Doug DeWitt: Ground Truthing - Promises, Laments and Tipping Points

A Solo Exhibition by Doug DeWitt 

Ground Truthing—the act of confirmation through direct observation—is an exhibit of found-object sculptures inspired by immersions in the Midwest landscape. The work reflects patterns and forms in nature without denying the presence of humanity while evoking memories of specific places.

The sculptures combine weathered natural and manufactured objects in the search for visual harmony arising from advanced material decay. DeWitt says, "Although I intend these works to be beautiful, I also mean to comment on the larger relationship between contemporary culture and nature."

Doug DeWitt is a Chicago-area artist and ecologist whose multi-disciplinary work is inspired by natural history and Midwest landscapes. Originally from northwestern Ohio, DeWitt spent many childhood hours exploring his grandparents’ farm buildings and catching crawdads in the creek near his home. He received a BFA in graphic design from Bowling Green State University in 1985, then moved to New England to experience the coastal landscape while working in Boston. Returning to the Midwest, DeWitt earned an MA in Studio Arts from Illinois State University in 1990. He designed exhibits featuring natural history, wildlife and anthropology at the Field Museum of Natural History and John G. Shedd Aquarium, both in Chicago, where his love of nature, science and history merged with his art. DeWitt exhibits his artwork throughout the Chicago region and beyond. He is currently an ecologist and land manager with Tallgrass Restoration, LLC, a private firm that restores native prairies, woodlands and wetlands, a profession that continues to inspire his art.

Kavanagh Gallery 

37w570 Bolcum Rd
St. Charles IL
Gallery Hours: 10 am - 5 pm Monday - Saturday
Closed September 2 & 4