Indi Walter

Vitas

2020 | MFA Thesis Exhibition

Vitas

Wood panel with Acrylic paint, Alcohol inks, Sheep pelvis. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Domus | 2019 | 12” x 9” x 4” | Wood panel, Acrylic paint, Alcohol inks, Sheep pelvis

Natural bull skull with blue china pattern created with colored pencils and alcohol ink. image courtesy of Indi Walter — China Bull | 2020 | Natural bull skull, Colored pencils, Alcohol ink

Caribou skull decorated with Lace, Embroidery, Doilies, Gold leaf and Found objects. image courtesy of Indi Walter — Ruminating | 2018 | 26” x 18” x 9” | Caribou skull, Lace, Embroidery, Doilies, Gold leaf, Found objects

black bison skull adorned with quartz crystals. image courtesy of Indi Walter — Drown in Earth | 2019 | 14” x 16” x 9” | Bison skull, Quartz Crystals

Black bear skull adorned with a caribou antler and alcohol ink. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — The Sun Will Rise Again | 2020 | 9.5” x 7” x 6” | Black bear skull, caribou antler, alcohol ink

Carved bear skull painted with black and silver acrylic paint. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Collapse | 2020 | 11” x 10” x 8.5” | Carved bear skull, Acrylic paint

Wicker basket filled with paper wasp nests and assorted animal teeth. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Hell in a Handbasket | 2020 | 9” x8” x 8” | Wicker basket, Paper wasp nests, Assorted animal teeth

Carved black Bear skull. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Black Sun | 2018 | 10” x 7” x 6” | Black Bear skull

Self portrait bust, half face and half skull, created with birch wood, acrylic paint and alcohol inks. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Self-Portrait - Memento Mori | 2019 | Birch wood, Acrylic paint, Alcohol inks

Carved wolf skull adorned with cheesecloth, silver wire, pearls and beads in a glass case. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Sacred Heart | 2019 | 12” x 8” x 8” | Wolf skull, Cheesecloth, Silver Wire, Pearls, Beads, Glass Case

Carved Alaskan wolf skull. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Be Fierce, Be Kind | 2020 | 10”x8”x6” | Alaskan Wolf Skull

Bear skull on a wood panel wrapped in paper wasps nests and paper wasps. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Reclamation | 2019 | 12” x 9” x 8” | Bear skull, Wood panel, Paper wasps nests, Paper wasps

Carved wolf skull with an inlaid moonstone. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Eyes on me | 2018 | 10” x 6” x6” | Carved Wolf Skull, Moonstone

Natural fox skull affixed to basswood and colored with acrylic paint and alcohol ink. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Radiance | 2020 | 10”x 8” | Basswood, Natural fox skull, Acrylic paint, Alcohol ink

Carved skull with selective gold paint and black thread adornments. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Priorities | 2020

Animal face carving in yellow Cedar, adorned with acrylic paint and alcohol ink. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Falling Asleep | 2018-2019 | 13” x 12” x 3.5” | Yellow Cedar, Acrylic paint, Alcohol ink

Carved Caribou antler. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Ever Upward | 2019-2020 | 4’ x 2’ | Carved Caribou antler

Wood panel, Acrylic paint, Apoxie sculpt, Alcohol inks, Coyote skulls. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Inescapable | 2019 | 12” x 9” x 5” | Wood panel, Acrylic paint, Apoxie sculpt, Alcohol inks, Coyote skulls

Carved moose skull. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Nanuq: Northern Bear | 2020 | Carved moose skull

Carved skull with small inlaid stone. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Borealis

Coffin housing animal skulls, moss and fungus adorned with alocohol ink and acrylic paint. Image courtesy of Indi Walter — Excision (from Separation: A Series on Grieving) | 2020 | 8”x4” | Wood, Moss, Fungus, Animal skulls, Acrylic paint, Alcohol inks

Artist Statement

VITAS is a visual exhibition that addresses the idea of a posthumous legacy. The substance of a person’s life is composed of what they’ve done, and what they become after death is determined by that substance. This exhibition is composed of 25 carved animal skulls and sculptures inspired by the concept of vitas, treating life as an opportunity to advance the next generation through life’s work. VITAS studies the idea of what happens after the passing of a being by applying embellishment, adornment, pigments, and carvings onto the skeletal remains of animals. By applying human influence to natural material, the animal’s experience becomes a vital part of the artwork. Bone density, size, condition, and abnormalities are all determined by how the animal lived. These factors are a major consideration in design and aesthetic choices in each unique piece.

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About the Artist

Capita Mortua Arts is owned and operated by Indi Walter. Indi was raised in Kaneohe, Hawaii and currently lives and works in Fairbanks, Alaska. Indi works in a variety of media including clay sculpture, resin casting, printmaking, painting, ink drawing, bone carving, and woodwork. Indi graduated from ‘Iolani in 2013. She pursued a Bachelor’s of Fine Art at Creighton University (Omaha, NE C/O 2017) and a Master’s of Fine Art at the University of Alaska (Fairbanks, AK C/O 2020).

Capita Mortua Capita Mortua means “Dead Heads”, a plural of Caput Mortum, “useless remains” or the leftovers of alchemical processes. This also refers to caput mortuum, the pigment known as “mummy brown” that was processed from human mummies ground into powder. This shade of reddish-brown is found in a handful of classical paintings and is associated with mortality and memento mori.

Department of Art

Indi Walter

Vitas

2020 | MFA Thesis Exhibition

Vitas

Artist Statement

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About the Artist

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UAF College of Liberal Arts

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