Hold Fast: Seaweeds in a Time of Oceanic Change  March 2016 MacMahon Gallery, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Colorado

Verdant Sea Community 98” x 51” x 4”, Bark fiber, waxed linen thread                                                                                                    © Jill Powers

    Exhibition Statement-  HOLDFAST: Seaweeds in a Time of Oceanic Change March 2016, MacMahon Gallery, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Colorado

“The edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place… All through the long history of Earth it has been an area of unrest where waves have broken heavily against the land, the tides have pressed forward… Only the most hardy and adaptable can survive in a region so mutable, yet the area between the tide lines is crowded with life.  In this difficult world of the shore, life displays its enormous toughness and vitality.”    – Rachel Carson

Here, in the turbulence of tidal life, where ocean meets land, the seaweeds thrive and nourish other forms of life, including our own. They help provide the oxygen we breathe, and offer sustenance and sanctuary for many organisms in the oceanic web of life.

As an artist, I celebrate, honor, and call us to protect these amazing marine life forms, -the seaweeds – so often overlooked, and yet so vital to life on our planet.

As terrestrial beings, we seldom, if ever, see the seaweeds in their underwater environments, where they dance with the tidal currents and reach for the light to photosynthesize their own energy. Surprisingly diverse in color, texture, and form, the seaweeds inspire close observation to appreciate their beauty and efficient design. Seaweed, as an artistic medium, has brought me into experiments with minerals, salinity, gels, and shrinkage.  Discovery, challenges, and delight have been the results.

Seaweeds have their own ancient history and presence on our planet. My journey as an artist has opened my heart to the language of seaweed, while challenging me to understand more deeply the ecological rhythms of the oceans. I share my discoveries and invite others to explore the ocean with new awareness, and share responsibility for preserving healthy ocean habitats.

HOLDFAST, the anatomical anchor of the seaweeds, offers us a strong metaphor that can inspire our response to the turbulence and volatility of a changing world. Hold fast to what is important, seeking to remain flexible and buoyant, even in the heaviest of storms and tidal changes.

Jill Powers