Manifest Destiny

One of the series that came about through my graduate work at Goddard College. This entire series is tiled “Manifest Destiny.” It is a combination of the academic research I am engaged in, which involves the Romantic artists of the United States in the mid-nineteenth century. What fascinates me about these artists is that they were scientifically oriented, they traveled great distances to create their images, and they were obviously blown away by the landscapes they found in the American West. The dichotomy is that, in creating these paintings of the wilderness that so inspired them, they actually aided in its destruction.

This series began with the sculptural element: birds in boats (scale is 4″ to 15″, media is ClayShay(r)). The birds came to me. It is partially based on perceptual imagery from the Pacific Northwest, namely the fact that I often see a line of birds resting on a log out in the Strait. These are usually cormorants or gulls, but it inspired the idea of migratory birds building boats and heading West, looking for better migratory routes they could monopolize. I love these birds, but there is a seriousness about them that cannot be denied. Their ultimate goal is to take over the world…

From the sculpture came the drawings, which are all mixed drawing media on various paper. Their scale ranges from 11×14 to 30×40. I like the fact that they have a textile feeling to them, which speaks to the historical element. It is a big step for me to work perceptually from a conceptual element.

The birds have big plans–watch for their latest escapades here!
Dawn