As expressed in its title, “Carbon Footprint,” this piece speaks to the human impact of climate change on our planet. It reflects the focus of my work, which charts the effects of human impact on climate change, amidst nature’s indifference. This piece was made during a time of isolation, and also during a time when wildfires raged through Southern Oregon, in September of 2020. As I closely followed the story of wind conditions and air quality numbers, I was struck by the devastation as seen from above: streets and streets of homes and businesses leveled, people displaced and lives lost, leaving only the outline left by fire retardant dropped from overhead.
I created this piece with fire, ironically, using the ancient medium of encaustic painting that combines beeswax, natural dammar resin from a conifer tree and pigments from the earth. Fusing its many molten wax layers with a blowtorch mixing colors that reflected the surreal otherworldly light I saw in the sky.
The hazardous air quality required most of the state to stay in and not even take the trash out, or go for dog walks or a run. This occurrence, during a global pandemic, created an even more intense feeling of absolute isolation. The smoke created the most surreal light in the sky that I had ever seen. The light never changed, and for more than a week, it was hard to even get a sense of the time of day. The sun would beam a bright magenta color through a thick yellow, gray haze. The air quality and stillness was eery. Upon stepping outside, it was as if there was no oxygen available to breathe, like being on another planet.
The red rings specifically symbolize the fire retardant outlining the devastated residential streets of the decimated town of Talent, Oregon. Through this added level of isolation, I was further forced to retreat into my studio where I found inspiration for this particular piece.
