DigitalCommons@Linfield

Artist Liz Obert is inspired by the practices of archaeologists who unearth artifacts, consisting of the detritus of ancient cultures, including the flora and fauna of their environment. These discards form a narrative of ancient lives. Obert uses this methodology, along with creative license, to document the present. To begin, she takes a photo of her specimens and then prints the image. Next, she uses an old typewriter to record the data containing the weather from the day and a news headline. Obert then takes a photograph of the combination of objects. After printing on an ink jet printer, she draws on top of each, creating a monotype which is run through a press to bevel the edges. The final works are displayed inside shadow boxes and arranged in a grid format.

The concept and aesthetics of this body of work are derived from Obert's fascination with scientific practices. As an artist, Obert is freed from the rigidity of the scientific method, which allows her to give these images a personal, political, and humorous inflection.