Ubiquitous | Erik Jon Olson

June 9^th through July 23^rd |Opening Reception: Thursday, June 9^th, 5 – 7 p.m. | Weaver Lobby Gallery and McIlrath Landing Gallery

Ubiquitous is a collection of works by Erik Jon Olson that explores how all of our lives are affected by the copious amount of plastic and plastic waste we produce.

Plastic can be found literally everywhere from the depths of the Mariana Trench to the highest peaks in the Himalayas. It dominates our daily lives from single-use food packaging to extended life durable goods. Although plastic has exponentially improved many aspects of our lives, the wholesale waste of a material that does not decompose presents myriad problems. There are now over 2000 pounds of plastic for every man, woman, and child on earth. And worldwide, we produce 300 million tons of plastic waste per year—that's nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population.

Using quilted plastic waste, Erik creates works that deal with the effects of consumerism, mass consumption, and unfettered capitalism. By layering environmental issues with social justice messaging, his art emphasizes our alienation from the environment and each other, our willingness to waste, and our subsequent need for healing. By minimizing his carbon footprint in the creation of pieces and transcending the medium without denying what it is, Erik creates art that embodies Marshall McLuhan’s concept that “the medium is the message.”