Barbara Arnold

Response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico April, 2010.

These paintings referred to the controlled burning on the surface of the ocean, the floating barriers to contain the spill, the containment pens used to wash oil soaked pelicans.

Response to human caused conflagrations.

Fires due to arsonists and careless campers have destroyed hundreds of acres of forests. Poor working conditions and lax safety regulations result in loss of life and property in commercial settings.

These paintings reflect reference the dwindling populations of some species of fish due to overfishing in their natural habitat.

In March of 2011, an earthquake struck the sea bed near the east of Japan, creating a tsunami. The huge waves damaged the Daaiichi nuclear power station which spilled radioactive water out of the plant, contaminating much of the city of Fukushima and the surrounding area. Such power plants should not be built in regions vulnerable to earthquakes, especially on seaside coasts where tsunamis can do devastating damage. This painting depicts the Japanese workers who braved the radioactivity and cold conditions to begin to repair the power plant.

We are currently witnessing the results of global warming on our oceans. Ice sheets are melting, sea levels are rising, and the population of native plants and animals are being challenged.

This series reflects the melting glaciers in the Arctic waters.

Kaiser Foundation commissioned work for two of their new locations in Colorado. 

THE ARTNAUTS COLLECTIVE:

The Artnauts artist collective was founded in 1996 by Dr. George Rivera, Professor of Art in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Colorado-Boulder. The collective uses the arts as a tool for addressing global issues while connecting artists from around the world. Its artists seek to exhibit in international places of contention in order to create a dialogue about the human condition.

DMZ KOREA, 2018

Liminal Space: The space between, or in-between, is a space that demarcates thresholds. Liminal space separates our common humanity. Artwork in the exhibition presents signifiers of separation in order for us to think about our personal, social and political perspectives on separation and create discussions of how they relate to issues relating to Korea.

BIHAC, BOSNIA, 2018

Hegira & Other Passages: Hegira derives from the Arabic word “hijra” meaning departure or any flight or journey to a more congenial place. Bosnia, still struggling with their passage from war to peace is currently coping with a flow of migrants through the country who are seeking safety from oppression. The Artnauts’ exhibition reflects our own interpretations of passages in American life including political, psychological, social, geographical and environmental issues.

ZAGREB, CROATIA 2018

Connections: The Artnauts explored the connections between individuals and countries. The exhibit focused on personal, psychological, community, culture, and social issues nationally and internationally. The artists addressed the positive aspects of relationships be they positive as well as consequences resulting from broken connections.

UGANDA 2019

Invictus: This exhibit is the personal interpretation of the poem, “Invictus”, by William Ernest Henley. It was Nelson Mandela’s favorite poem that he recited on many occasions while imprisoned at Robben Island Prison in South Africa. All human beings have faced adversity and must find the will power to pull through. We face that personal ways, and in other ways that involve society at the regional, state, national, or international levels. I selected the first stanzas of “Invictus” to represent in my work:

Out of the night that covers me, / Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be / For my unconquerable soul.

BOULDER, COLORADO 2021

Uncanny Times: Travels / Travails: Are these pathways through or blocks in space? Windows or walls? Planes or solids? In or out? Back or forth?

Shifting perspectives alter our ability to navigate space

Do we find opportunities or obstacles? These are uncanny times, made more challenging by COVID; where our progress is not always under our control. So, we try to find new ways to get through our times, navigating new ways.to work, to communicate, to share space, to create. We have been limited and seek ways to find new approaches to our daily journeys and work around confined regulations.