Bison and Plant Diversity
Historically Bison have played an essential roll in contributing to plant diversity across the continent. The texture of their jungly, chocolate coats are magnets for small seeds, pods, and grains. As the herds graze, a variety of seeds become implanted on the bisons gnarly coats. These seeds ride the native ruminants bareback from one grazing site to the next. They fall off the bison in random fields into the divots created by the bison’s spade-shaped hoofs. Planting the migrant seeds, each bison delivers 40lbs of composted grasses, weeds, and native plants in the form of organic waste in the fields every day. This waste acts as a mulch protecting the soil, building soil health, and new life. A life that sprouts leaves and roots that takes in more carbon than the bison create. This is just one of the ways bison and other ruminants help in reversing global warming (when allowed as nature intended). #environmentalart #bioart #bison #ruminants #globalwarming #seeds #carbonsequestering @roamranch #texasart #womanartist #regenerativeart #soilhealth #healthysoil #microflora #connectedtothesoil #environment #soilscience #healthybacteria #humanelyraised #blowingthewhistleonindustrialagriculture #regenerativeart #bioart #soil #sculpture
Seeds getting caught in bison coat
Gnarly bison matted with organic matter
Spade shaped bison hoof
Double pronged and concave
Fresh organic bison waste also known as bison chips. The chips are composted grasses, weeds and plants the bus on forage on.
Bison chips- stepped on and worked into the soill by bison herds hooves.
New life is starting to grow in the once overgrazed and nutrient-depleted field.
In addition to creating diversity in plant life the bison chips give nourishment to a a plethora of lifeforms in the soil.
Let it Bee
30” X 44” Lenticular in In the words of Paul Mc Cartney and the Beatles in “Let it Be” I think of Mother Mary as mother nature. Some day I would like to have a children’s choir sing “Let it Be” with my shadow piece,” World of Hum.”. But for now it is Spotify and a lenticular in my studio.
One artist’s plan to save the bee
January 10, 2017 Bombus Affinis, the Rusty patch Bumble bee was listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the endangered species list.
Rural areas are highly impacted by the unanticipated consequences of our industrial agriculture’s dependence on chemicals that weaken bee’s immune systems. Urban bee populations can be more diverse than in rural areas. Researchers are finding in cities such as Chicago, Berlin, Berkley, and Melbourne that have reimagined their parks, neighborhoods, city centers, vacant lots, street medians, and rooftops planted with native flowers, grasses, and fruit, and vegetables support healthy, vibrant wild native bee populations.
There are four thousand native bee species. They pollinate over three hundred times more effectively than honey bees. For example, A single female Leafcutter Bee visits 100,000 plus blossoms per day whereas a honey bee visits 50-1000. Unlike the honey bee, Native bees do not swarm, are not aggressive. Native bees are perfect for urban population centers.
Houston covers 600 square miles of land and has one of the longest growing seasons in the U.S. As it continues to sprawl across Texas, its gardens must increasingly become a refuge for native plants and animals. With 2.3 million people living in the most vital economic, cultural center of the south, we can become the most critical urban native bee habitat in the United States. Fellow Houatonians it is time to reimagine the landscape of our city. -
Bombus Affinis 30”X 44” watercolor monotype
Turkeys combat tick infestation
I was so happy to learn a new defense against ticks. Turkeys eat ticks as do possums, chickens, and guinea fowl. When I was at the Regenerate Texas meeting at Roam Ranch this weekend, I learned that raising fowl is an organic method of controlling ticks. I love all bugs except ticks. This is good news. Several years ago, I found a deer tick on my shoulder and had to take massive antibiotics.
Heritage turkey at Roam Ranch
20/20 vision
Happy 20/20,
In these early hours of 2020, my thoughts are flooded with optimism, the possibilities held by a new year that is also the term used to express normal visual acuity. How can you not have high expectations for a year so poetically labeled with a rank that we associate with clarity and sharpness? 20/20, some use the term to reference perfection. What will 20/20 hold? It probably won’t be perfect, it probably will not be what we think we want, but it will likely be what we need. It will be 20/20. Here is to the year of clarity. 🥂p e a c e
These peonies were in my kitchen the evening Cameron Cuenod proposed to our daughter Sage.
My first chore every new year is to put up everything Christmas. These flowers had seen their best days, no longer fresh, and showing signs of aging, they are still beautiful. I can’t seem to throw them away yet. Maybe they need to be recycled into a piece. - I Like that idea.
World of Hum - exhibition closing reception
Sculpture Month Houston has been an extraordinary experience on many levels. First, Volker and Antarctica set the tone during installation when they rolled up their sleeves to get the job done. They are also unflappable curators and a pleasure to work with. The sui generic, agarian venue with it's beast like antique concrete walls were challenging and at the same time so gratifying. The communal experience of conquering the monumental silo exhibiting in with such a passionate group of talent
Embracing my inner Texan with another spirit.
