Faculty Cafe with Dr. Sarah Knobel: Exploring Synthetic Nature

Join Professor Sarah Knobel for a Faculty Café talk exploring her recent body of work, Synthetic Nature, which investigates the ecological and emotional impact of plastic packaging and consumer waste. Sarah's work is captivated by the concept of commodities and their existence beyond mere utility; through her lens, she transforms everyday remnants into poetic visual meditations. Using a range of photographic processes, including vivid digital collages, staged landscapes, and alternative methods like cyanotypes, Knobel explores how grief, beauty, and ecological awareness intersect in her practice. She will discuss how her work reframes the relationship between synthetic materials and the natural world, inviting viewers into a layered dialogue on presence, residue, and environmental entanglement. Refreshments will be served.