Drift Installation 2024 wool fleece, fencing, needle felting on tree branch
Photo: Joseph Hyde
As an environmental artist, I am deeply invested in exploring human beings and non-human beings' relationships to each other and to the land. I juxtapose natural elements with human-made objects to form sculpture and installations. These portray the complex ecology of the human built and nature, expressing both conflict and harmony.
A recent theme in my art focuses on freedom of movement, access to land, foraging, and scavenging. These activities profoundly influence the adaptability and survival of all species, especially in a future where environmental conditions are increasingly uncertain. I collect common artifacts of little value from our everyday, consumer culture and "casts-offs" from nature. I manipulate and combine these elements into artificial environments that mimic the interaction, movement, and transformation that take place in the shared ecology of humans and other beings.
I have been particularly drawn to natural wool fleece and the ruminants that produce it. Its physical properties require some science in processing and a sensitive touch to craft artfully, aligning with the care and attention required for sustainable domestic use. Wool fabric is globally produced and signifies our relationship with animals and the evolving landscape, embodying both tradition and transition in the face of environmental changes. Artists have long used iconography of sheep or the lamb in religious and landscape painting. Historically, we have seen romantic depictions of sheep herding as a representation of a pastoral, nomadic life, rooted in images of a harmonious relationship with nature.
However, these pastoral depictions are far removed from the realities of our lived environment in the 21st century. These idyllic constructs do not reflect the urgency of current issues like climate change, geopolitical conflict, environmental degradation, human displacement, border, land, and water disputes , Alongside contemporary artists engaged in eco-criticism, I explore themes of the anti-pastoral, post-pastoral or neo-pastoral seeking to deconstruct these idealized visions and represent a world impacted by human influence and ecological fragility.
My work challenges and expands traditional narratives by using wool and other materials to create pieces that evoke both the resilience and vulnerability of nature. These artworks are not merely about aesthetics; they provoke thought about our environmental responsibilities and the interconnectedness of life. Through my art, I aim to inspire dialogue on the shared ecology among humans and non-human life, urging a deeper awareness of our role in shaping the future of the planet.
A recent theme in my art focuses on freedom of movement, access to land, foraging, and scavenging. These activities profoundly influence the adaptability and survival of all species, especially in a future where environmental conditions are increasingly uncertain. I collect common artifacts of little value from our everyday, consumer culture and "casts-offs" from nature. I manipulate and combine these elements into artificial environments that mimic the interaction, movement, and transformation that take place in the shared ecology of humans and other beings.
I have been particularly drawn to natural wool fleece and the ruminants that produce it. Its physical properties require some science in processing and a sensitive touch to craft artfully, aligning with the care and attention required for sustainable domestic use. Wool fabric is globally produced and signifies our relationship with animals and the evolving landscape, embodying both tradition and transition in the face of environmental changes. Artists have long used iconography of sheep or the lamb in religious and landscape painting. Historically, we have seen romantic depictions of sheep herding as a representation of a pastoral, nomadic life, rooted in images of a harmonious relationship with nature.
However, these pastoral depictions are far removed from the realities of our lived environment in the 21st century. These idyllic constructs do not reflect the urgency of current issues like climate change, geopolitical conflict, environmental degradation, human displacement, border, land, and water disputes , Alongside contemporary artists engaged in eco-criticism, I explore themes of the anti-pastoral, post-pastoral or neo-pastoral seeking to deconstruct these idealized visions and represent a world impacted by human influence and ecological fragility.
My work challenges and expands traditional narratives by using wool and other materials to create pieces that evoke both the resilience and vulnerability of nature. These artworks are not merely about aesthetics; they provoke thought about our environmental responsibilities and the interconnectedness of life. Through my art, I aim to inspire dialogue on the shared ecology among humans and non-human life, urging a deeper awareness of our role in shaping the future of the planet.
