This exhibition by Kelly O’Dell will be an exploration of existence and extinction, of preservation and decay. Inspired by the changing of the seasons in the Pacific Northwest after growing up in the perpetual summer of the Hawaiian Islands, O’Dell’s work shines a light on the devastating impact of the human race on species in the wild and embodies the Latin phrase “memento mori,” meaning “remember death.”
The focal point of the exhibit is expected to be a piece entitled “Critical Masse.” Comprised of 13 endangered species mounted on the wall in clusters, these “Ghost Animals” mimic hunting trophies displayed in a game room and are intended to highlight the 100 to 1,000 species that are lost per million per year, primarily due to human-caused habitat destruction and climate change. In an effort to inspire daily habits that are forward-thinking and environmentally-mindful, O’Dell seeks to bring attention to the transience and vulnerability of the earth and all who live upon it through the fragility and translucency of the glass used to create the ghost-like animal heads.

All of the Suddens is presented at Pittsburgh Glass Center in partnership with Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.