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FINDING THE FEMININE
LAND ART PROJECT SCWCA members engaged with the land over the Earth Day weekend in inspiring ways. Some participated in urban neighborhoods and backyards while others ventured to a beach, canyon or desert area. Sculptures, paintings and weavings found new homes amid the land. Assemblages and installations were created from natural materials. Many poignant photographs—especially of trees—chronicle the import of nature to our lives. Art actions included starting a Sycamore seed bank and awakening to the indigenous origins of the land. We learned there is no right or wrong way to do Land Art just a willingness to interact with nature. Visit scwcaexhibitions.org to see all the artwork and read the artist statements.
Participants: Marthe Aponte, Jennifer Bentson-Gebel, Vickie Deneroff, Cathy Engel-Marder, Danielle Eubank, Bruria Finkel , Dellis Frank, Suvan Geer, Shelley Heffler, Brenda Hurst, Marta Feinstein, Ann Isolde, Susan Karhroody, Susan Kurland, Lynda Levy, Monika Marks, Karena Massengill, Sandra Mueller, Cathy Salser, Karen J Schifman, Bonnie J. Smith, Susan Spector, Nancy Spiller |
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Marthe Aponte
This piece deals with the existential dilemma of our human condition. In particular I wanted to allude to the complexity of the feminine represented by Mother Earth. Situated in the wilderness, which is traditionally associated with the masculine, she is coming from nowhere and needs to clear path through the brushwood. Mother Earth is emerging from a new reality suggested by the luminous space around her body; hence she has the capacity to reinvent herself and to exist in spite and with the wild brushwood of life.
This piece deals with the existential dilemma of our human condition. In particular I wanted to allude to the complexity of the feminine represented by Mother Earth. Situated in the wilderness, which is traditionally associated with the masculine, she is coming from nowhere and needs to clear path through the brushwood. Mother Earth is emerging from a new reality suggested by the luminous space around her body; hence she has the capacity to reinvent herself and to exist in spite and with the wild brushwood of life.
Jennifer Bentson-Gebel
Each year I lead a plein air class in painting watercolors in Yosemite for the Yosemite Conservancy. The Yosemite Conservancy runs the art program for Yosemite National Park and also is one of the main partners for the Park. This last year the Conservancy spent 15 million dollars repairing and rebuilding Mariposa Grove structures. This year I celebrated the beauty of the valley, the Dogwood, and the wild gushing falls. This painting was created for my class. I love painting rocks and water. It is an unearthly bond I share with nature. Through painting I can reach out and embrace the mother force of nature. And I hope that my paintings can inspire others to explore the grandeur of this great park.
Each year I lead a plein air class in painting watercolors in Yosemite for the Yosemite Conservancy. The Yosemite Conservancy runs the art program for Yosemite National Park and also is one of the main partners for the Park. This last year the Conservancy spent 15 million dollars repairing and rebuilding Mariposa Grove structures. This year I celebrated the beauty of the valley, the Dogwood, and the wild gushing falls. This painting was created for my class. I love painting rocks and water. It is an unearthly bond I share with nature. Through painting I can reach out and embrace the mother force of nature. And I hope that my paintings can inspire others to explore the grandeur of this great park.
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Vickie Deneroff
Apartment planter on a busy street in Sherman Oaks with lots of people walking by, themselves part of the land, although they may have forgotten. The wind blows the prayer flags and I pray for the blessing of awareness for all who pass. The Tongva indigenous people who lived here for millenia knew that humans are but one strand in the web of life. Perhaps some of the pedestrians will pause for a moment to think of the beauty that still exists in this land. Love your Mother.
Apartment planter on a busy street in Sherman Oaks with lots of people walking by, themselves part of the land, although they may have forgotten. The wind blows the prayer flags and I pray for the blessing of awareness for all who pass. The Tongva indigenous people who lived here for millenia knew that humans are but one strand in the web of life. Perhaps some of the pedestrians will pause for a moment to think of the beauty that still exists in this land. Love your Mother.
Cathy Engel-Marde
My life has not been easy during the Time of Covid. I am surrounded by three generations of family members struggling with health issues and major life changes. All of which means that a lot of people are leaning on me in this upside-down world.
Alone amid the rocks and plants of my little corner of the earth, I feel the pressure fall away. There’s room out here for simplicity, for humor. Out here I can relax. I can be silly.
Nature heals in many ways. One of them is humor. Sometimes that’s all I need.
My life has not been easy during the Time of Covid. I am surrounded by three generations of family members struggling with health issues and major life changes. All of which means that a lot of people are leaning on me in this upside-down world.
