A Light Year of Lead

Artist Performance + Opening
Friday, September 27th at 7PM in The Underground, Brushaber Commons, 2nd level. Reception with the artist in the Johnson Gallery following the performance.
Event Info

For the past five years, Carroll has traveled to underground laboratories and astronomical observatories in order to find out exactly what we don’t know. In “A Light Year of Lead”, Carroll presents his findings through large scale color photographs, video, and installation. Pivoting away from scientific facts and clarity, Carroll focuses his lens on mystery, magic, and absurdity while simultaneously working as a documentary photographer. The resulting work oscillates between scientific objectivity and human subjectivity, the massive and the massless, extraordinarily sophisticated experiments and dumb luck, leaving the viewer in a state of wonder, confusion, and curiosity. 

At the center of the exhibition is “Bubble & Swallow”, a short film that documents swallows flying around an obsolete particle detector in which Carroll has painstakingly traced each frame of the film. Installed on the floor is “7x6x30”, a gridded installation of scientific sticky-mats, a tool more often found in laboratories than galleries. The result is a wonderfully uncomfortable sonic and sensorial experience — like walking on wet paint or flypaper. Carroll is simultaneously collecting and creating evidence, but he leaves it to the audience to figure out the questions he’s asking. 

At the exhibition opening, Carroll will sing about his work in a hybrid artist-talk/musical performance with special guest performers. Carroll approaches the normally dry subject of science with a heavy dose of humor and humanity. The performance will last approximately 30 minutes with a reception to follow in the gallery.