by Ariyana White
When you first approach this Enchanted Forest Fire exhibit by Raina Bellaeu in the Dedo Maranville Art Gallery at Valdosta State University, you are greeted by a sign saying,” “FREE DANGER TODAY” and “I DON’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT.” The Minneapolis natives solo exhibit is a gesture towards the continuous forest fires in National Parks and how the living are affected. The significance of the shape of the greeting sign calls out the sites she is referring to where the damage is being done in those parks. This was the first of many symbols hinting about the presence of human involvement being the cause of the danger in the show. Ballaeu described her show as being “Disneyfied”.
This exhibit relies on shock value with one of my favorite pieces in the show, the two white skunks having sex. These skunks are completely white with rainbow tails, which could suggest how the things humans are leaving behind allow the animals to mutate. As you walk around, the dim lights, nature’s palette such as green and brown earth tones, and an audio of the continuous crickets chirping brings us into a forest created by Bellaeu. Using all the natural colors like greens and browns you would find when going outside helps the viewer stay connected to this aspect of being in a magical forest. All the sculptures are spread out, mostly residing on the floor. Moving through the exhibit there is evidence of man being involved in the issue like No Service (2021), a cell phone made out of plywood and acrylic paint left on a patch of grass. This mechanical device can start a fire from the batteries that can combust into flames at any moment from being left behind. Self-Medicating (2021), made out of paper-mache, features a large bear in the middle of the entire room that appeared to be drunk or hungover from all of the beer cans sitting around the lawn chair. The compositions could have been arranged to appear as if a large group of people just had a picnic and left behind things that caused harm to nature. But, between the drunken bear and the two skunks having intercourse underneath the bear’s lawn chair , the animals did not try to avoid it but succumbed to the new environment around them.
Bellaeu gave great range through this entire exhibit, making this a successful exhibit. She used dark humor to bring attention to a larger issue, things comedians like to do as well. Bellaeu explained in her artist statement, “ Abandon all inhibition, go wild, live life to the fullest, watch it all unfold from as far away as possible, close your eyes and pretend nothing is happening, or laugh at the absurdity of it all…” She clearly likes to use laughter instead of crying.
Ariyana White is a senior majoring at Valdosta State University in Art Education. After graduating she plans to be a full time K-12 art teacher.