Art September 22, 2010 By Jennifer Pappas

Theremin Project, Joel Hobbie.

Melt, Amy Schmeirbach


     Needless to say, ’environmentally conscious’ is something of an understatement. The possibilities are as limitless as the landscape surrounding them. Certain works hover over the desert like some sort of extraterrestrial visitor while others simply blend in, flourishing for a brief, bright moment before dissolving back into the endless horizon of cacti, sky, and earth.
     For Braziel, each work represents a different component of TIME’s concept. “Ryan Henel created handmade, adobe pillar windmills that reflect light near a water drainage. Conceptually, he thought of all the elements of ‘green’. Aesthetically, Amy Schmeirbach is thoughtful of the land; her biodegradable bowls remain beautiful until they melt. Literally, where tradition meets innovation, the collaborative tipi is spectacular. Joel Hobbie’s self-sufficient, interactive sculpture constructed from new and recycled aluminum, LEDs, solar panels, and a theremin (a musical instrument) is technologically fantastic. Beth Rekow’s giant plastic ball and rope, and Chrissie Orr’s Mandala in memory of the eleven who died in the Gulf oil explosion, are the most sensitive to the irony of consumption and greed. Finally, Rose Simpson’s mud drawings show that when people in a Native Indian community build casinos and Disney World-like structures, their ancestors watch over them, as a reminder to do everything with integrity and non-judgment.”

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