Main Content
Date of lecture: April 9,2025
Abstract
Color is one of the main ways objects are described in science and depicted in art. Over time, this has led to the development of references such as Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours, which contains a list of color names, painted color swatches, and examples of animals, plants and minerals displaying those colors. More recently, the Munsell color chart has proved invaluable in the classification of soils. Inspired by this seamless blend of science and art, “Color Mosaics: A Natural History of the New Jersey Pine Barrens” explores the spatial and temporal dynamics of the Pine Barrens using soil, water, plants and animals as material evidence. This multivalent approach enabled the creation of color “swatch” libraries, which, in turn, supported the creation of a variety of color nomenclatures and color representations that reveal the intricate interplay of objects and processes that animates this vast and immersive landscape. The resulting mosaics are visually enriched by the politics of regulatory oversight, the operations of natural phenomena, the patterns of plants and animals, shot gun shells, fire, glass and spray paint.