Spotlight: "Thistle and Broom"
Spotlight gives me an opportunity to showcase a particular image or set of images. Close-up photos can display details from larger pieces. Background stories about the concept, inspiration, circumstances, or development of a piece can be shared, including progressive images of a work-in-progress.
Spotlight library: Is More Than, Interconnected, Rivers in the Sky, The Cost of Soft, AR 4, The Coastal Zone, Time and Tide, Frame of Consequence, Wings of Resilience, Encroaching, Thistle and Broom
"Thistle and Broom"
The vastness of an African savannah, the breadth of the South American pampas, the Great Plains and prairies of the U.S. mid-west... these strikingly beautiful expanses are also crucial ecological environments. Grasslands have been in the shadow of forests in terms of their role in climate mitigation, biodiversity, and food production not to mention they support human livelihoods, as well. They are the inspiration behind my latest work.
In addition to extreme weather events like drought and wildfires, grasslands face threats from urban and agricultural development, poor farming and grazing practices, and invasive species. This new photo-collage titled "Thistle and Broom" weaves images of invasive plants into the expanse of an open meadow. It accentuates the need to preserve and manage threats to our native grasslands.
Two common non-native plants in California grasslands are thistles and brooms. They weave their way into the ecosystem, often overtaking the underground root infrastructure where a significant amount of carbon is stored. As a metaphor, I decided to explore weaving photographs together.
I started by cutting the print of the yellow French Broom into strips. I then penciled in guidelines on the back of the meadow print and made vertical slits to slide the strips through.
I did the same with the purple thistle print. Folds in the meadow convey the landscape "folding in on itself" and alittle stitching represents the restoration needed to make things whole.
The final "Thistle and Broom" photo-collage
Non-native plants and animals outcompete native species for resources, alter the health and biodiversity of the habitat, increase fire hazards, and degrade the soil. Local environmental groups across the country work to control infestations through prevention and removal methods, but it is an uphill battle. We can do our part by supporting these organizations and joining in their efforts to manage invasives in our neighboring grasslands and in our own backyards.
I hope you enjoyed this Spotlight on the concept and making of this piece. You can view more images from the portfolio in my Folding and Mending gallery.
Please feel free to send comments or questions via my Contact Page.