I’ve had Mother Nature on the brain lately. She is so forgiving, so generous, and so regenerative, but I think she is getting fed up with our collective apathy. She is desperately trying to tell us something and I’m not convinced the majority of us are listening.
The fires in both Australia and the Amazon.
The unfathomable plastic pollution in the ocean.
The earthquakes and hurricanes in Puerto Rico.
The leveling of natural parks and historic burial sites in the US for “walls,” pipelines, and drilling.
Seventy-degree weather in Antarctica.
The pollution-for-profit mindset of our current political leaders.
These are all signs that something is amiss. The warning bells are ringing loud and ringing often! It’s mind-boggling and concerning and should be top of mind for everyone. We’ve lost our way; and our short-sightedness and greed could certainly be our undoing. Humans are our planet’s worst enemy. We take and we pillage, often forgetting that our resources are finite and this is the only place we can call home.
As I was creating this project, I pondered my roles and responsibilities as a member of the 2020 MUSE Design Team. Am I here to simply create unique pieces of art? Is my main purpose to solely promote fabulous art products? Should I keep things light and fluffy? Or am I called to go deeper than that? Could I share with you my passion for Art as Activism? Can I be real, raw, and vulnerable about my feelings? Can I simultaneously create beautiful things while also being educational and thought-provoking?
Since art often helps me process my emotions and make sense of the world around me, I think I have to be true to myself and go with the latter; knowing that not everyone will share my viewpoints or feel my sense of urgency. This piece is simultaneously a tribute to our natural world and a canary in the coalmine cry for immediate and lasting change. I hope it inspires you to create something beautiful in the days and weeks to come—I also hope, if nothing else, it results in you thinking about the importance of clean air and clean water for all. After all, the human race can’t survive without those things!
The Project:
The base of this project is a 3.5 x 3.5 inch wooden cube, which I coated in black gesso. Atop the cube sits a resin eagle from Sandra’s “Totems” collection in a nest of moss, bark, and greenery. The eagle was painted using the “iron” paint from the VerDay paint kit and I am loving the results! The eagle’s nest is anchored by one of the resin frames from the Italian Baroque set, also painted with VerDay—brass this time.
The flags sticking out of the nest are our clarion calls:
· Stop taking things for granted,
· Pay attention to our ecosystems,
· Remember, we only get one chance!
On each of the four sides of the cube, I made an homage to a particular aspect of nature. Water, forests, air, and soil.
The “forest” side has a hand sculpted tree and heart, both fashioned from Apoxie Sculpt. The text reads, “The forests that protect our wildlife.”
The “water” side has a mermaid tail which I hand sculpted using Apoxie Sculpt. It also features handmade Apoxie Sculpt bubbles. The text reads, “The water we need to survive.”
The “air” side features a night sky scene and has a mixture of items both molded from Apoxie Sculpt and found in my stash. The moon face is the focal point of this side and the text reads, “The quality of the air we breathe.”
Everything on the “soil” side was sculpted by me, using Apoxie Sculpt. The whimsical mushrooms, trio of hearts, and polka dots were all made with love. The text reads, “The soil that fortifies our food.”
I printed the words out and adhered them with Mod Podge, highlighting the area around the words with a black Posca pen.
I used stencils and both StazOn and Distress Inks to add visual interest to the backgrounds. At the end of the process, I highlighted some of the areas on the cube with unaltered copper VerDay paint. It gives it a nice dimensional appearance and helps create a more cohesive feel between the top of the cube and the sides.
· Resin eagle from the Totems collection
· Brass and Copper VerDay Paints
I am so grateful for the opportunity to share both my art and my heart with all of you! May this post inspire you to try new materials and techniques. And may it also inspire you to contemplate new ways of existing on this beautiful blue marble we call home.
Jenn Pipe 2/18/2020