All in environmental art
When you know that it is time to take action, to ‘walk the talk’ and go out on a limb. Literally! The exciting news is I’m off to takayna/Tarkine in the wild north west of Tasmania to make art about the threatened ancient rainforests in the wilderness. Am I nervous? Hell yeah!
Artist talks are a bit like your Monday morning school ‘show and tell’. It’s about explaining what you have done; the how and why of making art. For my MA Arts & Place final project, I gave an artist talk and film screening which showed how I collaborated with nature ‘on site’ and how mark making can be used as an immerse experience.
Can art become art activism? Is the pen or brush or song mightier than the implements of destruction? How can we build activism into our art? Sometimes it is the subjects we focus on that show their value through a currency of care.
My new drawing experiments I’ve been doing in the wetlands around my house have been totally liberating. I don’t try to draw what I see, I let what I see draw itself. It’s a collaborative process that embraces imperfection. In my books that’s achieving success.
Collaborating with the elements is a great way to make art. Watermarks and shadows, mud and sand all leave patterns that are unique and of the moment. Letting go of control of your images means that the other than human elements can take part in your image making. It all becomes easy and effortless!
What is your art process? Maybe process becomes the art. It’s what I have been experimenting with as I explore ways to capture the beauty of the Pottsville environment. Making marks with and in the environment is a new direction to explore for my final Masters Arts and Place project.
