Over the past few months I worked on a land art installation for a artistic intervention in my town. It involved other local artists of various disciplines including, music, poetry, dance, photography, design, etc. All with the theme of “life’s path”. An outdoor exhibition along a path following a stream, surrounded by forest, and a natural spring at the end. This trail has much significance to the people of Santa Eulalia de Riuprimer (a town of 1200 inhabitants an hour north of Barcelona). It’s a magical winding trail where birthdays, festivals, are celebrated…where life is celebrated
Ephemeral, seasonal, cyclic, eternal, temporary… such a beautiful paradox is life. With roots in conservation and sustainability and created with the understanding that the installation would eventually melt away and be worn down by the elements to return to its source. Representing four seasons with hand harvested and hand woven stems from hazelnut and willow trees and covered in hand dyed natural fabric with black tea, indigo, and henna.
The design is an evolution of a stained glass series I created called, “Seasons”.
Thank you everyone for your enthusiasm about my book, The Chuña! After releasing a free digital version many people asked when it would be available in print…
Finally it is! Orders can be placed with Amazon or Lulu Press and will be printed in the country where you order from or in close proximity. Part of the proceeds go to the conservation of the Yungas in northwest Argentina!
Gracias a todos por su entusiasmo con mi libro, La Chuña! Después de lanzar una versión digital gratuita, muchas personas preguntaron cuándo estaría disponible en forma impresa …
Los pedidos se pueden realizar con Amazon or Lulu Press y se imprimirán en el país desde el que realiza el pedido o en las proximidades. Parte de las ganancias se destinan a la conservación de las Yungas en el noreste de Argentina!
The new date for the artistic intervention at the Font Gran is October 24th at 16:30h. Filled with music, poetry, stories, sculpture, land art, and more…
Images from a land art installation I am currently working on. An evolution from a stained glass piece I made called S E A S O N S. Harvested stems from willow and hazelnut trees woven together. Hand dyed fabric using black tea and indigo to cover the panels
Thank you everyone for your enthusiasm about my FREE 3D flip book, THE CHUÑA. There was so much interest that I have decided to offer an audiovisual version read by my dear friend and librarian, Martha Perry Liu.
Due to the current situation I have decided to offer a FREE 3D digital flip book of THE CHUÑA. If you are having difficulties viewing you can download and view as a PDF.
Our need for connectivity with nature resonates even stronger now. It confirms that we are part of nature not just looking at it from a distance.
It’s a jungle out there, tucked away in the foothills of the Andes. One of South America’s largest terrestrial birds has jumped onto the roof of a house! It’s a curious behavior as we truly don’t know why he does this. We can come up with many scenarios.Why do you think the chuña does this? Let’s look at animals in their natural habitat and take pleasure in the wonder, mystery, and fascination of nature in its pure form. This is just one of the many animals that live in the yungas of Argentina! Check out Tales From The Yungas to see more.
TALES FROM THE YUNGAS consists of three picture books about animals either unknown and/or at risk of endangerment found in the northwest region of Argentina, known as the yungas. The books are written with an emphasis on the observation of animals in their natural habitat. All three informative books are enveloped by a story to engage the reader, whilst learning about a particular animal. The stories give first hand encounters of children living in close proximity with the wildlife surrounding them and include back matter and tips on observing animals in the wild.
The first book, THE CHUÑA, is based on a true story that occurred during a drought on our private nature reserve in the subtropical region of Argentina. It was observed that some animals were showing strange behavior. The intention with the book is to raise awareness about unknown animals and their habitat, transmit comfort in not always knowing why animals do what they do and excite the reader to come up with their own scenarios. Within the arrangement of the story lies factual information and mere observation. This allows the reader to take pleasure in the wonder, mystery, and fascination of nature in its pure form.
THE PICTURE BOOKS:
• Introduce a region in Northwest Argentina and the animals that inhabit the area.
• Support curiosity, understanding, exploration and respect of all living things, alleviating fear of these animals.
• Teach techniques to observe animals in the wild encouraging children to be in nature which can provide them with opportunities that transcend language, gender, race, religion, nationality…
• Show that we humans are part of nature, not separate.
• Transmit a sense of calmness in our over stimulated society.
• Introduce foreign language (bilingual English/Spanish).
Below, a recording of the chuña’s beautiful song.
Some say that the chuñas let out their ‘laugh like’ song when the weather is about to change and to mark their territory.
A peak into my book, The Chuña. I am writing and illustrating picture books that portray animals in their natural habitat. Through these stories I want to encourage children and their parents to explore and observe nature. Being close to nature can remind us that we are part of it, not just looking at it from a distance.
Here is the book cover I illustrated for Dutch author and Intercultural Management Consultant, Eleonore Breukel. “Achter de glimlach van de Sri Lankaan”, translates to, “Behind the Smile of the Sri Lankan”.
The book is compiled of stories about her experiences in Sri Lanka while giving insight into the culture, history, and geopolitics of the island. Eleonore wanted the cover to capture Sri Lanka’s beautiful and exotic nature, the four predominant religions, and the island’s continuing modernity.
The book will be out in soft cover print this month. Already a digital version available. Only available in Dutch , so far.
S E A S O N S , is a four piece series of stained glass suncatchers representing the four seasons. This week I installed the series at an organic bakery, Mas Corcó Pagesos Forners, in Manlleu, Catalonia. Here they grow their own wheat and make artisanal bread using a wood fired oven. Delicious and beautiful to see! The bread was being prepared while I was doing the installation so I don’t have any photos of their bread. You can see in the photos the “chameleon-like” characteristics of stained glass when the background changes. This also occurs as the sun moves and we shift from daylight to artificial light.
Original, etched, dry point print hand painted with water color. (15.00 x 19.00 in or 6.00 x 7.50 cm) Edition of 10, signed, dated and numbered. $40 or €30 plus shipping.
