Commentary on "Speculations"

Statement: Agriculture: An Alchemical Treatise is a large on-going conceptual work comprised of several approaches. Other parts of this work describe cultural strategies which mystify our relationship to the technologies of food production. The allure of simple country life” and its cult of authenticity is at lest as old (and as imperialistic) as Virgil. I believe we can reclaim our cities and make urban living sustainable first by acknowledging our rage, our desire to escape the banality and oppression of our lives. Next , by visualizing what home could be like, we plant the seeds of the work we want to do. For me, the seed is a powerful and fertile image for the process of becoming. The water in the “candle” jars is taken from my watershed.

Description of the installation
1994 mixed media, acrylic and ink on paper. The shrine consists of four stepped wooden boxes painted in black and a triptych ( domestic) hardwood frame containing hanging scrolls. the scrolls are Arches cover black. The center scroll, 5’ x 5’, contains an image of a livable city with stars falling into the ground, stars representing fertility. This is surrounded by two other scrolls containing rubber stamp images of ancient cultural and newly created symbols for seeds. Dimensions are 8'H x 13’ L x 5’ W. On the steps of the shrine are arranged bowls with green manure seeds, for building soil fertility and drainage. In front of the shrine are flats containing soil. Viewers are invited to write their wishes and commitments to a sustainable community on black tissue, and “plant” them with vetch seeds in the flats. Viewer participants are also invited to take with them seed packets for planting in the community. The seed flats were later transplanted into a community park. This is dedicated to the community of Seattle Tilth.

The following is the text of the scrolls:

The spirit of community is the breath of our hope. The blessings of rain, wind, warmth and soil are gifts--the finest materials for creation. We are grateful. Let us join together as we commit ourselves to our sacred work: harming none, caring for all.

“The earth sweats germinating power from its very pores.... the soul is the freshness of the flesh, for the body grows and thrives through it just as the earth becomes fruitful through moisture.” [The deity says] “I am the breeze that nurtures all things green. I encourage blossoms to flourish with ripening fruits. I am the rain coming from the dew that causes the grasses to laugh with to joy of life.”
Hildegard von Bingen [11th century abbess, Germany]

Reinhabitory Sketches:
“First Cuts toward Living in a Watershed Commons
“We must begin where we are, at our personal moment of perception. We seek a sense of self-in-place first of all, and a community on a human scale, evolving to a community of creatures.
“Access steps:
“Where do I live? guided initiations are offered to those who seek to know.
“What is my life work? What moves me?
“Access steps mean transformations-tourism to hospitality; urban renewal to landscape renewal;
“...The region’s unique resonance will continue to sound behind whatever celebrations are carried by it, and proclaim itself more clearly than any declarations made about it. Reinhabitants of the place, people who want to maintain a full life for themselves and for the watershed, are shaping human celebrations which respond to that resonance. Celebrations which depend on but can be shared by other species. Lives which can be part of the region proclaiming itself.”
--Frisco Bay Mussels Group

link to image and discussion

Biocenosis: An exhibition at Phinney Center Gallery

Exhibition on view April 8 through April 29, 2010

Phinney Center Gallery
Phinney Neighborhood Association
6532 Phinney Avenue North
Seattle WA 98103

reception April 9, 2010, 7-9 pm (part of Artwalk)
Gallery Hours

• Monday through Friday 9am–9pm
• Saturday 9am–2pm
• 206.783.2244

Biocenosis is the process or system of organisms and natural phenomena interacting within a particular environment. The works in this exhibition include paintings and prints from 1993 through 2006. Earlier ones, from the series, Re: Seeding Gaia, link the politics of industrial botany with women's reproductive rights. A few are from the series, Penelope's Web, referring to the Odyssey and caretaking for posterity. More recent works reflect on biocenology and our approaches to landscape representation. See the statement for the exhibition below.

Please see http://www.planetart.us/ for biography and curriculum vitae.

Here is the catalogue of works, grouped by series. Sales are handled by the Phinney Center Gallery and retail prices reflect accordingly. WA state sales tax will be added.

SERIES: TITLE OF WORK MEDIA DIMENSIONS (UNFRAMED) DATE PRICE

Crisis Management in Reproduction: Sustainable Post Germination acrylic on paper 30 x 44 inches 1993 2150
Crisis Management in Reproduction: Invasive Procedures acrylic on paper 30 x 44 inches 1993 2150
Penelope's Web: Skylla's Cliff acrylic on paper 15 x 22 inches 2000 725
Penelope's Web: A Great Wave acrylic on paper 15 x 22 inches 2000 725
Penelope's Web: Departing Skheria acrylic on paper 18 x 23 inches 2000 860
Re:seeding Gaia: Germination Impression puzzle piece collagraph 9 x 12 inches 1995 360
Re:seeding Gaia: Diversity Yields Stability multi-plate relief print 8.5 x 11 inches 1996 325
Re:seeding Gaia: Brown Earth acrylic on paper 22 x 30 1998 975
Re:seeding Gaia: (Flowing Consciousness) Enlightenment is a Social Responsibility acrylic on paper 22 x 30 inches 1998 975
Re:seeding Gaia: Creek Chum in Salt Water acrylic on paper 22 x 30 inches 1999 1290
Resistance/Resilience: Children of the Rivers acrylic, photocopy and mixed media on paper 60 x 85 cm 2002 1290
Resistance/Resilience: Mountain Mudflow acrylic, photocopy and mixed media on paper 60 x 85 cm 2002 1290
Resistance/Resilience: Fish resist acrylic, photocopy and mixed media on paper 60 x 85 cm 2002 1290
Resistance/Resilience: Imagination resists domination acrylic, photocopy and mixed media on paper 60 x 85 cm 2002 1290
Resistance/Resilience: Ross Lake Crows and Trout acrylic, photocopy and mixed media on paper 60 x 85 cm 2003 1290
Resistance/Resilience: Pumpkin Mountain/Diablo Dam Crows and Trout acrylic, photocopy and mixed media on paper 60 x 85 cm 2003 1290
Resistance/Resilience: Ross Lake: High Summer acrylic and mixed media, photocopy on paper 60 x 85 cm 2005 1290
Strategic Clearing: White Pass and Bumping Lake acrylic, photocopy and mixed media on paper, mounted on stretched canvas 60 x 85 cm ea 2000 3450
Strategic Clearing: Douglas Wilderness acrylic and photocopy on paper, mixed media 60 x 85 cm 2003 1290
Strategic Clearing: Mt. Rainier acrylic, photocopy and mixed media on paper, mounted on stretched canvas 60 x 85 cm ea 2004 2450
The Slave Trade Was Free Trade: A Tale of Money acrylic and mixed media on paper 60 x 85 cm 2000 1290
The Slave Trade Was Free Trade: Trade A Tale of Struggle acrylic and mixed media on paper 60 x 85 cm 2001 1290
The Transformation of the Landscape: Worm Flows collagraph and mixed media 28 x 19 cm 2001 290
The Transformation of the Landscape: Ape Cave collograph and mixed media 19 x 28 cm 2001 290
The Transformation of the Landscape: The Breach collagraph and mixed media 28 x 38 cm 2001 350
We Call It Columbia: Iyagathl Imathl Bridal Veil, Bonneville Dam, Hood River acrylic, photocopy on paper, mounted on stretched canvas 60 x 85 cm ea [triptych] 2000 3225