If there is one thing that makes me smile it is when another Texan wants to embrace their inner Texas spirit with one of my sculptures. It is especially meaningful when I connect with the purchaser personally. Come to find out we both came to Houston from very small towns, our fathers ran small businesses, we both have some Louisiana history, we both started our own businesses. have two kids and most amazingly she operates on the same energy level I do. When I met this purchaser in my studio a few weeks ago she told me the piece will camp in her entry, it will greet the members of their family every time they come home. I am humbled and so honored.
As a teen, I shaped hats in my father's western wear store, and I began to understand that old hats are reflections of their owners, that they keep a bit of the spirit of the person who wore them.
“Heritage IV” will not physically change shape to reflect the spirit of their family. However, it is assured that with the many comings and goings that a busy home endures as it’s family grows into adults that their ”Heritage” will see them through joyous times and trying times. Over the years, “IV” will embody the spirit of their family, their traditions, triumphs, and yes, their challenges. I hope it will become the symbol of strength that it is for my family.
Every sale of my work is meaningful for me, but I have a funny feeling that this one will hold a special place for a long time.
Every “Heritage” piece is slightly different below are details of IV and the artist statement for my first “Heritage.”
My first “Heritage” piece was inspired by the Stetson open road hat I inherited from my Grandfather. Bob-pa, Robert Fleming Travis. His well-worn hat quietly mirrors his life and character. Shaped by growing up in the Depression, he knew hard times as he later farmed cotton and raised cattle in the harsh West Texas desert near El Paso.
Bob-pa married Imogene Young while they were still in high school. Two years later during their senior year my father was born. Family lore has it that they never spent a night apart during their 70-year marriage.
As a teen I shaped hats in my father's western wear store, and I began to understand that old hats are reflections of their owners, that they keep a bit of the spirit of the person who wore them. Bob-pa's hat still resonates with his determination, his strong work ethic, and his fidelity. These are the very treasures that I work hard to ensure that my own children will inherit.
A proud moment
An outstanding moment for me this year was when Glasstire ranked Outta Space as the #1 art event for the week of October 10th.
Surfing Bees, a Bee Poolside Party, and tiny water park.
I have seen bees drinking water but I have never had the joy of witnessing them surf. Next time I see bees getting water I hope to check out their surfing skills. They probably get it from the droplet's on the lillie petals. With that thought I do love the thought of a tiny bee waterpark.
Maybe someday I will get lucky and capture a video of them surfing. For now here is a video of a bee poolside party.
“there’s a new reason to appreciate honeybees: They’re world-class surfers.”
Artist and friend Jim Brown sent me the above article so I am adding it to this post. 🐝
Rumblings- Osmia Texana
Sewing bee #6
I give these hand stitched caps to people that help me make an impact and bring back the endangered wild bees.
Bombus Affinis, the Rusty Patch Bumble bee was listed as Endangered January 11, 2017.
A great resource for learning about native bees is below.
https://xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2017-009_B-affinis_IDGuide_web.pdf
Roots
Spruing up another from down under. Roots are an integral tool to regenerate soil.
Ready to be burned out
Glasstire #1 Outta Space #2 Chinati Weekend
It takes a village to get behind an event to take to the next level. It was awesome to have Brandon and Christina shoot their top 5 in front of the silos last week.
Checkout their top 5, what an amazing art week in Texas.
🌟⭐️💥💫☄️⚡️✨ Wahoo
#1 Outta Space
#2 Chinati Weekend
https://glasstire.com/2019/10/10/top-five-october-10-2019/
1. Ottta Space
SITE Gallery Houston, The Silos at Sawyer Yards
October 11 – November 30
Opening Reception: October 12, 6- 9 PM
Thirty-four igloo-like art spaces in this defunct rice silo will provide a dramatic backdrop for the unique installations produced by 19 artists.
2. Chinati Weekend
Chinati Foundation, Marfa
October 11 – October 13
The calendar of events will include talks by Donna De Salvo, Deputy Director for International Initiatives and Senior Curator at the Whitney, and Linda Norden, curator, writer, and professor of art history, theory, and criticism. Free events include a concert from Nancy Whang and Gavin Rayna Russom of LCD Soundsystem, viewing of Chinati’s permanent collection, and the annual Made in Marfa event, featuring artist open studios.
3. Grand Opening of Ruby City
Ruby City, San Antonio
October 13 – January 5
Grand Opening: October 13, 9AM – 6PM
The Grand Opening of Ruby City.
