Collapsed Forms

Renewal

“Majolicas”

Crossing the boundary between both Collapse and Renewal, the Majolica series reflects present environmental disasters and the hope for correction. The works in it are inspired by Bernard Palissy's (1510–1589) rusticware ceramics, which depicted his fascination with the natural world, and were rich with diversity and absent any worries of loss. In the 1800s, Minton & Co. created Naturalism Majolicas, one of the styles which became popular as the industrial landscape grew and nature was becoming divorced from many people's everyday lives. My majolicas (though made of stoneware, not earthenware) reference climate change and the human subjugation of our environment.

Zebra Mussels: The lid and body of this pot has been taken over by Zebra mussels, just as these mussels are taking over our waterways and squeezing out the freshwater mussels which benefit the environment. Zebra mussels affect algal species, resulting in a shortage of food sources to native species of freshwater mussels and fish

Guam Invader: The outside represents Guam today invaded by Brown Tree Snakes among the flora of the island.
The inside represents the hope for the future, the Guam Kingfisher and Guam Rail who are now being bred in captivity with the hope that someday the snake will be eradicated and they will be able to return to the island.
During WW2, the US set up a military base on Guam (a US territory). Unfortunately, a hitchiking pregnant brown tree snake was on thte ship and proceeded to take over the islands eco system. With no predators, it wiped out many indigenous species including 13 of the 25 bird species, several lizards and still counting. Tree seeds, no longer spread by birds has led to a decline in the forests.

Zombie Urchins: The top presents one Sunflower Starfish, one Red Abalone, one kelp leaf (the key to aligning top and bottom) among an army of urchins. In contrast the hope for the future is depicted inside where you find 3 leaves of kelp with one Sunflower Starfish and one Urchin.
Off the cost of California a mass dying off of diseased Sunflower Starfish has resulted in armies of kelp-devouring urchins, turning the sea bed into a desert and endangering Red Abalone and other sea creatures. There are scientists hard at work trying various methods of saving this hidden environment.

Collapsed Forms: These works twist, contort, and droop; they are buckling, retreating from any ability to function. Dripping like sand castles or being sliced apart, their forms look like an animal, a bodily organ, or a bulbous undefinable object. They are exhausted; external pressures are pulling them down. This series began with a concern about the climate crisis and the collapse of habitats. The works have come to symbolize the deterioration of not only our environment, but the decay of other systems we rely on, such as democracy, freedom of speech, women’s rights, immigrant rights, and the rule of law. 

Renewal: The works in this series celebrate objects in the natural world—trees, moss, rocks, stars—that symbolize renewal and hope. These works mimic nature, referencing lichen, tree bark, and mycelium.

Majolicas: see above

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Connections Then and Now