Soil Ecology

Pill bugs, a crustacean in the desert,

segmented bodies and antennae with fine hairs,

details of reflective wings,

dewy fruiting bodies connected to miles of mycelial threads,

layers of leaves in the process of decay being devoured by mites and springtails,

diggers and burrowers aerating soil,

flowers that smell of fruit or rotting flesh attracting those to which they have adapted.

Soil is an underappreciated ecosystem. Leonardo da Vinci once said that we know more about the movements of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot. The soil is the skin of our planet which most people take for granted.  Yet soil degradation has contributed to the end of many civilizations. It is vital to understand the systems in our environment so that we don’t degrade them. My work is an expression of joy that engages me to move through the world in respectful manner.

These images embody time, possibly more accurately than photographs, which, generally, capture just one moment. I choose to step away from that singular point by collaging multiple moments together. This allows the observer another way to reflect on our multifaceted world, its patterns and the beauty of complex relationships.

The examples enclosed are photopolymer etchings. The images originate from photographs that I have captured under the microscope, in my studio, on hikes, and at Natural History collections that are collaged into various shapes. I then transform the images using an intaglio method, a labor-intensive and materially beautiful process, using light-sensitive etching plates that are inked and printed.