Dancing Wind

Near the month of September 2021: I happened upon a wondrous tree grove out in the land beyond my art studio in Galway. This sparked inspiration for my installation in the trees titled ‘dancing wind’. I primarily declare myself a painter in the form of beeswax. I desire to occasionally bring my semi two-dimensional paintings into the full third dimension.

     Thru spending time observing air in all of its vast and powerful beauty, I decided on bringing visual attention to the lulls in which a breeze carries. Similar to that of a wind chime which at times provides decorative song and dance. The trees and their branches, being in constant relationship with air flow, prove to be the perfect foundation for me to collaborate with. Each branch ranging in position, form, strength, and mobility adds depth to this immersive experience. My hope is for the viewer, being naturally drawn into a lush tree grove, to then pause and spend time here with the trees in their element. This experience may feel different dependent on a number of factors such as: season, time of day, weather. My intention is to provide inclination towards sharing space with the natural world in any given state, and thus admire the magnitude of their abilities, likenesses and differences.

The forms which you see suspended from the branches are comprised of semi-translucent organic beeswax, ranging in natural form, shape, thickness, fragility. This to me represents differing life forms such as mammal, flora, fauna, and how we all co-exist. The forms are suspended with foraged English ivy vine, being vast and easily accessible in the Irish landscape.

This installation was intended to be experimental and impermanent. A large gust of wind or rather rainstorm would instantly wash it away. This is a significant layer to consider as it mimics the delicacy of existence, which we all share.    

The Irish landscape informed a large majority of feelings and decisions involved in the lifespan of this installation. This art form is highly dependent on space and time. In this sense, where I expand artistically here in the Rocky Mountains will differ in comparison. Being a predominantly desert landscape, the prospects for co-creation will likely encompass harsher demeanors. This opportunity to witness an environment thru a more microscopic lens could perhaps inform the viewer further on the space in which they inhabit.

Daughter of the Earth

I was granted the opportunity to be an artist in residence at Watershed Studios in Galway Ireland for the autumn months of August-September of 2021. Prior to my departure, my work-maintained focus on pressing and adhering plant matter to paper. These abstract renderings of plant collage were created in relationship to my studies of Irish-Celtic mystery and mythology throughout the duration of the year. This exploration laid the foundation for my interest in combining ritualistic work in the land with my current and future creative endeavor’s. Being inspired by the earth art movement which emerged near the 1960’s, my work aspires to evolve towards impermanency thru installation and performance in nature. My goal remains to utilize gathered and foraged materials from nature only. This intention is in honor of maintaining conscious and impactful relationship with our environment. 

The origin of my body of work titled ‘daughter of the earth’ became clear upon my arrival to the emerald isle. Each week I spend time with a new element, flowing in the sun-wise direction of the wheel thru air, fire, water and earth. Each day, I speak my purpose to the land and allow time for the elements to provide messages of aspirations. While my practice has not yet fully evolved to be impermanent and non-material, my time in Ireland allowed much space to meditate on why and how this may appear in actuality. This relationship with the environment beckons for strong-willed dedication. There is a visible shift in my work, while still being material, encompassing a larger array of natural mediums and applications.

Upon my return to the States I moved to a tiny house in the Rocky Mountains of Gunnison, Colorado. My goal now is to authentically attune with this land of my birth. Daily visitations and observations have proven to be the backbone of symbiotic co-creation with any given ecosystem.

I am delighted to extend an invitation for you to follow along my journey. Here you may bear witness to how this newly inspired practice of ritual-land-art will unfold.