Grime and Punishment

Famed tax resister and naturalist Henry David Thoreau once said, “Blessed are they who never read a newspaper, for they shall see Nature, and, through her, God.” Oops. Too late for that. However, you can redeem yourself in His eyes by checking out Carrie Marill’s “Dirty Birdy” exhibit. Marill, a prodigiously talented Arizona artist whose paintings of native birds recall the exacting precision of a naturalist, raises questions about the construction of environment and our often poisonous intersection with the natural world. The titular “dirty birdies,” most of which are recognizable to Phoenicians, perch upon trash, literally — the monochromatic globs under their feet contain tracings of Styrofoam pieces that Marill collected near her home. Admission is free; proceeds from sales benefit the Audubon Society.
Sept. 17-Oct. 14, 2007