| Living close to the earth didn’t always
signify being hip and eco-friendly.
Bugs live close to the earth. In earlier
times, serfs wearing rough-sewn
smocks colored with vegetable dye slept barely a
notch above it, on straw pallets. Today, eco is chic.
There are vegan suede stilettos; Salma Hayek and
Cameron Diaz zip around the Hills in sexy little
hybrid roadsters. But what’s the state of eco-art?
Pigment was once as precious (and as
symbolic) as gold; a painting could be a literal
“show” of status. Making artwork, then, with twigs
and cow urine, wouldn’t signify “environmentally
conscious” or “close to the earth, spiritually” as
much as “crazy peasant.” In our century, Italian
|
art critic Germano Celant introduced the term
Arte Povera, or “poor art,” to describe the work
of artists who used sticks, rocks, and and other
“common” materials. The draw then was more
likely political – common art for the common
man – but it certainly paved the way for artists
who use natural materials today.ONTHE“NATURE” OFTHINGS
Shinji Turner-Yamamoto’s recent Shigeko Bork
Mu Project (1521 Wisconsin Ave. NW) exhibit,
“De Rerum Natura: On the Nature of Things”
(through April 25), has such close ties to the natural
world that (in some cases) the environment actually
laid down the brushwork. For his colorful
“Rainbow” series, raindrops fell onto a layer of ash
to form abstract patterns. Another Turner-Yamamoto
project, “Three Windows: Sun, Moon, Star,”
will open at the Embassy of Japan’s (2520 Massachusetts
Ave. NW) lovely ippaku-tei (teahouse) on
the 17th of this month. Even while reaching for
the stars, this artist still remains rooted in the community.
He’s been at work on a “seeding project,”
with elementary science students to germinate
seeds and to create small gardens, to be made later
into a large-scale installation.
SHOP LOCALLY THEME GLOBALLY
Environmental art can also mean on-site, or
site-specific art. Brian Corrigan’s “14th Street
and the Creative Economy” (a Spring 2008
course at the Corcoran College of Art
and Design) will engage students |
with the
small business community in the emerging 14th
Street neighborhood (and unofficial Gallery
Row of the District, according to many) of
northwest Washington. Students will conduct
research and create window installations for
select retailers (among them Muleh, Vastu, and
Home Rule). An event will be held in May to
unveil and auction off the window displays to
raise money for a student scholarship.
Mitchell in the realm of modern songwriting”
– and her well-crafted, literate songs, with their
jazz and soul influences and seductive hooks,
are the reason why.
At Blues Alley, Debbie presented two sets
which displayed her vocal artistry on piano and
guitar. She was accompanied by Jim Whitney
on bass and John Mettam on drums. It was
John’s birthday, and he received a rousing
“Happy Birthday” serenade. |
PAINT THE TOWN
