micah ganske: tomorrowland

micah ganske, ‘centralia’ (2011) acrylic on muslin 113 x 166 in (287 x 420 cm)

the ‘tomorrowland‘ series by hawaii-born, new york-based artist micah ganske highlights the ‘casualties of technology’ within the united states by depicting the shadows of planes, telescopes, satellites, and other devices hovering over the landscapes of toxic and abandoned areas. the series, as well as 3D printed models ganske created of the sites depicted, is on exhibition through january 13th at RH gallery in new york.

ganske composes his works by meticulously compositing images found on the internet, a process that takes up to six months, before undertaking a self-developed process of staining untreated muslin with diluted acrylic paint. the porosity of the surface means that each piece must be executed without error.

micah ganske, ‘love canal: virgin galactic spaceship two’ (2011) acrylic on muslin 14 x 14 in (36 x 36 cm)

‘tomorrowland’ documents the casualties of the american towns of greenpoint and love canal, new york; bethlehem and centralia, pennsylvania; detroit, michigan; and picher, ohio. over each, ganske imposes the looming shadow of a symbol of what he calls ‘aspirational technology’, effecting a contrast between the progressive potential and excitement of technological development and its fallouts.

micah ganske, ‘greenpoint’ (2010) acrylic on muslin 120 x 168 in (305 x 427 cm)

micah ganske, ‘centralia, neighborhood’ (2011) acrylic on muslin 15 x 15 in (38 x 38 cm)

the ‘centralia’ paintings, for example, reference the story of centralia, pennsylvania, which was largely abandoned

during the early eighties when the massive coal reserves on which the town sits ignited. while the city still burns

to this day, several residents– including the town’s mayor– have refused to leave. ganske depicts the town shadowed

with the lunar entry module from apollo 11, which brought neil armstrong and buzz aldrin to the moon in 1969.

micah ganske, ‘michigan central’ (2011) acrylic on muslin 14 x 16 in (36 x 41 cm)

micah ganske, ‘bethlehem steel: the yard’ (2011) acrylic on muslin 17 x 16 in (42 x 41 cm)

left: micah ganske, ‘centralia, cemetery’ (2011); acrylic on muslin; 20 x 15 in (51 x 38 cm) right: micah ganske, ‘james tiberius kirk’ (2011); ABS plastic; 3.75 x 4 x 4 in (9 x 10 x 10 cm), edition of 5

micah ganske, ‘bethlehem steel’ (2011) acrylic on muslin 76 x 54 in (193 x 137 cm)

detail of micah ganske, ‘bethlehem steel’ (2011) acrylic on muslin 76 x 54 in (193 x 137 cm)

video documentation of ‘tomorrow land’ and the process of creating ‘green point’, the first painting of the series