ROB EVANS
Insects and other Flora, Fauna
"If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos" E. O. Wilson
The Lure, graphite on museum board, 1993, 14.5 x 17.5 inches
Collection of Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA (link)
Raised by two scientist parents, Evans has had a lifetime interest in studying and collecting flora, fauna, rocks, minerals, fossils and other artifacts from the natural realm. Evans' particular fascination with insects dates back to childhood adventures: collecting large silk moths attracted to the outdoor lamps at night, searching for beetles and other creatures under overturned rocks, and capturing "pet" praying mantises from the bushes of his suburban home. Evans is keenly aware of the current rapid collapse of insect and bird species populations around the globe, suggesting they could vanish within a century. With this imminent peril in mind, in addition to being captivated by the intricate architecture of their exoskeletons and diverse range of color and patterning, Evans also utilizes insect imagery to mine potent artistic metaphor. Using a variety of formats, including multi-panel narratives, Evans explores and confronts such issues as environmental collapse, the ephemeral nature of things, metamorphosis and change, and the threat of human activity on a fragile ecosystem. In addition to insects, Evans also examines birds, plants, rocks and other natural artifacts through a similar lens.
Study for "Predator", graphite on museum board, 1996, 12 x 21 inches
Private collection, Kensington, MD
Insects
Flight Pattern II, oil on panel, 2012, 36 x 55 inches
Collection of Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA
Above and Beneath, mixed media over digitally manipulated pigment print, 2004, 27 x 19 inches
Collection of Roundtop Trust
Migration, mixed media on paper, 1997, 20 x 27.75 inches
Private collection (on long term loan to Susquehanna National Heritage Area)
Outer Banks
Outer Banks
Outer Banks
Interiors
Figurative,
Still Life and Narrative Works
Based on everyday life experiences and rituals, natural artifacts and objects of personal significance, and the artist's family life, these works are presented in a variety of media and formats including shaped panels, triptychs and altarpieces. Utilizing non-linear narratives and unconventional metaphor, they transform the commonplace into universal expressive commentary on social, environmental and philosophical issues, such as climate change, the cycles of life, death, growth and decay, parenthood, and the passage of time.
Elizabeth Quinn Sleeping, 6 color lithograph drawn on one stone
and five plates, 2005, 10.3 x 10 inches, edition of 70 plus 10 artist proofs
Numerous collections including Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC;
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Library of Congress, etc. (link)
Study for "Refuge," graphite on museum board, 1996, 12 x 13 inches,
Private collection, Berlin, Germany