Alone amid the rocks and plants of my little corner of the earth, I feel the pressure fall away. There’s room out here for simplicity, for humor. Out here I can relax. I can be silly.
Nature heals in many ways. One of them is humor. Sometimes that’s all I need.
Danielle Eubank
Arches
The photograph, Arches, is a literal image of the rocks at Arches National Park, UT. While it is human nature to find humans in nature, it also seems to me that at times nature is observing humans, sometimes with amusement, sometimes with disgust, sometimes with hopeless surrender.
Arches
The photograph, Arches, is a literal image of the rocks at Arches National Park, UT. While it is human nature to find humans in nature, it also seems to me that at times nature is observing humans, sometimes with amusement, sometimes with disgust, sometimes with hopeless surrender.
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Bruria Finkel
Dellis Frank
Urban Nesting
Passing by this particular tree on my daily walk with Harper, my Schnauzer / Terrier mix, I often dreamed of curling up in the middle feeling protected from all that could harm me. It looked to me like the beginnings of a basket weaving project or cupped hands ready to surround and protect me. I thought about these feelings when it came time to do my land art installation. With a theme like “Finding the Feminine” my “Urban Nesting” installation seemed perfect. This is what my urban nest, which most consider very feminine, looks like.
Urban Nesting
Passing by this particular tree on my daily walk with Harper, my Schnauzer / Terrier mix, I often dreamed of curling up in the middle feeling protected from all that could harm me. It looked to me like the beginnings of a basket weaving project or cupped hands ready to surround and protect me. I thought about these feelings when it came time to do my land art installation. With a theme like “Finding the Feminine” my “Urban Nesting” installation seemed perfect. This is what my urban nest, which most consider very feminine, looks like.
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Suvan Geer
Maybe my grief over climate change is why I am collecting seeds from native trees. I recently learned how the US was once densely forested – even California. Once I realized there were a few native California Sycamore trees near me, I went out collecting their prickly dry seed balls. I am getting those seeds to sprout and grow. Some of my neighbors have said they will plant a seedling tree in their yard. I would like to regrow a ‘forest’ of native trees, starting on the Orange County hilltop where I live.
Maybe my grief over climate change is why I am collecting seeds from native trees. I recently learned how the US was once densely forested – even California. Once I realized there were a few native California Sycamore trees near me, I went out collecting their prickly dry seed balls. I am getting those seeds to sprout and grow. Some of my neighbors have said they will plant a seedling tree in their yard. I would like to regrow a ‘forest’ of native trees, starting on the Orange County hilltop where I live.
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Shelley Heffler
Brenda Hurst
Manifoldlia Californica
Manifoldlia rustii ‘Californica’
(aka Exhausted Manifolds)
As part of my Arrested Decay series, Manifoldlia Californica is primarily made up of rusted vehicle exhaust manifolds and tin cans that I have found decaying in the California desert sand. This piece represents a future landscape when there is no water left to irrigate Earth’s plant life. Our massive mounds of rusting trash debris has now pushed & grown up from the earth, replacing leaves & flowers, reminding us of our past choices that has led to the destruction of the beautiful natural flora we once so enjoyed.
Manifoldlia Californica
Manifoldlia rustii ‘Californica’
(aka Exhausted Manifolds)
As part of my Arrested Decay series, Manifoldlia Californica is primarily made up of rusted vehicle exhaust manifolds and tin cans that I have found decaying in the California desert sand. This piece represents a future landscape when there is no water left to irrigate Earth’s plant life. Our massive mounds of rusting trash debris has now pushed & grown up from the earth, replacing leaves & flowers, reminding us of our past choices that has led to the destruction of the beautiful natural flora we once so enjoyed.
Marta Feinstein
Reflecting represents the interconnection between the Earth, flora and sky.
The pink Rose bloom in “Eucalyptus Rose” echoes the floral shapes that formed from the bark around the trunk of a very old Eucalyptus tree.
Reflecting represents the interconnection between the Earth, flora and sky.
The pink Rose bloom in “Eucalyptus Rose” echoes the floral shapes that formed from the bark around the trunk of a very old Eucalyptus tree.
Ann Isolde
Nature’s Gifts Are All Around Us!
My longing for an ongoing connection to nature was deep and powerful when the pandemic set in. So I started walking in my neighborhood and marveling at the beautiful diverse plants and flowers that Mother Nature was offering every day. I collected a variety of specimens and made this simple arrangement when I returned home to share my experience with others.
