Project 'Intersection' 2016
January 2016: I am interested in making art which uses the art as a launching point for a dialogue on a topic and which then leads to the creation of additional art - a rhythmic co-creation cycle resulting from mindful momentum building. For Project Intersections, I have done this by taking a series of art photographs which will be used to create reflection, focusing on urban settings and urban dwellers . I will and have recorded people’s reflections as short stories. In turn, the stories may engender additional photographs, illustrations or paintings, all of which accumulates into a travelling collection.
The topic is about the ‘intersection’ of nature and humanity. The artwork itself is the engagement point for community and is the device by which we can encourage awareness, deeper understanding, compassion, and moments of awe and reverence for nature. Nature can be our teacher as it tries to be all the time. The art encourages the viewer to ‘listen’.
The goal of this project is to raise awareness in a viewer/reader of the intersection of humans and nature and about a potential of collaboration versus dominance. I wanted to create a moment wherein people take the time to come to this place of lament and subsequently to new ways of seeing. It is a way to see that nature is all around us even in the heart of a city. It is a way to have people observe more closely as they go throughout their day how the intersection exists in our shared home. It should open the thought of a place of balance and harmony. This is a place for the care of the soul.
This project arose in response to a Call for Artists for the Earth Monastery Project with Abbey of the Arts. http://abbeyofthearts.com/ "The purpose of the Earth Monastery Project is to cultivate a culture of generosity within the Abbey community and to support one another with the resources needed to inspire new ideas. We believe that small, thoughtful, and carefully stewarded programs can make a big impact on the world. Together we will celebrate the work completed and share it with the wider Abbey community so others might be inspired to try similar projects themselves." I was honoured to be selected as one of the artists for 2016.
The topic is about the ‘intersection’ of nature and humanity. The artwork itself is the engagement point for community and is the device by which we can encourage awareness, deeper understanding, compassion, and moments of awe and reverence for nature. Nature can be our teacher as it tries to be all the time. The art encourages the viewer to ‘listen’.
The goal of this project is to raise awareness in a viewer/reader of the intersection of humans and nature and about a potential of collaboration versus dominance. I wanted to create a moment wherein people take the time to come to this place of lament and subsequently to new ways of seeing. It is a way to see that nature is all around us even in the heart of a city. It is a way to have people observe more closely as they go throughout their day how the intersection exists in our shared home. It should open the thought of a place of balance and harmony. This is a place for the care of the soul.
This project arose in response to a Call for Artists for the Earth Monastery Project with Abbey of the Arts. http://abbeyofthearts.com/ "The purpose of the Earth Monastery Project is to cultivate a culture of generosity within the Abbey community and to support one another with the resources needed to inspire new ideas. We believe that small, thoughtful, and carefully stewarded programs can make a big impact on the world. Together we will celebrate the work completed and share it with the wider Abbey community so others might be inspired to try similar projects themselves." I was honoured to be selected as one of the artists for 2016.
July 2, 2016. I put out a request a number of months ago for stories about the intersection of human-made and nature. The responses which were immediately and enthusiastically offered have ended up being around four main themes:
Even more surprisingly was that there was very little lament offered. There were several who objectively noted environmental impacts but often with a end-note of hope or triumph. For the most part there was joyful, deliberate and frequent engagement. What a wonder it all is! It fills me with awe.
The collection of photographs has been processed along with a first offering of stories. Twenty photographs printed on 8x10 metal appeared in Artfest 2016’s art show at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church where hundreds passed through. www.cfrucartsfest.weebly.com. I voyeuristically watched many scrutinize the photos and read the stories.
Awhile ago, I posted that I wanted to capture the image of the beaver that actually started all this which I managed to do! He lives on a small lake in Ontario. I ran into him last year while canoeing. I could see something metallic shining in this far and deserted corner of the lake. As we approached, we could see that it was some type of metal object like a tin can on the upper part of a beaver damn. When returning to tell our hosts about it they told an incredible story about this beaver. He has a history of dragging human-made shiny items to decorate his lodge. This included a metal grate that Natural Resources had installed nearby which he retrieved for decoration. I love this beaver! What an intersection. It just serves to increase my reverence for nature.
The project as funded by Abbey of the Arts is now over with many thanks to them for believing in this project. However, I have decided that it is not over in that I will continue to collect stories and capture images. It feels quite organic to me. I will continue to post periodically.
I am also posting the stories and a study guide in PDF form as well as a PowerPoint of the images organized by theme. Please feel free to use these products and just do me the favour of crediting the work appropriately and dropping me a line about your intentions just so that I can appreciate what others see in the work.
.
Enjoy the pictures and feel free to contact me to ask about the stories behind them. Double click on each to view the full image.
- Imposition/ Who Dominates?
- Inspiration
- Co-habitation
- Renewal
Even more surprisingly was that there was very little lament offered. There were several who objectively noted environmental impacts but often with a end-note of hope or triumph. For the most part there was joyful, deliberate and frequent engagement. What a wonder it all is! It fills me with awe.
The collection of photographs has been processed along with a first offering of stories. Twenty photographs printed on 8x10 metal appeared in Artfest 2016’s art show at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church where hundreds passed through. www.cfrucartsfest.weebly.com. I voyeuristically watched many scrutinize the photos and read the stories.
Awhile ago, I posted that I wanted to capture the image of the beaver that actually started all this which I managed to do! He lives on a small lake in Ontario. I ran into him last year while canoeing. I could see something metallic shining in this far and deserted corner of the lake. As we approached, we could see that it was some type of metal object like a tin can on the upper part of a beaver damn. When returning to tell our hosts about it they told an incredible story about this beaver. He has a history of dragging human-made shiny items to decorate his lodge. This included a metal grate that Natural Resources had installed nearby which he retrieved for decoration. I love this beaver! What an intersection. It just serves to increase my reverence for nature.
The project as funded by Abbey of the Arts is now over with many thanks to them for believing in this project. However, I have decided that it is not over in that I will continue to collect stories and capture images. It feels quite organic to me. I will continue to post periodically.
I am also posting the stories and a study guide in PDF form as well as a PowerPoint of the images organized by theme. Please feel free to use these products and just do me the favour of crediting the work appropriately and dropping me a line about your intentions just so that I can appreciate what others see in the work.
.
Enjoy the pictures and feel free to contact me to ask about the stories behind them. Double click on each to view the full image.
| intersection_stories_abbey_of_the_arts_june_2016.pdf |
| intersection.pdf |
| intersections_study_guide.pdf |
This chain is so deeply embedded in the tree that I am convinced there will come a point in time at which the tree will swallow it entirely.
There is a light gauge wire fence running across several trees which/who have decided to envelop the fence. In the second photo, who owns this can now?
I was canoeing on this remote and secluded lake and saw something shiny. On closer inspection, it was a can atop and embedded in the beaver's lodge. I asked, "How did it get here?" Well apparently this beaver likes bright shiny man-made things. Last year he/she took a gate that Natural resources had placed on a water channel and mounted it on top of their lodge. I was and still am so enchanted with this story that it started the entire Intersection project.
Each of the following photographs are part of the original exhibit. Each has a story of intersection attached to it which can be read in the attached booklet. Enjoy!
