“Land Valuation” by Luke Watson opens…

CHANDLER, Ariz. - In his new show "Land Valuation," artist Luke Watson asks people to think differently about how land is valued. Is land important because of its beauty, resources, exploration, wildlife or history? This exhibition is on display at Vision Gallery through March 21.

Watson, a Phoenix-based artist, seeks to reevaluate the conversation around the American landscape. Within the exhibition, Watson creates encounters with nature that range from ATV tire tracks in front of looming mesas to a birdwatcher standing in a parking lot to an intimate rendering of an endangered bird. By highlighting these interactions with the outdoors, Watson begs the question, does the land need to appear untouched to be meaningful?

About the show, Watson said, "These paintings depict both physical locations and wholly fabricated landscapes as vignettes into the stories and memories that comprise my view of how value is ascribed to land. These values-the personal, cultural, material, ecological-overlap in complex and often conflicting ways. In 'Land Valuation,' I am exploring the complications of land use I experience in contemporary society."

Rather than presenting answers, Watson invites reflection: Who gets to define what nature is? What constitutes a "nature lover"? And how do our everyday choices shape the landscapes we claim to admire?

Vision Gallery is located at 10 E. Chicago St. Hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Monday and Sunday. Free admission.

Find more information on exhibitions at Vision Gallery or call 480-782-2695.

Media contact:
Jillian Nakornthap
Chandler Museum
480-782-2882