Nature’s Gifts Are All Around Us!
My longing for an ongoing connection to nature was deep and powerful when the pandemic set in. So I started walking in my neighborhood and marveling at the beautiful diverse plants and flowers that Mother Nature was offering every day. I collected a variety of specimens and made this simple arrangement when I returned home to share my experience with others.
Susan Karhoody
The Offering to the Mother Earth
I created The Offering to the Mother Earth from discarded plastic items, colorful plastic bags and little containers and was inspired by the Buddhist idea of offering to Gods. I made flowers out of plastic bags and used felt and embroidery on a real tree branch to express feminine site. I enjoyed the offering ceremony and reconnecting my soul to nature.
The Offering to the Mother Earth
I created The Offering to the Mother Earth from discarded plastic items, colorful plastic bags and little containers and was inspired by the Buddhist idea of offering to Gods. I made flowers out of plastic bags and used felt and embroidery on a real tree branch to express feminine site. I enjoyed the offering ceremony and reconnecting my soul to nature.
Susan Kurland
As this project was presented, I decided to participate for several reasons. This last year was a time of change, adjustment and recalibration. I have contemplated reconfiguring my past art. This was the perfect opportunity.
Much of my art is recyling cloth given to me by my mother or my own sewing projects. For this exhibition, I have reused a knitted piece made for another installation.
While looking outside at my window I see the effects of drought juxtaposing a brilliant sky. This piece represents our interconnectedness to our environment, draped on the earth reaching for the sky.
As this project was presented, I decided to participate for several reasons. This last year was a time of change, adjustment and recalibration. I have contemplated reconfiguring my past art. This was the perfect opportunity.
Much of my art is recyling cloth given to me by my mother or my own sewing projects. For this exhibition, I have reused a knitted piece made for another installation.
While looking outside at my window I see the effects of drought juxtaposing a brilliant sky. This piece represents our interconnectedness to our environment, draped on the earth reaching for the sky.
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Lynda Levy
Monika Marks
Mom’s Tree
Here in our yard stood a tree I loved so much my family called it, “Mom’s Tree.” It offered a large area of shade in the hot summers; my babies would lie on their backs underneath and watch the leaves moving in the breeze like a huge mobile. Each Autumn we had the ceremonial “First Jump in the Crunchy Leaves Pile.” Many years it’s been gone now, I still mourn the loss of this great tree. On this Earth Day, I chose to honor the tree, making natural pigments to paint my gratitude for the gifts Mom’s Tree gave us.
Mom’s Tree
Here in our yard stood a tree I loved so much my family called it, “Mom’s Tree.” It offered a large area of shade in the hot summers; my babies would lie on their backs underneath and watch the leaves moving in the breeze like a huge mobile. Each Autumn we had the ceremonial “First Jump in the Crunchy Leaves Pile.” Many years it’s been gone now, I still mourn the loss of this great tree. On this Earth Day, I chose to honor the tree, making natural pigments to paint my gratitude for the gifts Mom’s Tree gave us.
Karena Massengill
When we love the world the way we love our family... We will take better care of it!
When we love the world the way we love our family... We will take better care of it!
Sandra Mueller
Canyon Sail
Canyon Sail set the course for a meditative morning with an art friend in Santa Ynez Canyon. I soon spotted a lone dusty palm frond and went to rinse it off on my own. This mahogany triangle fascinated me. A tree branch became its mast (support) as it soared over the creek. An added surprise was the reflection of the tree and its green canopy in the creek— all in all, a grand lesson in looking anew. I gently laid the frond on the ground and continued my walk until finding my friend silently sketching trees.
Canyon Sail
Canyon Sail set the course for a meditative morning with an art friend in Santa Ynez Canyon. I soon spotted a lone dusty palm frond and went to rinse it off on my own. This mahogany triangle fascinated me. A tree branch became its mast (support) as it soared over the creek. An added surprise was the reflection of the tree and its green canopy in the creek— all in all, a grand lesson in looking anew. I gently laid the frond on the ground and continued my walk until finding my friend silently sketching trees.
