At the Crossroads

This installation is about the toll caused by environmental destruction and global warming, and the resultant decimation of many plant and animal populations. 

The exhibition can be “read” starting with the quotation from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy, which reminds us of the gravity of our decisions.  Humans have had a great environmental impact on the earth for thousands of years.  Our ecological “foot print”, which is the measurable environmental impact of human activities (non-renewable resource extraction, agriculture, greenhouse gas emissions, buildings, habitat destruction, etc.) has been increasing exponentially.  In the 21st century it is reaching crisis proportions.  This “footprint” is represented by the shoe soles, which themselves require a great many resources to make, and then are discarded in a relatively short time.

The tire shards were collected from a California landfill, where they are mixed in with other debris; some of their components eventually leach out into the surrounding soil and underground water supply.  Tires also represent the very heavy ecological footprint of the automobile on our planet.  We use enormous amounts of nonrenewable resources such as oil and metals to manufacture and drive our cars. 

The tumbleweed has long been an icon for the American West: who can imagine its wide-open spaces without tumbleweeds blowing across them?  They are celebrated in music and literature.  Yet surprisingly, the tumbleweed is an invasive specie that is native to Russia, not to this continent.  They are prolific seed spreaders, and they crowd out native plants. 

The bones are from two of the invasive animal species that the early European colonists introduced into North America, cows and horses.  These creatures require vast tracts of land for grazing and they must be fenced in.  They have replaced native hoofed animals such as the bison, antelope, deer, mountain goat, mountain sheep and elk, which also need large territories and migrate long distances.  These animals are no longer able to roam their original territories or follow their ancient migratory routes.  Even cows and horses could perish if grasslands dry up. 

Cotton uses almost 25% of the world’s pesticides.  These pesticides leach into our soils and our waterways, and are responsible for the deaths of many aquatic and terrestrial animals. 

The white feathers refer to the many species of birds whose numbers are falling, due to pesticides, habitat destruction, global warming, and other destructive factors. 

Frogs are a bellwether species, the “canary in the coal mine”: their health is a barometer of the general health of our environment.  Because they are so sensitive to toxins and disease, they are the first to go.  Frog populations around the world have been plummeting. 

It is time we paid attention to these signs of the times, and began taking measures to restore the health of our planet.  Please take a fortune cookie and become informed about what you can do.

Ann Savageau

Environment

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