This October, in the Harrison Gallery, Casey Roberts' show will draw you into calming blues and scenes of animals existing in nature. These animal depictions reflect the human experience through relatable behavior in how they are responding to certain situations. Aptly titled Exit Strategy, the show's works embody a human experience of being in an uncomfortable or unpleasant situation and finding a way to escape or sidestep the interaction.

Roberts is primarily known for his carefully crafted cyanotypes on paper, which, even in their process of creation, show the relationship between man and nature through the use of chemicals, sunlight, and time. The titular work, a cyanotype on paper, is a perfect example of a single moment that encapsulates the human emotions behind the desire to skedaddle.

This piece has a beautiful gradient of yellow to green to blue, with wavy, watery ripples created by the flock of birds near the top of the piece and the sparkle of light bouncing off near the bottom. The birds have been enjoying their time on the water, but it's clear they've just been spooked by something and are making a swift getaway. The movement created by Roberts' use of line, both in the birds' wings and the lines trailing behind them in the water, are able to perfectly translate the action of a quick escape through its precision and carefully premeditated nature.

In addition to the cyanotypes on paper, Roberts is also showing several works on canvas that demonstrate the quiet but alert observance that comes in these moments. Come see a show that will make you want to stay a while, delight in these humorous and very human pieces, and reflect on your own experiences of needing to make a quick exit.