Hybrids of Art and Science: Work about loss - collections and perserving living things: The work of Dianne Kornberg

This piece - I saw it and it stopped me dead in deleting e-mails. This is work i WISH i created!

India Tiger 21
Dianne Kornberg
Carbon Ink Print
12x15"
Edition of 15
Copyright ©2008
image taken from: http://dianekornberg.com/Portfolio.cfm?nK=6624&nL=1&nS=0

Dianne Kornberg, India Tiger 16, 2009, pigment ink print on rag paper, 13 x 10 inches

"Dianne Kornberg's India Tigers is a recent digital printing of a collection of austere
photographs of moths and butterflies from India, preserved in folded, triangular
paper wrappings. Kornberg is known for her rigorous observations of the natural world,
expressed as scientific photography of reserved animal and plant specimens. These
photographs attempt to capture the elusive, fleeting elements of life and science. India
Tigers also celebrates the launch of Kornberg's most recent artist book, published by Franklin,
Beedle & Associates, with essays by Clint Willour and Kim Stafford. A book launch will be held
Friday, November 6th, from 6-8 pm.

Dianne Kornberg received her MFA from Indiana University in 1970, and first exhibited her
work at the Elizabeth Leach Gallery in 1993. Her work is included in the collections of the Art
Museum at Princeton University, the International Center for Photography, the Seattle Art
Museum and the Portland Art Museum. "
Taken from the ELIZABETH LEACH GALLERY
Portland, Oregon 97209
www.elizabethleach.com

Raven Skull
Gelatin-Silver Print
34x20"
Edition of 12
Copyright (c) 1993 --> Image taken from: http://dianekornberg.com/Portfolio.cfm?nK=6199&nL=1&nS=0

Here is her eloquent Artist's Statement from her website: http://dianekornberg.com/

"Over the years I have been exploring the range of ways in which narrative, as well as the elusive, mysterious, or ephemeral elements that are inherent in the natural world can be visually expressed. My work is informed by my background in science, my training as a painter and twenty-five years of photographing. For the past fifteen years the primary subjects of my work have been biological and botanical specimens collected for scientific study in laboratory settings. In 2000 I began digital printmaking—for me, a hybrid medium of painting, printmaking and photography that allows me to combine the attributes of graphic media with photographic rendering.

In the 1980’s I worked primarily with found objects that had been transformed by natural processes, often adding paint, clay, and other graphic materials in the constructions. In 1990 I began applying these processes to biological specimens from college laboratories. I have used collected bones, insects, animals, and plants. Although the specimens are preserved, they also signify a transience that takes on particular meaning for me as habitat for beautiful and wild living things is depleted.

I find these preserved specimens extraordinary. They carry metaphoric and aesthetic content that I try to represent. While their purpose is to provide evidence of species and material for scientific research, a visual elegance underlies the erosions of time and use. Primarily, it is this that I am after. I find myself returning to life forms and processes as a way to address the resonance between the structural complexity through which nature encodes and renews itself and the metaphors we reach for to make sense of our own lives."

Of Course - I can't wait to see more images - so here they are!
O.k. Science and Art fans - commence geeking out right NOW!

Cartwheel 1

Dianne Kornberg
Toned Gelatin-Silver Print
40x50"
Edition of 4
Copyright ©1995 --> Taken from : http://dianekornberg.com/portfolio.cfm?nK=6244&nS=0&nL=1

Cartwheel 6

Dianne Kornberg
Toned Gelatin-Silver Print
40x50"
Edition of 4
Copyright ©1995 image taken from --> http://dianekornberg.com/portfolio.cfm?nK=6244&nS=0&nL=1

Porphyra
Diane Kornberg
Pigment Print
24x32"
Edition of 15
Copyright ©2005 image taken from: http://dianekornberg.com/portfolio.cfm?nK=6250&nS=9&i=70159

Coho

Dianne Kornberg
Toned Gelatin-Silver Print
24x20"
Edition of 3
Copyright ©1989

image taken from --> http://dianekornberg.com/portfolio.cfm?nK=6242&nS=0&i=71111

Twelve Cats
Dianne Kornberg
Toned Gelatin-Silver Print
40x50"
Edition of 6
Copyright ©1992

Image taken from: http://dianekornberg.com/portfolio.cfm?nK=6242&nS=0&i=71111

Jack-in-the-Box 1
Dianne Kornberg
Toned Gelatin-Silver Print
20x24"
Edition of 3
Copyright ©1996 ---> Image taken from her site at: http://dianekornberg.com/portfolio.cfm?nK=6245&nS=0&nL=1

Insecta 8
Dianne Kornberg
Toned Gelatin-Silver Print
40x32"
Edition of 2
Copyright ©1997
image taken from: http://dianekornberg.com/portfolio.cfm?nK=6246&nS=0&i=71079

nsecta 5

Toned Gelatin-Silver Print
Dianne Kornberg
40x32"
Edition of 1
Copyright ©1997
image taken from her site: http://dianekornberg.com/portfolio.cfm?nK=6246&nS=0&i=71079

Celebration 4
Diane Kornberg
Pigment Print
24x34"
Edition of 15
Copyright ©2004 --> image taken from: http://dianekornberg.com/Portfolio.cfm?nK=6204&nL=1&nS=9

In my own work - I was trying to do something similar with the "Settled In" series - but I think this is far better. The images, the thought, I don't know - I'm just in Awe.