HALF EARTH let nature help
These paintings will be exhibited in a solo gallery exhibition in Staunton, VA. August 2022. I am calling it "Half Earth, Let Nature Help". I will have about 40 paintings, all relating to perceptions about nature, what we have, and what we are losing and what we can do about it. Many inspirational quotes and poems will accompany the paintings.
In an effort to make a cohesive statement, all works for sale will be held until the end of the show.
I have left some beaver paintings on the news page.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The past few years have been a challenge for most of us. Climate change, pandemics, ever growing inequity, to name a few. Art making is a healing therapy. This statement by the director of the movie “The Beaver Believers” was a true inspiration.
(I want to)“… engage the topic of climate change through a different narrative, to find a story where climate change could be seen almost as an opportunity: as a motivating, inspiring impetus to jump into joyful action. “
We can do something about the future. We must give up the ‘so good so far’ scenario of Icarus, shed our wax wings and come down to our incredibly beautiful Earth.
Gaia- This means to me that the earth is a living organism alive with communication and cooperation. Traditionally from the Greek, Gaia is the ancestral mother of all life.
By and large, Homo sapiens stopped living in reciprocal relationship with the earth long ago. We take from the earth, viewing her provisions as unlimited. The rate of exploitation in the last 500 years had been astounding, especially the last 100, where we have stepped up the development of corruption with the ever more efficient machines to ravage our planet. We have finally brought her to the brink.
I pray that we, as a species, as a people, choose to open our eyes, our minds and our hearts to rebuild our planet with all her myriad and wondrous ecosystems. That we not view the earth simply as our unlimited provider, but as a sustainer of reasonable life, a home of moderation, of sharing and reciprocity.
By recognizing and respecting the wonders of nature we can encourage the land to 'rewild'. Our actions and generosity can help the resilience and healing power of Gaia.
As indigenous people teach. Take no more than half. I say let's start with a third. A third of our barrier islands, a third of our arable land, a third of the best we have to offer. And let us give it gratefully.