape. This thesis appro
aches painting as an ecological encounter at ground level, where insects,
soil, plant matter, and human discard gather in quiet, unplanned relations
hips. Informed by a background in biology and neuroscience, the work recon
textualizes traditions of scientific illustration, still life, and Dutch t
rompe l’oeil to attend to interaction, decay, and the extended life cycl
es of objects beyond human intention or use. Rendered on translucent Dura-
Lar plastic and placed directly on the floor, the paintings inhabit the vi
ewer’s space rather than remaining distant, asking for bodily awareness,
patience, and care. These constructed micro-worlds depict semi-urban ecos
ystems in which organic and inorganic matter coexist without hierarchy, gr
anting insects, trash, soil, and infrastructure a shared dignity and agenc
y. Influenced by Object-Oriented Ontology and materialist philosophy, the
work resists anthropocentric narratives in favor of networks of relation,
material persistence, and recontextualization over time. Contemporary arti
st inspirations include Ellen Altfest, Josephine Halvorson, and Antonio Lo
pez Garcia. Through meticulous rendering, site-responsive placement, and t
he subtle uncanniness of simulation, this body of work invites viewers to
slow down, crouch close, and encounter the overlooked not as symbol or met
aphor, but as a living presence within contemporary ecological landscapes.
\nEvent page: /events/cms/master-of-fine-arts-thesis
-defense-by-maya-august-palmer.php
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Advisor: Elena Peteva
\nS
ubject: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by: Maya August Palmer
\n
Topic: Microlandscapes and the Ordinary: An Exploration in Space and Belon
ging
\nCommittee: Elena Peteva\, Serra Victoria Fells\, Suzy Schires
on\, Jess Worby
\nDate: May 1\, 2026
\nTime: 2:00 PM
\nL
ocation: New Bedford Art Museum
\nAbstract
\nDue to the evolut
ion and expansion of human society and infrastructure\, the ecosystem wher
e the human and non-human reside has become a novel\, constantly shifting
landscape. This thesis approaches painting as an ecological encounter at g
round level\, where insects\, soil\, plant matter\, and human discard gath
er in quiet\, unplanned relationships. Informed by a background in biology
and neuroscience\, the work recontextualizes traditions of scientific ill
ustration\, still life\, and Dutch trompe l’oeil to attend to interactio
n\, decay\, and the extended life cycles of objects beyond human intention
or use. Rendered on translucent Dura-Lar plastic and placed directly on t
he floor\, the paintings inhabit the viewer’s space rather than remainin
g distant\, asking for bodily awareness\, patience\, and care. These const
ructed micro-worlds depict semi-urban ecosystems in which organic and inor
ganic matter coexist without hierarchy\, granting insects\, trash\, soil\,
and infrastructure a shared dignity and agency. Influenced by Object-Orie
nted Ontology and materialist philosophy\, the work resists anthropocentri
c narratives in favor of networks of relation\, material persistence\, and
recontextualization over time. Contemporary artist inspirations include E
llen Altfest\, Josephine Halvorson\, and Antonio Lopez Garcia. Through met
iculous rendering\, site-responsive placement\, and the subtle uncanniness
of simulation\, this body of work invites viewers to slow down\, crouch c
lose\, and encounter the overlooked not as symbol or metaphor\, but as a l
iving presence within contemporary ecological landscapes.
Event page
: /events/cms/master-
of-fine-arts-thesis-defense-by-maya-august-palmer.php
DTSTAMP:20260425T233126
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260501T150000
LOCATION:New Bedford Art Museum
SUMMARY;LANGUAGE=en-us:Master of Fine Arts Thesis Defense by Maya August Pa
lmer
UID:2286dd2d33eaa11baf94373ff9aa04b6@www.umassd.edu
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