The Wake

Humans have always found the sea to be a mysterious force. Deep, dark and vast, the ocean has held a fascination for us since we became intelligent enough to build boats. Although the University of Minnesota is far from any ocean, the campus now has the opportunity to experience that same awe-inspiring feeling. Lurking deep within Coffman Memorial Union is the Coffman Art Gallery, which is currently featuring “Aquatic Oddities,” a new exhibition by local artist and recent U of M graduate Martha Iserman.

Looking at Iserman’s artwork, it’s apparent the artist treasures a deep fixation for the murky depths of the ocean. Martha Iserman describes herself in her artist’s statement concerning the exhibit as “a recent BFA graduated from the University of Minnesota with an odd and unsubstantiated fear/obsession of sharks and the sea.” Like other artists, she has drawn upon these fears and obsessions and created a series of ink and mixed media drawings that forces the viewer to appreciate her dark creations.

“I’ve had shark nightmares since I can remember having dreams,” Iserman says. “At certain points in my life they were as frequent as at least once a week.” Although it may seem frightening, Iserman says “It’s not really traumatic.”

The artwork itself is hauntingly beautiful. Iserman uses dark colors and tints in her drawings of regular marine animals. A sense of dread accompanies several works, especially when the sea creatures appear to be rising from the depths of the sea in an almost mystical manner, as can be seen in “Hybrid Narwhale.” The bleak, murky backgrounds in all of the drawings contrast with the almost-menacing creatures in order to bring to life a powerful sense of wonder against the white walls and the bright lights of the Coffman Art Gallery. In pieces like “Arms,” the tentacles of an octopus or squid blot out the animal itself, creating the mental image that it might not be safe to view the creature standing still.

“There’s nothing creepier than something crawling out of the water to get us,” Iserman said. “It’s terrifying and primal, and I’d like to think that despite all of our advanced technology there’s still some sense of the fantastic there.” Yet not all of Iserman’s work inside Coffman evokes fear. Some drawings, such as “Pods,” show a marine creature in a still moment, as if the viewer has stumbled upon a world mystical and foreign by simply standing and observing the artwork. There is no fear in this work, just a sense of wonder, a sense of awe and respect for nature.

“What we liked about it was that it was very, very unique,” said Amelia Maciejewski, Visual Arts Committee Chair at MPAC. MPAC, or the Minnesota Programs & Activities Council, sponsored the exhibition. “When we looked at her work it was just very compelling.” Compelling is merely one of the characteristics of the art, however. One of her best pieces, entitled “Leviathan vs Kraekan,” goes beyond compelling. The portrait lets the viewer observe a titanic battle between a whale and a giant squid, violently locked in combat somewhere between the bright blue waves of the sea and the crushing depths of the water below. As the gigantic blue whale struggles to tear off a tentacle with its teeth, the ominous red kraken attempts to entrap its opponent in a deathly grip with its tentacles. Once again, the artwork draws those who view it into a world strangely familiar and yet frightening.

“It goes back to our natural human fear of the unknown,” Iserman says, “And to me, the ocean is the last really unknown place on this planet. With recent discoveries of giant squid and prehistoric sharks featured on international news, it’s apparent that we’re still fascinated with new biological creatures.”

“Aquatic Oddities” will be featured at the Coffman Art Gallery through May 2. Admission to the public is free. All works that are featured will be available to purchase through Coffman Art Gallery. So come on down to Coffman if you want to experience the ocean blue and all its wonders. But if you do view the apparitions Iserman has created, remember one thing: Are you viewing these sea creatures, or are they viewing you?

“Water is foreign to me,” Iserman says. “We’re not supposed to be in it, as far as I’m concerned. There are large things with teeth in there that can swim a hell of a lot faster than I can.”

For more information on Martha Iserman, visit her website at www.bigredsharks.com.