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Sculpting with the Environment : A Natural Dialogue

Name: Sculpting with the Environment : A Natural Dialogue
Author: Baile Oakes
ISBN: 9780471285830

by Baile Oakes

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Overview

Sculpting with the Environment — A Natural Dialogue by Baile Oakes The visual arts and design have always played a vital role in conveying the dreams and aspirations of civilization. Yet relentless technological progress, particularly in the past century, has steadily eroded the link between humankind and the natural world. Art, too, has evolved, so that now, instead of celebrating the natural order, it often conveys a detached modernism that further alienates people from the cycles and resources of the earth. In this provocative, exquisitely designed new book, sculptor and educator Baile Oakes showcases the work of 35 internationally acclaimed environmental artists, all of whom believe that art can be a powerful social force, with the power to change attitudes, values, and ultimately behavior. Their goal is to motivate people to understand humanity's relationship to the planet, and to correct the negative impact of technology on the environment. "One way to make art into a culturally useful tool," writes philosopher and critic Suzi Gablik in her introductory essay, "might be to infiltrate images of hopeIn our present situation, reconnecting art with life and with the natural environment is a matter of absolute priority." That, she writes, is the primary accomplishment of the artists included here. In his or her own words, each artist addresses the intentions and mechanics of their particular project, all of them having enlisted the participation of architects, planners, scientists, and other professionals. The resultant works break through traditional barriers to create stunning, inspirational systems that are themselves a part of the Earth, using for example, as they do natural forces in their structures—tidal flows, wind currents, and forest regeneration. The most comprehensive and definitive work to date on environmental design and art, this book:

Explores the value of infusing beauty as well as purpose into the public infrastructure by heightening awareness of an area's natural history and inviting. Nature into manufactured environments
Draws attention to pressing environmental concerns, such as waste management and reclamation
Poses positive solutions to current problems, solutions that can affect a real change in human beings' relationship to the planet
Demonstrates that ecological interests have been prominent in art throughout history by offering a brief comparative study of ancient and contemporary work

Lavishly illustrated throughout in full color, Sculpting with the Environment is both a timely treatment of critical issues in the planet's ecology and a remarkable, invaluable reference for anyone interested in the incorporation of art in public spaces.