CLIMATE/CULTURE/CROSSROAD, visit to the Dolby farm/ nursery

copenhaven farms

 Christopher Dolby at work loading apple root stock onto his truck for shipment. this is the harvest period. I was guest to the Dolby family to observe, document and learn from them in my quest to understand how the human connection to the land is central to the restoration of the health of the earth. it was rich and humbling to see what one family can do working as a team.

the last of the Pink Ladies for the season

the root stock is sized and bundled. i find it extremely beautiful. the scent is earth and apple mixed

One of the long time employees of the farm, she is sorting by size and type

During my residency i wanted to observe those who plant, grow & harvest and who understand the language of reciprocity between humans and the natural world.

The Dolby's have managed to maintain & cultivate a deeply rooted sense of the land and it's seasons

The farm is located in Oregon's fertile Tualatin Valley

I brought  some of the root stock from the burn pile back to Sitka to my studio. I plan to bundle, paint, glue, stitch etc. it and insert it in niches in my paintings and to draw with.

I believe that small, local, family operated farms are part of the solution to our broken world.

As a visual artist I hope to communicate the stories of the farm in a way that can not be touched by the written word.

The raw beauty, color & texture of the landscape, mixed with the farming practice

combined with my desire to honor the courage of this family

and their persistent dedication to their vision of working this land

that drives my interest in this subject of reciprocity between humans and the earth

apple root stock in a bed of sawdust, what color & texture. art that is alive and breathing

I love the undulations created by the rows, beautiful in a different way in each season

I believe that we are at the crossroads as a species.  It is my hope to cast some light into a very dark place that our overuse of the earth has caused.  the title of my residence proposal was: CLIMATE/CULTURE/ CROSSROAD

In preparing for this residency I read the book, Spell of the Sensuous by David Abram, which emphasizes the necessity for humans to regain their connection to the natural world for survival.

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Marilyn Dolby is a warm heart. I suspect she  holds it all together. She is smart and strong. I had the delight to have her as a student in one of my painting classes. here she is with her painting which has inspired me to work with the root stock.

I had the fun to stay in the cabin with my close friend of many years, Lalena Dolby, this is some of her art work in her room at the cabin. she and her sister continue to work the farm with Marilyn & Christopher

Christopher is tough and tenacious and humorous. THANK YOU TO THE DOLBY FAMILY