Earth Day

Today is the 43rd International Earth Day, an annual day of action for the enviroment. This year's theme centres on Climate Change, and highlights the impact global warming is having on us all. Established on 22 April 1970, it is now celebrated by more than a billion people in 192 nations around the world. People are marking the day by cleaning up parks, planting trees, attending community events, and more.

"International Mother Earth Day is a chance to reaffirm our collective responsibility to promote harmony with nature at a time when our planet is under threat from climate change, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and other man-made problems. When we threaten the planet, we undermine our only home – and our future survival. On this International Day, let us renew our pledges to honour and respect Mother Earth."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon    Message for the International Mother Earth Day 2013
( http://www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/ )

In keeping with this theme, visit http://www.chasingice.com/  for more infomation about  James Balogs work about the retreating glaciers.

                                "Blue Holes" Chris Ruston.
                                 Watercolour paper, Ink, Transparent paper. 2013.

                 

                      David Nash at Kew Gardens.

                                 
David Nash uses trees which have come to the end of their life, or that have already been downed after a storm or disease. The exhibition places his work in the gardens, and creates an interesting interplay between some very old trees, and the art work. I found the juxtaposition of natural and "manmade" intriguing. I found myself looking at the trees in new light, and "seeing " them as potential sculptures, while the sculptures themeslves made me think of the trees. His work encourages us to pay attention to the natural forms around us.

I thought the coaxing of form while retaining the essance of the tree was beautifully done. The work combines both complexity and simplicity. There is an illusion of a" light touch" when  in fact the size and scale of the works has obviously been physically demanding to produce.

Brancusi states that "simplicity is complexity resolved". I feel David Nash achieves this. His work is both of the modern era, but firmly embedded in the landscape tradition. A great show.