Aftermath: Land Art and Forestry at the Dawn of the Climate Crisis
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Date
2021-06-13
Authors
Pauls, David
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Abstract
Effects of climate change in Oregon are evident in multiple ways.
Dwindling snowpack, hotter longer summers, and larger, more
frequent forest fires are among the most visible impacts of the
climate crisis. in Oregon. These impacts can be challenging, if not
impossible, for humans to perceive without concentrated effort and an
understanding of landscape systems. Climate change effects will be
most noticeable in the future as the forests throughout Oregon suffer
from more harsh and inclement weather. Thoughtful examination
of the relationship between forestry and logging is necessary, as
timber is one of the largest industries in the state and one of the
leading contributors to the climate crisis. The Anthropocene and
ecological impacts surrounding the new epoch will be primarily
understood through our senses. Artwork then presents a opportunity
for interrogating these issues in in ways that are more accessible and
instinctual than empirical data representation can be. Art doesn’t
explain. It interrogates, problematizes, speculates.
Aftermath uses artwork to problematize and interpret the traces left
behind from logging and forestry practices. Iterative research by
design methods was used to create a series of site-specific artworks,
each examining a different impact from logging. The end product is
an interpretive trail weaving through a private forest in the Willamette
Valley, featuring a series of 6 artworks interpreting and reframing the
forests of Oregon. This project promotes a dialog that explores our
society’s perception of forestry and climate crisis.
Description
68 pages. Committee chair: Liska Chan
Keywords
Forestry, Climate Crisis, Climate Change, Land Art, Environmental Art, Anthropocene, Timber, Logging