'Waste Aeon' art exhibition at Western Nevada College gallery turns trash into sculptures

Kyle Karrasch said, “I like to describe my art practice like that of a naturalist and a taxidermist. I collect discarded specimens from their resting place and carve into their carcasses, flaying their skins out into recognizable forms.” In his "Waste Aeon" exhibition for CCAI, Karrasch brought his sculptures made of trash into the gallery.

The free exhibit is open to the public September 19 — December 20, 2022, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Western Nevada College’s Bristlecone Gallery, 2201 West College Parkway, Carson City. Join CCAI for the opening reception, Friday, September 30, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Karrasch said, “To be alive means to consume and we only stop consuming once we cease to exist. What impact does our consumption have on the world? We buy many things, and the vast majority of those things have a fleeting use. They are designed that way so that we will continue to buy more. Buy, use, toss, and repeat. It is a cyclical process.

“The artifacts of our consumption are what interest me (and concern me) the most. An object’s intended use is often ephemeral, but the material is enduring. These materials are what lasts and what motivates my art practice. The process of my work begins by collecting. It then transitions into transforming the materials beyond initial recognition. The waste is treated with care and attention with each piece deconstructed by hand. Once dismantled I compose the material into three-dimensional forms intended to convey my commentary on the current state of consumerism and our environment. Through symbolism and allegory, I use these materials to comment on the impact they have on our environment as well as to highlight the value these objects still have.

“My artwork is a reminder of our waste. A reminder to think about the life of something you toss away and where it will end up. We as humans will never stop consuming, but we can be mindful of our actions. My hope is that the future monuments of humanity will not be the mountains of waste we leave behind.”

During a brief stint at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, Karrasch discovered his passion for sculpture. In pursuit of a higher understanding of sculptural theory, he earned a MFA in 2022 and a BA in art and a minor in art history in 2018, both at the University of Nevada, Reno. He lives in Reno, NV, where he creates sculptural works that provoke commentary on consumption and environmental conservation.

Josie Glassberg wrote the essay for the exhibition — available online and in the gallery. Glassberg is a freelance writer whose work has regularly appeared in Double Scoop Art News, the Reno News & Review, and Fibonacci magazine. She attended St. Olaf College for printmaking and enjoys writing about art in the West when she’s not busy with her main gig as a garden teacher.

Carlos Ramirez, a Western Nevada College Latino Leadership Academy student, provided a Spanish translation of the show’s wall text.

Western Nevada College is a component of the Nevada System of Higher Education, with campuses in Carson City, Douglas County, and Fallon. CCAI is an artist-centered nonprofit organization committed to community engagement in contemporary visual arts through exhibitions, illustrated talks, arts education programs, artist residencies, and online activities.

The Initiative is funded by the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust, Nevada Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities, John and Grace Nauman Foundation, Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, Carson City Cultural Commission, U.S. Bank Foundation, Kaplan Family Charitable Fund, Southwest Gas Corporation Foundation, Steele & Associates LLC, and CCAI sponsors and members.

For additional information, please visit CCAI’s website at www.ccainv.org.