Life on the Ark: A Visualization

The Art Academy of Cincinnati is pleased to present Life on the Ark: A Visualization, featuring recent paintings by AAC alum Claire Flath (BFA 2020). The works in this exhibition are inspired by the tragic events of October 18, 2011, when a large number of exotic animals were deliberately released from enclosures at a private zoo in Zanesville, Ohio, and subsequently killed by law enforcement due to the concern for public safety. Please join us for a reception on Final Friday, August 26, from 5 to 8pm.

Artist’s statement about the exhibition:

“Over the past year, I’ve been working with Kelly Swope, creator of the podcast Life on the Ark, visually interpreting his research on the Zanesville animal massacre. This body of work is dedicated to the 56 apex predators that were owned by Terry Thompson, and the 49 that were killed that night. Each piece reacts to specific first-hand accounts from the police officers, animal specialists, and neighbors of the property. I hope that these pieces serve as a visual aide to the podcast, helping the audience understand and empathize with all perspectives given throughout the story.”

About the artist:

Artist Claire Flath, located in Cincinnati, OH, works to capture the absurdity of contemporary life through painting. Having graduated with her BFA in the beginnings of the pandemic, her style reacts to the imagery, symbolism, and the ever-shifting global media of this post-Covid world. Mostly working with landscapes and natural imagery, she aims to start a conversation, engaging the audience to explore questions that have no simple answers.

Attached Artwork—Claire Flath, Soloman, oil on canvas, 2022