Up and at 'em

We laid out the Esteva stems and roots on the terrace behind my studio. I was up early the next day eager to get started with this material.

Gathering the goods

I've decided to steer away from the representation of roots and actually make a piece with roots, hence moving from 2D to 3D. I also wanted to work with larger Esteva roots than the ones I'd been experimenting with. I talked about it with Ludger, a wonderful support to artist here with a wealth of knowledge, who suggested we check-out the pig farm down the road for larger Esteva roots and stems. We left in the evening with two wheel barrows and handsome extra muscles called Luis. Georgia Clark, a writer here from New York came along as well.

We were greeted by the pigs

We found lots of large Esteva here. Apparently the pigs dig them out at times as well as being pulled out as a weed by the farmers. We soon had two full wheel barrows. 

Taking stock

Yesterday was a day for taking stock. I was very moody and getting that grumpy feeling when internal chaos takes over just prior to things settling before a breakthrough. I've experienced this many times before yet it remains uncomfortable. I talked awhile with Pat about how I was feeling which was helpful. I sometimes hold on to an initial idea about something I set out to do. I was holding on to my initial project idea for this residency for all kinds of reasons, but am now at a point where I must let it go completely and trust my creative process. I have been exploring the land here and taking note of what stirs me and making curious connections between things. I have been like a sponge since arriving and needed to let things settle awhile. I decided to set my chair in front of a fence to ponder things.

Experiments with the little dragon

I started playing more with the shadows of the Esteva. I laid paper down on the floor next to a strong spot- light shining on the paper. I held a root in my left hand and a paint brush dipped in ink in my right. As I placed the root in front of the spot at various angles I painted the shadow it would cast on the paper. I had previously crinkled the paper so the vein-like texture appeared when I rubbed the background with charcoal.

The sad little dragon

This is an Esteva root or stem as mentioned in my previous entry. The gnarly parts of this plant evoke the likeness of an assortment of odd creatures and many folks in this part of the world have used them as shadow puppets. This one reminds me of a sad dragon.

I drew it from this angle to get a better view of the eyes.

I started collecting more of these roots and stems during my morning walks to the old mill bridge. 

They're really pretty amazing!

Scent of this place

There is yet another very fascinating plant here called Esteva or Cistus ladanifer in latin. It grows from 1 to 2.5 meters in height and width and it is covered in a very aromatic resin. The smell of it is calming, clean and kinda sexy. It grows everywhere here and it has an incredibly gnarly stem and root system. We often find the roots pulled out from the earth exposed and dried by the dusty dirt roads. Most farmers consider this weed to be a bit of a nuisance and try to get rid of it. This plant is apparently used by the perfume industry for an ingredient that is a stabilizer allowing the scent of perfumes to last longer. I love smelling this plant during my walks.   

Points of return

I often go back to visit these particular thistles that grows here. I did a drawing of this broken piece. The spikes on the tops (the tops are the size of an orange) as well as on the stem are very menacing...alive barbed wire. I ponder defenses, protection and armor and the need of this plant to fend off something.

I went on a walk this morning with Pat Loucks a textile artist here at the residency. We hiked up near the remains of an old mill next to a bridge. I have been finding this old bridge astonishingly beautiful with its worn stone and wanted to see it again. There are all kinds of lichen that grow on the stone and there might be some iron too that gives it this orange color. I like going to visit the bridge in the morning before it gets too hot. The pillars look like ready made large scale abstract paintings.