Landscape

Stratum detail

Stratum
12" X 48"
Collage

When I think of landscape the vastness of space comes to mind. I think of something so huge, so grand, something that dwarfs one with its sheer immensity...almost incomprehensible but as an indivdual living here on this planet, something one can directly relate to. We humans walk in the fields, swim in the oceans. We draw our sustenance from the landscape, growing crops, building shelters. Gravity holds us hostage to it. It is inextricably connected to human life. Without its gifts we would die. And yet we, small as we are in comparison, have a tremendous impact on it. We pollute it with non-biodegradable materials, releasing toxic chemicals into the air, spilling oil in the water, killing precious species and vegetation, and essentially killing ourselves as well. This piece "Stratum" attempts to express the vastness of the landscape, albeit, in a somewhat abbreviated manner...ideally, the piece would wrap around the entire wall, or perhaps even an entire building. I included a layer of human activity, specifically people painting the landscape because I wanted to show the beauty of the landscape and people respecting it. I hope it illustrates the inspiration the landscape can provide for not just artists, but anyone with a soul.