sunday night, september 23, 2007
i love to paint landscapes, and if the preservation of a place or time somewhere makes someone happy, this is simple enough of a reason for why i do what i do... but there is a wave in the art and science world, a growth of artists and those concerned about our changing environment, and they are creating art that challenges, questions, reflects and educates on global warming and science. i often wonder if i should be challenging myself more in my painting, and attempting to join this troop of educators and thinkers... but most days, i just enjoy being able to preserve a moment in time on canvas that i know someone will appreciate, and may be a sense of joy, healing or calming in their life... i imagine it is hard to sell art that speaks of things that worry us and concern us, yet this is the great art that ends up in the museum of modern art, that draws crowds; a spectacle of something new and different that challenges your mind.
recently, i have read about 2 shows of this genre in the new york times, and i thought i would post their links here. the articles are well worth a read and the artists are all working to spread the word about the truths, emotions and effects of global warming on our culture and planet.
• here is the first link to a new york times article about olafur eliasson..
Thinking Glacially, Acting Artfully
Olafur EliassonVatnajokull Glacier in Iceland
• fortunate to live in the bay area, i can go learn more about this fascinating artist and view a wonderful show at sfmoma of olafur eliasson's works. i plan to visit this week. you can view much of the installation layout and read people's comments at the
sfmoma blog for olafur's show. once there, you see much of his work involves the study of light, water, mist and it's affects on color and perception. it is amazing and absolutely fitting that an artist from iceland would bring this vision to us.. after visiting iceland, i can really attest to the fact that it is a place to marvel at the stunning mysteries and art of nature. i can't wait to absorb this show in person. one of my favorite comments on the blog is by critic, david littlejohn. he writes of the artist's art car design for bmw;
"BMW pretends to be pleased with the result, even though commentators have interpreted it as a statement about the obsolete nature of automobiles–like this prehistoric mammoth dug out of the ice; an image of foolish speed frozen solid (de-iced and whole, the car reached 187 mph); and a warning about global warming. In defense of BMW and the museum, I should add that the original car used liquid hydrogen rather than gasoline; and all the energy required to keep a 9600-cubic-foot refigerator running at 14º F 24 hours a day for six months comes not from fossil fuels, but from a field of environmentally benign geysers and underground geothermal energy sources, 72 miles north of San Francisco–a very Icelandic gesture."
• here is a second article, not related to olafur eliasson's work, about a show of modern art by scientists paired with artists in colorado based on global warming
Looking for Inspiration in Melting Ice
Several months ago, I searched Flickr for photos of Iceland, and was connected to Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir's photostream on Flickr. I added several of her photos to my favorites, and then thought nothing about it for a while. Months have gone by and I return to see what she's up to, and have learned that she has become something of an internet sensation, with so many hits to her photos that she doesn't have time to reply to people. She was written about in the Wall Street Journal, and has subsequently done photography work for Toyota. Having fallen in love with Iceland in the 90's, I am excited to see this woman and mother of two boys doing so well with her career, doing what she loves and being discovered. Her work is phenomenal, truly inspiring. She is an online marketing genius and will certainly increase tourism to Iceland! Here is how you can see her work...
