By Laura Hunt Miller
Inside a gallery at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the work of Louisiana Tech artist and professor brooke cassady (spelling is intentional) slowly evolved over the course of a two-month exhibition this fall. Her show, into the current: eroding and evolving, takes a closer look at something we are all a part of, but sometimes have a hard time recognizing until it has left a large footprint: change.
For cassady, water has become a powerful way of exploring transformation. Her experiences witnessing communities rebuild after devastation like Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans or Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, and spending time in Mexico City, where water scarcity has become a growing concern, have shaped her understanding of water as both a life-giving and destructive force. Her work also explores the relationship between water, memory and the unconscious mind.
Cassady’s artistic practice often combines materials in ways that challenge their conventional uses. The show in Arkansas featured ceramics, fibers and metals arranged in installations that grew, unraveled and disappeared. “I have such a deep love and curiosity for materials and a desire to walk through the world with my eyes wide open,” says cassady, “I’m always curious about testing new materials and watching them interact with each other.”
The gallery itself became part of the artistic experience. Captivated by the pale blue-green light filtering through its glass blocks, cassady envisioned the building’s two levels as interconnected worlds: the upstairs representing dreams and the unconscious, and the downstairs reflecting the physical world. A waterfall appeared to emerge from an upstairs wall, accompanied by passion flower vines, a plant traditionally known for facilitating sleep. Below, an altar of handmade and found natural objects underneath an array of raindrops, represented the continuing cycles of life.
Throughout the exhibition, familiar forms such as seashells, bird nests, seeds and bones suggested both beginnings and endings. Some held the promise of life yet to emerge, while others carried evidence of things that once existed. Through these familiar forms, cassady invited viewers to consider how the things we keep, and those we leave behind, shape our lives.
For cassady, the process of creating art is as important as the finished work. The lessons she learns through experimenting with materials, arranging installations and observing how viewers engage with her work become part of what she shares with her students.
In the classroom she urges students to approach their work with an open mind. “I encourage them to make mistakes and risk failing, and I have to constantly remind myself to do the same in my studio,” cassady explains.
A native of Athens, Georgia, cassady earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from Boston University and a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Louisiana State University. She serves as an Associate Professor of Studio Art at Louisiana Tech University and directs the School of Design Galleries.
