Raina Belleau – Art Criticism

Enchanted Forest by Raina Bellaeu

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”.

Walking Through a Corrupt World of Fantasy

by Natalie Marshall

“Enchanted Forest Fire” by Raina Belleau takes place in the Dedo Maranville Gallery and brings to attention the climate crisis perpetrated by humans and how it affects every living thing. It allows the audience to experience the chaos unfolding before them when entering the exhibit. She wanted to express how people disregard nature and leave environmental issues on the back burner. There is an assortment of different animal sculptures with a touch of fake characteristics which help emphasize a fantasy feeling for the audience and according to Belleau’s artist statement, she wanted to give off a “Disneyfied version of the debauchery” (Belleau) throughout this exhibit. There are also different wooden boards placed throughout the exhibit that have different nonchalant sayings such as “It’s Fine” or “It’s been worse” which adds to the disregard for the world of nature by humans.

Look Further Into the Fire

by LaKota Franklin-Cain

Wooden brown sign. Reads "fire danger TODAY!" "I don't want to talk about it" on an orange board that is incased in the brown sign. "Prevent wildfires" at the bottom of the brown sign. — Belleau, “Fire Danger”, 2021, Plywood, Paint

Upon entering the exhibition, “Enchanted Forest Fire” by the artist, Raina Belleau, the viewers are immediately shown a big sign that bears a resemblance to common national park signs that typically indicates the rise in risk of a forest fire. The viewer might assume this will be another innocent exhibit that goes on about the dangers of forest fires or what-not. However, the second you pass the sign, you see the true distress of the exhibition.