Playing With Uncertainty

June 1 – June 29, 2013

“Playing with Uncertainty” is a collection of paintings and sculptures by Mercedes Rodgers. Using a variety of mediums including watercolor, epoxy, acrylic paint, rice paper and clay Rodgers has created a world where whimsical images are juxtaposed with geometric and quantum physics symbols to show that mathematical principles underlie our everyday reality.

Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle greatly influenced Rodgers in the creation of this collection. The Uncertainty Principle states there is a fundamental limit to the precision with which certain pairs of physical properties can be measured simultaneously. It is possible, for example, to exactly measure either the position of an electron or the momentum of an electron, but not both at the same time. Although this principle limits what we can know at the quantum level, Rodgers explores the philosophical parallel she sees on the human level. Rodgers says, “It seems that we can only ever know for certain where we are or where we are going, but never with 100% accuracy both at the same time. This principle show us that as much as we may want to know with certainty many things about life, the fact is we are all just well organized matter, navigating an uncertain and unpredictable universe. This concepts is so simple yet so complex at the same time, creating an amazing paradox. It is Rodgers’ hope that the playful characters in her paintings will convey this sense of wonder and beauty. ” By contrasting simple, playfully surreal scenes with symbols from quantum physics she is asking the viewer to question their own reality, to play with uncertainty.