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Cathy Salser
Awakening Stones
This is an art action of awakening
10 minutes | 10 days | 10 stones
Against the daily sense of denial
Stopping to be — with these stones
Billions of years old — the atoms in my body are too
Stopping my motion — to awaken
We are together now — me listening
Each day one stone — writing what I hear
And yes — looking in this mirror
Day one — This land is not mine
10 minutes | 10 days | 10 stones
I can
Risk — changes everything
Stop — to hear these stones and my own true heart awakening
Cathy Salser
Pacific Palisades
Awakening Stones
This is an art action of awakening
10 minutes | 10 days | 10 stones
Against the daily sense of denial
Stopping to be — with these stones
Billions of years old — the atoms in my body are too
Stopping my motion — to awaken
We are together now — me listening
Each day one stone — writing what I hear
And yes — looking in this mirror
Day one — This land is not mine
10 minutes | 10 days | 10 stones
I can
Risk — changes everything
Stop — to hear these stones and my own true heart awakening
Cathy Salser
Pacific Palisades
Karen J. Schifman
About Loss
Existing tree in my backyard, doily and dried rose
The doily is placed over the spot where a large limb once lived on this pepper tree, leaving behind an oval scar. I look out at that tree everyday reminded of something that was lost. As we grow older there are many many losses one encounters. By covering this tree’s scar with the aged crochet fabric and dried flower there is an emphasis on what once was. Now those combined weathered items are turned into beauty where memories lie
About Loss
Existing tree in my backyard, doily and dried rose
The doily is placed over the spot where a large limb once lived on this pepper tree, leaving behind an oval scar. I look out at that tree everyday reminded of something that was lost. As we grow older there are many many losses one encounters. By covering this tree’s scar with the aged crochet fabric and dried flower there is an emphasis on what once was. Now those combined weathered items are turned into beauty where memories lie
Bonnie J. Smith
Water Bubbles With The Rocks
Port Hueneme, CA.
Walking the beach near my home, I discovered a recent high tide left little puddles of water. Once warmed by the sun, small children would play in them for hours, so content and joyful. I wondered how I might use my art to replicate that scene and settled on the Japanese shibori method of hand-dipped resist dyeing. Using many yards of fabric and taking more time than I could have imagined, I dipped them into a indigo bath and created a thousand blue“bubbles.” Which I then took them to the beach to create this installation that conjured up the memory of small children playing.
Water Bubbles With The Rocks
Port Hueneme, CA.
Walking the beach near my home, I discovered a recent high tide left little puddles of water. Once warmed by the sun, small children would play in them for hours, so content and joyful. I wondered how I might use my art to replicate that scene and settled on the Japanese shibori method of hand-dipped resist dyeing. Using many yards of fabric and taking more time than I could have imagined, I dipped them into a indigo bath and created a thousand blue“bubbles.” Which I then took them to the beach to create this installation that conjured up the memory of small children playing.
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Susan Spector
Friendship, 4’x3’
My neighbor’s palm tree invariably drops palm fronds into my backyard during the slightest breeze. This long, rough edged feminine form was created when one palm frond fell upon the other. I embellished she/her with small pinecones, lavender and red flowers, red berries and my daughter’s basketball trophy. All this added to the pretty femininity of the sculpture, I hope, without compromising the strength and power of the palm fronds. For fun added a third undecorated palm frond. They are touching is at the wide base while overlapping at the top. This third palm frond grounded the original sculpture. I look at them now as friends or lovers or partners supporting and interacting and relying on each other.
Friendship, 4’x3’
My neighbor’s palm tree invariably drops palm fronds into my backyard during the slightest breeze. This long, rough edged feminine form was created when one palm frond fell upon the other. I embellished she/her with small pinecones, lavender and red flowers, red berries and my daughter’s basketball trophy. All this added to the pretty femininity of the sculpture, I hope, without compromising the strength and power of the palm fronds. For fun added a third undecorated palm frond. They are touching is at the wide base while overlapping at the top. This third palm frond grounded the original sculpture. I look at them now as friends or lovers or partners supporting and interacting and relying on each other.
Nancy Spiller
Tangle of Repose is a sculpture created by the Santa Ynez Canyon alongside the path I run on a daily basis. First Water Crossing is a painting found by looking down while crossing over an urban runoff stream feeding into the canyon’s main creek. Over the years I’ve witnessed a number of beautiful abstracts and other art here by looking down and around the canyon on my runs, but regret a lack technical ability prevents me from sharing more selections with you. This art is a collaboration between me, the finder, and the canyon, creator.
Tangle of Repose is a sculpture created by the Santa Ynez Canyon alongside the path I run on a daily basis. First Water Crossing is a painting found by looking down while crossing over an urban runoff stream feeding into the canyon’s main creek. Over the years I’ve witnessed a number of beautiful abstracts and other art here by looking down and around the canyon on my runs, but regret a lack technical ability prevents me from sharing more selections with you. This art is a collaboration between me, the finder, and the canyon, creator.