Speech Story

Artist Nathan Cohen discussed his recent artwork and research about the concept of invisibility in front of a full house Thursday, September 10, in the Washington State University Fine Arts Center auditorium.

“I’m always on the look out for things I have not seen before,” Cohen said.

In his talk, “Here and There: Journeys in Space and Time,” Cohen said he has been experimenting with how to modulate light. Although he is primarily an artist, he has had substantial schooling in chemistry and physics. His work often blends art with science. Cohen teamed up with engineers and scientists to research the ability to create three dimensional spaces on a two dimensional screen.

Cohen showed the audience personal photographs of his work. The artwork features geometric figures a couple feet in diameter on a white background. Cohen explained that several cameras from different angles were used to superimpose other images, creating a look of invisibility.

“It was confusing,” said Connor McPherson, a senior fine art major who attended the presentation. “He was talking about displaying an image with another image over it. When someone walked in front of it, the image underneath would be showing.”

Cohen’s interest in the way humans perceive light led him to create another piece that wrestled with complex ideas. He explained that people see the world in fragments of light which are “stitched together by the brain.” Cohen’s exhibit displayed blinking light bulbs that the brain can detect only while the head and eyes are moving back-and-forth. As viewers scan the lights, patterns and shapes can be distinguished. The set up and research for this exhibit was “terribly frustrating” and led to a lot of “sore necks,” Cohen joked.

Cohen’s presentation marked the beginning of this school year’s Visiting Artist Lecture series, a program that brings in artists from outside the WSU community to speak to students and faculty.

“Nathan has a very distinguished career as an artist,” said Chris Watts, interim chair of the department of fine arts and one of the program’s organizers. “He represents a slightly different flavor than other artists we have coming”

WSU students made up the bulk of the audience but faculty members also took the opportunity to listen to Cohen’s ideas. Tamara Helm, a professor of fine arts, has heard Cohen speak before last week’s visit and wanted to hear him again. She said his speeches are worthwhile because he teaches people about the world.

“I’m interested in his photography, his art, his life,” she said. “He is very well-traveled. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

The program’s next speaker will lecture September 23. McPherson said he will attend future artist lectures.

“It’s rare that you get that close as an audience to an artist for free,” McPherson said. “Since I do a little bit of my own art, it’s cool seeing other artists’ ideas.”

The money for the Visiting Artist Lecture series was donated by Florence and Ed Forest.

“They bequeathed a very large sum of money for this program,” Watts said.

When asked how many more years the program will be able to thrive with the donation, Watts replied, “Probably forever.”

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Questions:

*What’s the biggest difference between your first pieces of work you created back in the 80’s and what you create now?

*A lot of your work incorporates geometric imagery. Has geometry always been an interest of yours? Why is this a recurring idea?

*What changes, if any, have you noticed in support of the arts during the recession we’ve had in the U.S.?

*I know you have had your art in galleries all over the world. What location that your art has been displayed are you most proud of?


Contacts:

Chris Watts
Interim Chair of Fine Arts Department
cjwatts@wsu.edu
509-335-8686

Tamara Helm
Fine Arts professor
509-335-8686

Connor McPherson
cmcpherson21@live.com