Smoke Veiled Tetons

I saw several versions of this landscape this summer - a glimpse of the Tetons from west side of the range. This one in particular occurred by accident. 

 Many mornings the wildfire smoke had settled into the valleys after blowing in the previous afternoon from the west. By mid morning a light breeze would stir and clear the air. Then again in the late afternoon, more smoke would arrive. I was timing my mountain bike rides for this clear period - but failed on this day. I was riding to the top of Fred's Mountain near Alta, WY, and it seemed a bit hazy and still. I'll admit that I was feeling a little worked and probably didn't notice just how smokey it had gotten. When I arrived at the top, just a hint of the Tetons was showing, even though clear sky would make them feel so close you could touch them. By the time I finished a snack, they were completely obscured by smoke and the air was orange and thick. 

This work is framed in gallery natural wood and shadowbox style. Size is approximately 16" x 13" x 1.25". The acrylic glazing is anti-reflective, anti-static, scratch-resistant and 99% UV filtering.

Natural Rhythm Series:

This series of work reflects my experiences attempting to avoid smoke of the 2020 wildfire season on the West Coast. While Covid-19 complicated things, I was able to travel in my van safely and mostly escape the ill effects of smoke. My sketches and studies were the meditations to spark ideas.  Developing the images further in my studio has allowed me to expand on my thoughts of this time and enjoy the natural beauty once more. 

“My soul can find no staircase to heaven unless it be through earth's loveliness.” Michelangelo

 The difference between the clear and smoke filled days was dramatic, and reflected different palettes, vistas and depth of field. I perceived stronger, brighter colors as the air cleared after a few days of smoke.  Using a glazing technique on these pieces reflects that intensity. The same technique helped build the muted warm colors and indistinct shapes viewed through the veil of smoke in other works. A subtle shift in wind changed a scene in such a brief period of time I was inspired to record the environmental dichotomy, among other things. 

 While fire is a necessary element of earth’s ecology, the combination of climate change, over 100 years of suppression, and the increase in population in the wildland-urban interface has created yet another devastating fire season. How are humans going to manage this conflict going forward? What clarity can be gained and which solutions will be obscured? The natural rhythm may be ancient, but each generation must learn to adjust as the rhythms change during its time here. My reflections ask more questions than they answer, and I hope my work brings you peace with the chaos of these thoughts.