Sunday, June 14, 2015

O, Florida...





Florida: A
Rising seas has the Greater Miami region's aquifers in danger of salty contamination with flooding, old infrastructure, and underwater ground flow through porous limestone bedrock.  Already, in some places throughout Florida, blurry ribbons of saline cloud the bottom of pristine freshwater springs.  Already, in some places limestone bedrock caves in forming sinkholes, swallowing houses and depleting property value.  Already, we know that the thin, porous bedrock is weakened from irresponsible irrigation practices, reckless property developers, and an overall disregard for the health of the land.



Worries of depleted drinking water, flooding, and sinkholes fall to silence in the dense, egocentric discussions of politicians and a greed-laced, shortsightedness of developers and businesses. 


To see the extent of Florida's self inflicted societal wounds and complete lack of regard for homeowners financial and physical safety, I point to the existence of what some local papers began calling "Zombie pools"--the festering swimming pools of foreclosed homes, neglected for sometimes years in legal limbo between its' owners eviction and banks reclaiming the property. 
Florida: B


While foreclosed homes sitting in limbo is a national issue, Florida's tropical location complicates things. The cesspools formed in backyards across the state are attracting hoards of mosquitoes and, in turn, mosquito-borne viruses.  Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, and West Nile have been the most recent threats and seeing that political action is about as stagnant as the zombie pools themselves, more are likely to pop up.


Some steps have been taken.  Depending on the location of the pools, Mosquito Control can use insecticide in spray or pill form, or even release mosquito-eating fish depending on the state of the water.


But all of this is subsequent to the issues at hand -- people being evicted from their homes long before banks can even take full responsibility of them.  Then, the responsibility falls on the hands of the state, and the pockets of tax payers.  Top it off with a massive influx of new year-round mosquito nesting grounds and nature proves again that in the tropics, human error comes at an even higher cost than elsewhere.


It's about time Florida starts acknowledging it's geography and enacting policies and protections that reflect the uniqueness of its' location.  Mini-mansions can't be built on porous land, known to be prone to sink holes.  Golf courses and farms can't routinely suck water straight out of underground aquifers without strategic planning and infrastructure to protect the land and water supply.  Politicians and developers can't continue ignoring the incredibly unique geography and climate of their state, and homeowners can't sit idly by, willingly blind to the contradictions of their tropical paradise, while they foot the bill for a broken system. 

Hmm...does Florida has a case of DE(west)NIAL?? Good one, right?!



Florida: C
Florida: D





















This is the original Florida painting. Ouch. 






























Here are links to some of the articles and things I read to get my info:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2014/07/20/zombie-pools-raise-specter-mosquito-borne-viruses/12896579/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/sinkholes.html

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/water-high-price-cheap/rising-seas-threaten-south-floridas-drinking-water

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-sinkholes-form-2015-1

Re Learn

What do you do when your brain feels deflated?  How do you keep up with the pace of the world when all momentum, body and mind, wants to take a multi year long break? 

You re-learn to paint! 

I have used water colors before, but only for school assignment--never anything personal.  So I sat down a month or two ago with a pile of water color poster board and some cheap water colors and here's what I found:

Water colors are difficult, beautiful, and instantly gratifying.  In one sitting, I could start and complete a painting.  Did they look nice?  No.  Regardless, it's done, and you move on.  

This was my first one:

A jelly fish?  Abstracted?

In this instance, I was seeing what the materials can do.  How saturated can they get?  How dark, and how light?  What does white do?  My favorite part of this piece-of-shit painting is the upper left corner.  Somehow an underwater kelp forest appeared, which I will probably turn into a piece on its' own.  

Playtime is so important. 

A glass sponge...practice for an upcoming commission.


These next few, I might have posted earlier.  I've managed to collect a small assortment of Calcite crystals in my studio that, along with laser pointers, have been a fun source of inspiration for me recently.  I painted a few and learned along the way the importance of simplifying what you see and making committed decisions about lines:





Another great thing about water colors -- blank space can be utilized as an important part of composition.  You know, serious zen stuff. 


The last of my "early" water colors is this weird little gem.  It's supposed to be the water table under New York City and the pipelines leading up through our buildings.  I wish I hadn't included a badly painted plant on the side, but now I know.



More to come soon....

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Paintings for Gma

Last week was my grandma's 80th birthday!  So, I painted her some images from the English countryside on small wooden planks.  Enjoy!