Art and Photography 2018

The Long-term Ecological Reflections program creates ongoing occasions for reflection and creative expression, and to collect a record of the resulting works that extends over two hundred years, 2003 – 2203. Artists, photographers, and writers live at the Andrews Forest for one to two weeks, interact with the scientists, explore the forest, and create their work.  This image gallery highlights three artists and photographers who worked at the Andrews Forest in 2018.

Documentary photographer David Paul Bayles experienced “the overwhelming feeling of being at home” when he entered the Andrews Forest LTER site. He realized that the work of his artist’s residence would be to photograph what he felt. David created thirteen photographs using a very technical ‘Painting With Light’ technique to create images that dance at the edges of reality. During the time he was photographing, David “became intrigued by the technology employed by scientists to gather data.” Read more and see the images at https://www.davidpaulbayles.com/#/old-growth-dialogue/ 

Visual artist Leah Wilson creates place-based paintings that address changes within environmental ecosystems over time. As an “episodic permanent resident,” Leah Wilson’s recent work is centered at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest LTER site. Leah’s interaction with the forest and its associated ecologists led her to realize that science in general, and ecology in particular, seeks to identify patterns (and changes in patterns) over time.  Often, in terms of process and product, the most evident element of her work is repetition, rhythm, and pattern related to water in general, and rivers and streams in particular. See more at http://www.leahwilson.com/ 

Ann Rosenthal spent two weeks in residence at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest as a visiting artist. Ann, who visited from Pennsylvania, has more than 30 years experience as an artist, educator, and writer. Her work examines the intersections of nature and culture through timely issues, including climate change, toxins in water and food, biodiversity, and biophilia. Ann completed many beautifully textured paintings while at the Andrews Forest. Visit Ann's Locus Art Studio website to view more of the artwork and photography from her residency and read her daily journal entries about her experience at the Andrews Forest.