Opening Reception for Vanishing Act

Traver Gallery is pleased to present Vanishing Act, Lynn Di Nino’s debut exhibition with the gallery. Known for her inventive use of found objects and repurposed materials, Di Nino combines humor, craftsmanship, and social commentary in sculptures that often conceal their material origins.

In Vanishing Act, Di Nino explores species on the brink of extinction through twelve sculptural animal heads, including a California condor, a pangolin, and a polar bear. Drawing on the tradition of taxidermy trophies, these works challenge symbols of human dominance over nature. Constructed from discarded plastics, the sculptures transform materials associated with environmental damage into intricate representations of threatened animals.

Each sculpture begins with a reinforced papier-mâché structure, covered with carefully stitched layers of plastic that resemble fur, feathers, scales, and other organic forms. Everyday packaging becomes nearly unrecognizable in its new form.

The exhibition also questions the promise that technology, including artificial intelligence, might one day recreate species lost to extinction. In collaboration with artist Chip Van Gilder, Di Nino incorporates motion-activated electronics that produce the sound of a heartbeat as visitors approach each sculpture. This subtle sign of life offers a note of hope while emphasizing what remains at risk.