The Lyon College Kresge Gallery will showcase the work of ceramic artist Brandy Green-Russell, who uses clay to trap, release and process memories, from Monday, March 20, through Friday, April 7, in the historic Alphin Humanities Building on the Lyon College campus, 2300Highland Rd., Batesville. There will be a reception and artist talk on Thursday, April 6, from 5-6:30 p.m. in the gallery. The event is free and open to the public. Originally from rural Missouri, Brandy Green-Rus-sell began working with clay during her undergraduate studies at College of the Ozarks. Working with ceramics reminded her of the exploration she experienced playing in the natural forming clay on her family’s farm. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Texas Tech University in May 2021 and relocated to Clarksville, Arkansas, as assistant professor of art at the University of the Ozarks.“ Clay is known for having a form of ‘memory’ of its own. I use this ‘memory’ that is disassociated from a form of consciousness as a metaphor for our own perceptions of memory. Drawing inspiration from neurophilosophy, I have come to understand that memories are incredibly faulty, emotion-ally charged and continuously change; and yet, we form our understanding and perceptions such as identity and ethics based on our memories,” Green-Russell said. “Researching memory formation and recall naturally led me to sleep and dreaming as these processes are intricately connected. Memories are sorted, filed or culled out during sleep. A memory is formed through the connection of neurons, and those pathways are formed when your brain decides that neuron contains relevant information. This is one way in which the physical body works without our cognitive consent. During the memory forming stage of sleep, the rational frontal cortex is shut off while the emotional centers are still activated establishing the emotional connection with the memory. Memories can be volatile and dangerous as well as vulnerable. I seek to show this vulnerability of the human condition through my sculptures.” Kresge Gallery hours are 9a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Admission is free.
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