4.a) Texas Contemporary Art Fair
George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston
October 10 – October 13
Texas Contemporary, Houston’s leading contemporary and modern art fair, brings top galleries to the area’s discerning collector base. Now going into its eighth edition, Texas Contemporary 2019 will feature 75 exhibitors and an innovative program of special projects and public installations.
4. b) stARTuP Art Fair
Hotel Icon, Houston
October 11 – October 13
The fair will transform the third and fourth floor of the hotel into an immersive, contemporary art experience through the exhibition of artwork by a diverse group of independent artists, local art nonprofits, artist performances, installations, and panel discussions. Walk into hotel rooms transformed into galleries by your favorite Houston-based artist alongside artists from all over the country.
5. DMA Reinstall of European Galleries
Dallas Museum of Art
August 23 and ongoing
The Dallas Museum of Art’s Second Floor European art galleries have reopened to the public after closing earlier this summer for a total reinstallation. It features restored works from the collection, and new presentations of Old Master paintings. There are also Impressionist and Modern masterworks on view, gifted by Margaret and Eugene McDermott.
Copy of #1 Outta Space #2 Chinati Weekend - Glasstire
It takes a village to get behind an event to take to the next level. It was awesome to have Brandon and Christina shoot their top 5 in front of the silos last week.
Checkout their top 5, what an amazing art week in Texas.
🌟⭐️💥💫☄️⚡️✨ Wahoo
#1 Outta Space
#2 Chinati Weekend
https://glasstire.com/2019/10/10/top-five-october-10-2019/
1. Ottta Space
SITE Gallery Houston, The Silos at Sawyer Yards
October 11 – November 30
Opening Reception: October 12, 6- 9 PM
Thirty-four igloo-like art spaces in this defunct rice silo will provide a dramatic backdrop for the unique installations produced by 19 artists.
2. Chinati Weekend
Chinati Foundation, Marfa
October 11 – October 13
The calendar of events will include talks by Donna De Salvo, Deputy Director for International Initiatives and Senior Curator at the Whitney, and Linda Norden, curator, writer, and professor of art history, theory, and criticism. Free events include a concert from Nancy Whang and Gavin Rayna Russom of LCD Soundsystem, viewing of Chinati’s permanent collection, and the annual Made in Marfa event, featuring artist open studios.
3. Grand Opening of Ruby City
Ruby City, San Antonio
October 13 – January 5
Grand Opening: October 13, 9AM – 6PM
The Grand Opening of Ruby City.
4.a) Texas Contemporary Art Fair
George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston
October 10 – October 13
Texas Contemporary, Houston’s leading contemporary and modern art fair, brings top galleries to the area’s discerning collector base. Now going into its eighth edition, Texas Contemporary 2019 will feature 75 exhibitors and an innovative program of special projects and public installations.
4. b) stARTuP Art Fair
Hotel Icon, Houston
October 11 – October 13
The fair will transform the third and fourth floor of the hotel into an immersive, contemporary art experience through the exhibition of artwork by a diverse group of independent artists, local art nonprofits, artist performances, installations, and panel discussions. Walk into hotel rooms transformed into galleries by your favorite Houston-based artist alongside artists from all over the country.
5. DMA Reinstall of European Galleries
Dallas Museum of Art
August 23 and ongoing
The Dallas Museum of Art’s Second Floor European art galleries have reopened to the public after closing earlier this summer for a total reinstallation. It features restored works from the collection, and new presentations of Old Master paintings. There are also Impressionist and Modern masterworks on view, gifted by Margaret and Eugene McDermott.
#1 Outta Space #2 Chinati Weekend - Glasstire
It takes a village to get behind an event to take to the next level. It was awesome to have Brandon and Christina shoot their top 5 in front of the silos last week.
Checkout their top 5, what an amazing art week in Texas.
🌟⭐️💥💫☄️⚡️✨ Wahoo
#1 Outta Space
#2 Chinati Weekend
https://glasstire.com/2019/10/10/top-five-october-10-2019/
1. Ottta Space
SITE Gallery Houston, The Silos at Sawyer Yards
October 11 – November 30
Opening Reception: October 12, 6- 9 PM
Thirty-four igloo-like art spaces in this defunct rice silo will provide a dramatic backdrop for the unique installations produced by 19 artists.
2. Chinati Weekend
Chinati Foundation, Marfa
October 11 – October 13
The calendar of events will include talks by Donna De Salvo, Deputy Director for International Initiatives and Senior Curator at the Whitney, and Linda Norden, curator, writer, and professor of art history, theory, and criticism. Free events include a concert from Nancy Whang and Gavin Rayna Russom of LCD Soundsystem, viewing of Chinati’s permanent collection, and the annual Made in Marfa event, featuring artist open studios.
3. Grand Opening of Ruby City
Ruby City, San Antonio
October 13 – January 5
Grand Opening: October 13, 9AM – 6PM
The Grand Opening of Ruby City.
