From staff reports
The (In)disposable Art of Kirkland Smith will be on view Jan. 14, 2023 through July 15, 2023 at The Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage in Ridgeland.
The art installation is a playful collection of assemblages. Drawing on her love of realism and portraiture, Smith creates 3-dimensional works that speak to environmental responsibility in a fresh, evocative way.
For example, to portray the problem of overconsumption and its effects on society, she uses everyday disposable objects as her medium rather than the subject of her work. The artist hopes to spark an awareness of consumer habits and attitudes, driving home the message that while what we throw away says much about who we are, what we choose to cherish and protect says more in the end.
“As people are thinking about resolutions and positive changes, the new year is an ideal time for us to bring this meaningful exhibit to our community. Although it’s fun and full of surprises, it will give visitors a lot to consider,” Morris Center Executive Director Tamara Herring said in a news release.
Smith is a classical painter who began creating collage-style pieces of post-consumer waste almost by accident. She was searching for an innovative way to communicate the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling for her entry in an environmental landscape contest. Her solution was to use waste as her “paint.”
Born in Mt. Pleasant, her lifelong dream was to be an artist. She resides with her husband and four children in Columbia, where she takes commissions for assemblage pieces and teaches drawing and painting to children.
The Morris Center is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit www.morrisheritagecenter.org.
