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Silent Spring, - An Altered Book

8/17/2013

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I recently read Rachel Carson's ground breaking book Silent Spring. Controversial  when first published in the 1960's it has gone on to become a classic. Rachel Carson , a marine biologist, spoke out about the use of agricultural pesticides and chemicals, and the consequences of indescriminate spraying. This was having a severe and in some cases devastating impact on wildlife and on humans. Her courage in speaking out inspired a grassroots enviromental movement that led to the creation of the US Enviromental Protection Agency.  Although Silent Spring was met with fierce opposition by chemical companies, it spurred a reversal in national policy, and led to a nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides.

It is striking how relevant her arguments remain today. Having finished the book I wanted to create a piece of work using her words. Staying with the book and altering it by a combination of folding and cutting, the book has become a sculptural piece. Random sentences stand forth from the main body of the text, highlighting various aspects of her argument and concerns. The silhouette of a crow rises from the centre of the book block. The crow represents death, but also becomes a symbol of life, of survival, saved by Carson's words. We all owe Rachel Carson a debt of gratitude.
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  • About
  • Gallery
  • Work
    • The Great Gathering
    • Pages from a Frozen Sea
    • Ice >
      • Ice Matters
      • Are we Listening?
    • The Voyage
    • Just One Bone...
    • Ocean Blue
    • Fire - The True Egde of Creation. >
      • Holuhraun 2014 -2015
      • Before The Beginning.
    • Silent Spring Revisited
    • Archived Pages >
      • Al Mutanabbi Street Project
  • News
  • Instagram
  • Contact
  • Links
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