The “Myth” series explores how natural systems influence human storytelling. In each piece, a central landscape is paired with illustrated illumination-style borders featuring imagery from modern mythology.
Migration
“Migration” addresses life in motion.
Evoking narratives on movement across political boundaries, “Migration” re-roots us in the physical experience of motion, relocation, and survival. The movement of life across landscapes for the pursuit of nutrition, breeding grounds, and favorable conditions is found globally in countless species.
A central landscape depicts a far-reaching wetland, inspired by the great Pacific Flyway in Northern California, a key habitat for migratory bird species in the Americas. Bordering illustrations show salmon runs and humanoid characters marching in a clockwise circular motion. The endless ‘Bowen’ knot symbolizes the interconnectedness of all life.
Glory
In “Glory”, a mountainside burns under an ambivalent moon.
In fire suppression culture in the American West, the desire to fully eliminate fire from the landscape overpowers the historic role beneficial fire has played. I compare this modern narrative to the use of the English story of St. George and the Dragon, in which the glory of Roman Christian values triumph over the chaos of the unnamed Dragon.
Border illuminations on the top and bottom show distant wildfire smoke columns, while hand-crews hike far distances into battle. On either side, illuminations show a depiction of St. George slaying the dragon, and a post-fire forest giving birth to new life. In each corner, cross-marked shields are the symbol of the Christian St. George. Tibetan knots indicate a cycle with no beginning and no end.