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Art & Ecology


Art & Ecology

Photoessays: Art and the Earth



Art and Everyday Life

by Dr. E. Louis Lankford


Grand Canyon

The place to begin when thinking about art and the earth is with the earth itself. Artists throughout history have had opportunities to observe the wonders of nature. People have special kinds of experiences--some say aesthetic experiences--when in the presence of scenes like the one pictured. Such panoramas are humbling because we feel so small in comparison to the vast spaces and forms before us. Yet they are also thrilling, even inspiring,to behold.

Perhaps you have enjoyed the experience of standing at the edge of a canyon and feeling the awe and exhilaration that comes with recognizing that you are part of the earth's majesty--at one with the warmth of the sun, the caress of the wind, the colors of the earth, and the wide open spaces. Artists, too, have seen and felt that same way, and desire to represent or express their experience through their art.




Boulder
Mahabalipuram, India

Some of you may have been able to see sculptural forms in nature.This particular boulder is perched on top of a hill in India. The photographer was very nervous while taking this photo, since he was standing directly downhill from this great, round stone! The rock stayed put and the photographer survived. Perhaps you have seen examples of "nature's sculpture, "from unusual rock formations to driftwood.




Kudzu
Georgia

If you live in the southeastern United States you probably recognize this plant. It is called kudzu. It does not grow in colder northern regions or dryer western regions. Kudzu is an incredibly fast growing plant. It will climb up trees and grow over bushes, enveloping anything in its growing path. Imagine this stand of kudzu on a moonlit night--it would look like some kind of spooky monster. This is another form of "nature's sculpture" that can easily kindle an artist's imagination.




Cave Painting of a Bison
Altamira Caves, Spain

The earliest art forms that we know of are carved figures and cave paintings from the Paleolithic era. This cave painting is between 10,000 and 30,000 years old! The person who produced it created a very sophisticated rendering, with confident and accurate gestural outlines, and a sense of three dimensions accomplished through the use of shading. We don't know for certain why these cave paintings were created. It is unlikely that they were just for decoration, since they were often painted in dark, hidden recesses of caves. Some experts have speculated that they were part of hunting rituals. Such art stems from a people's direct dependence on the earth's natural food sources.




Kachina Dolls
Pong Kachina, Aha Kachina, and Hilili Kachina
Hopi

These are Hopi Kachina (pronounced kah-CHEE-nah) dolls. The Hopi people have lived in northern Arizona for a very long time, long before settlers of European descent arrived. Kachinas are sacred spirits to the Hopi, and play important roles in their belief and value systems. There are over two hundred and sixty different Kachinas, and many reflect the Hopi's dependence on and reverence for the natural world. Kachinas believed to influence sun and rain, for example, are vital to food crops. The Hopi conduct ceremonies at special times of the year, in which they reinforce the spiritual ties between themselves and the mysteries, wonders, and blessings of their world.

Kachina dolls, representing sacred spirits, are art forms with special significance. A lot of art, both ancient and contemporary, carries significance that goes much deeper than surface beauty.




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