Monarch Butterflies

Monarch Butterflies

The climate of Central Mexico’s fir forests is just right for monarchs: not cold enough for the butterflies to freeze, but cold enough to keep their systems dormant until spring. However, global warming is causing more cool-weather precipitation in these areas, which is bad news for the butterflies since they can freeze to death if temperatures drop too low. Increased cool weather precipitation also spells trouble for monarchs because their wings must remain dry to stay warm—when rain follows a cold front, butterfly mortality can soar

The striking monarch butterfly is tougher than it looks. This tiny flier undertakes an incredible 2,000 mile journey every winter in search of a few specific mountaintops in the fir forests of Central Mexico. Amazingly, the epic migration to and from the fir forests spans the life of three to four generations of butterfly, meaning no single individual ever makes the entire journey. Yet the species as a whole instinctually knows where to find these isolated mountaintops year after year.

Time Project 2011-2012

                                                                                          

After completing the first year of making one piece of sculpture a week for 52 weeks all 10 of us from the Time Project decided to continue on. This time we committed to making one piece a month and then as usual meet monthly at each others houses to critic each others work. We also decided to take on two new members. I chose for the first half of 2011 to complete a film on climate change, using my work to illustrate the story as told by two prominent scientists, Bill McKibben and George Woodwell. After finishing the video I decided to go back to making sculpture I continued on with my environmental sculptures that related this time to endangered species. I also decided to work big using driftwood, wire and any other materials that would help to make my point. I also continued to include a written explanation about my motivation for the piece.

#52 Indifference

The multiple facets of the Climate Change subject are complex and confusing. To many the issues are too big and boring. It isn’t that they aren’t somewhat informed because for the most part they are; it is just that it is easier to ignore the subject and go about your business. Action only happens when ones pocketbook, property, or family, are impacted. The highly vocal voices of the naysayers and Fox News help just enough to remove all responsibility of involvement in trying to change the state of the planet. Particularly when one considers that all these extreme conditions have been repeated often over the millenniums. We didn’t create the problem therefore why should we be expected to do anything about it, is the rational. When pressed about the greenhouse emissions created by our huge hunger for oil there is some mention of conservation. And the good news is that most people are law abiding and would be willingly to conserve energy if the state and federal governments mandated legislation that dictated that kind of behavior change.
This last piece is about indifference with one part of the person buried in the sand with the light switch OFF showing a blatant disregard for energy waste as seen in the yellow discs. After Fire and a gavel on the head mandating a new energy policy the switch in the upper head is ON and the black and yellow discs show the change.

#51 Adaptation

The all American red breasted Robin has for the first time ever been seen in the Arctic. Never before has it flown north of the Boreal forests its normal summer home. This summer individuals have been spotted along the Utukok River, which is part of the Arctic National Wildlife Preserve. Climate Change is heating up the planet and the natural balance of predator and prey is being thrown off kilter. If a species is to survive it must adapt somehow to the loss or change of habitat, its food sources and the encroachment of humans. Birds have an advantage over say turtles as they can fly away from a habitat in peril, and if they are lucky find another. This piece is about two robins on a river in the tundra of the arctic.