Opening January 14 at LSU’s Glassell Gallery, the new exhibition uses 3D-printed sculptures and ant metaphors to unravel the complex history of sugar.
Professor Britt Ransom’s new exhibition “Britt Ransom: Sticky,” presented by LSU School of Art, opens on January 14 at Glassell Gallery and runs through February 28, 2025. This immersive installation features 3D-printed ant raft sculptures carrying candy oil barrels made of sugar, symbolizing the journey of sugar from production to consumption while linking it to themes of exploitation and extraction. The exhibit reflects on the sweetness of sugar contrasted with the bitter legacy tied to its history and ecological impact, particularly along the Mississippi River.
Ransom’s work uses ants as metaphors for human perseverance in the pursuit of sugar, highlighting the collective resilience required to navigate the environmental and economic forces that have shaped both sugar production and the communities along the river. Sticky invites reflection on these complex histories, urging viewers to examine the moral implications of consumption. The exhibition is accompanied by a public reception on February 8 and a lecture by Ransom on February 10.