Snapshots of the Floridan Aquifer
The state of the natural world in which we live has always been the focus of my artwork. I have taken the position of one who laments the current condition of humanity’s relationship to the environment. This position has taken many forms of expression throughout my career, but the undercurrent has always been the condemnation of a generally accepted lifestyle that I believe creates unnecessary and harmfully large amounts of waste. Whether focusing on local environmental issues or taking jabs at the mindset of the “disposable lifestyle,” my art has centered on the theme of waste.
The strategy represented in “Snapshots of the Floridan Aquifer” involves abstracting images of local impaired waterways. The second layer of this strategy takes place in the text of the titles, which name the location and its ailment. The images are large and striking in color, inviting and enticing; they encourage the viewer to spend time with them. But the titles name ugly problems we tend to not want to spend with and serve to highlight the extensive water quality issues with our local waterways. Together, title and image paint a picture of an invisible problem.
Theorists tell us that activist art does not always affect change. One cannot predict the effect of “bringing awareness” to an audience and there is no direct line from awareness to action. I recognize this yet still feel compelled to make art with an environmental message. I can only hope that by giving an issue a platform from which to speak that an audience might be compelled to listen. However, I do not consider the work to have failed if this goal is not reached. I believe the aesthetic qualities and the cultural context of my work stand on their own and it operates not only in the realm of “activist art” but in that of contemporary art as well.