4.a) Texas Contemporary Art Fair
George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston
October 10 – October 13
Texas Contemporary, Houston’s leading contemporary and modern art fair, brings top galleries to the area’s discerning collector base. Now going into its eighth edition, Texas Contemporary 2019 will feature 75 exhibitors and an innovative program of special projects and public installations.
4. b) stARTuP Art Fair
Hotel Icon, Houston
October 11 – October 13
The fair will transform the third and fourth floor of the hotel into an immersive, contemporary art experience through the exhibition of artwork by a diverse group of independent artists, local art nonprofits, artist performances, installations, and panel discussions. Walk into hotel rooms transformed into galleries by your favorite Houston-based artist alongside artists from all over the country.
5. DMA Reinstall of European Galleries
Dallas Museum of Art
August 23 and ongoing
The Dallas Museum of Art’s Second Floor European art galleries have reopened to the public after closing earlier this summer for a total reinstallation. It features restored works from the collection, and new presentations of Old Master paintings. There are also Impressionist and Modern masterworks on view, gifted by Margaret and Eugene McDermott.
Copy of SITE Gallery- Sculpture Month Houston - Installing the work#2
Things are now going smoothly maybe too smoothly. All the work I did this summer is paying off.
SITE Gallery- Sculpture Month Houston - Installing the work - my pregame plan
With lots of time spent preparing to install my work, installing it went by quickly.
During the days prior to the installation, I imagined trying multiple compositions of the pre-assembled sections, spending lots of time looking at it, adjusting it, and tweaking it and then adding smaller elements to tie the work together... and repeating the same process over and over until I was satisfied it was finished. That was my pre-game mental plan.
Once the support structure was in place, secure, and painted, it was time to install the work. First, I hung the two pieces I knew would be part of this work. I then looked at the way the shadows were falling on the concave surface of the wall and hung the two end pieces. It was then late in the day, and I decided to call it a day and decide what the next step was with fresh eyes in the morning.
The next day I showed up early in the day ready to sit, look and make changes that would be best for the work on the concave wall of a silo. I was excited to see the curator, Volker Eisele, in the parking lot when I arrived. I invited him to come take a look at my progress.
Smiling he said, "You are done, it is finished." I was really happy that he was pleased, really happy. I was also surprised. Finishing this early was not my game plan. Yikes! It isn’t easy for me to mentally change my game plan. I think Volker could see this in my face, and as he walked away, he said, "You know my name is on this too, it is good." I completely understood and reminded myself how lucky I was that he liked it.
A good problem.🙂
ps. I now have the equivalent of another silo full of work in my studio………. bursting at the seems. Anyone need a keystone animal environmental installation?
SITE Gallery- Sculpture Month Houston - Installing the work
This summer, I made 7 sections of kinetic sculptures, approximately 6’-10’ long X 36” in diameter, anticipating that I would not use all of them. Now that I am in the space and see what the light does on the convex wall, I think I will use 4 of my favorite sections and add 4 extra lines dropped for smaller pieces that will help integrate the 4 sections into one piece.
Experimenting with the placement of the light.
Experimenting with the shadows with the light in a convex wall.
The walls are not "museum pristine", they show their age, I am not bothered, it is a grain silo and I ❤️ It.
SITE Gallery- Sculpture Month Houston - Building the support system
Finally, I feel like I can make some progress. Step one is to make a structure that I can hang my sculptures from. The gallery owners are trying to preserve the space in its original condition, and ask the artists to deface the silo as little as possible when installing our work. Normally I use acrylic hangers that I designed to hold the pieces. Each bracket takes four anchors. I feel like that is too much destruction to the silo. Instead, I decide to buy some black 14 gauge wire fencing, 20 feet X 36”. The silo funnel has metal bands tack welded to it. The middle metal band is 31” from the wall. I cut the fencing in 31” pieces. I cut one end in a concave shape and the other end convex. The convex end will rest on top of the metal band and the concave end will be supported by two screws in the cinderblock wall. This is 19‘ high, and I feel pretty good that my screw holes will only be minimally defacing the silo.
Close up of support system
The moment I got off the scissor lift and looked up at my support system, I realized I had made a big mistake. I should have painted them white. The black stood out too much on the white walls. I could not sleep that night trying to decide if I should repaint them... It was not easy, but I spent the next half day painting the system 19’ in the air white.
I think it was worth it, the support system is much less intrusive.
I hung from the support system 8 fishing tackle swivels with 25 lb filament attached to each swivel. Four of the swivels are 36” apart 18” from the wall. At these distances the pieces will not touch each other or the wall. Everything should move independently. These are for the big pieces. The other swivels are for smaller pieces and are spaced randomly. I am guesstimating where I want these. Tomorrow I will start hanging work.