New Fine Art Series: Utopia Rising

It's been a while since I've done an artist project, but I'm excited to begin creating again and even more excited to share the journey and images with you! 

 Let's start with a little bit of background. I grew up in northern MN, where there was a lot of natural beauty. I was a bit of a tomboy, but I still had a 'girly' side. I used to play in the woods, meadows and swamps catching frogs, snakes and other creepy crawlies; all while wearing my prettiest dresses and with my hair loose and wild. I explored my world with curiosity and an undying sense of wonder. I believed anything was possible, and if you could dream it, you could achieve it. I would come home with muddy dresses and my hair a tangled mess. I drove my mother crazy trying to keep up with me. I've always loved nature and it's still a part of me. I still believe anything is possible, and that we have the power to dream a better dream and create our own reality. Even though my career is in photography, my curiosity in understanding the connections between individual elements and the bigger picture led me to earn a degree in Ecology & Environmental Science. I still enjoy roaming in nature. (Yes, sometimes I still wear dresses!)

 So this all brings me to talk about climate awareness. I have watched how the world has been changing for many years. Catastrophic weather events are happening more frequently all over the world. Climate scientists say it will only get much worse if we don't change the way we live now, and yet we seem so far from the solutions to our dilemma. Thinking about these things has lead me to begin creating Utopia Rising, a series about climate awareness.

 The series will portray people interacting with environmental crises in proactive and whimsical ways, while illustrating the concept of working in harmony with nature to protect and renew the environment.

 While envisioning the project, I thought about the best way to present my ideas. Climate change is a very scary thing, and lots of disaster movies have been made around the concept. While the shock value of that approach serves a very valid purpose, It may not appeal to everyone, and it may convey a sense of hopelessness to some. I started thinking about different perspectives and thought if I chose an approach that spoke to my whimsical side, then maybe it would speak to others too.

 Many Surrealist painters have used their art to encourage revolutionary concepts and new ways of thinking. Surrealism balances the rational mind with dreams and the unconscious, so while the images in Utopia Rising may seem whimsical at first, they have the ability to stretch the mind of the viewer and unlock ideas from the unconscious mind. They also convey a sense of wonder and hope, which is important, because if we don't believe something is possible, we may not even attempt to achieve it.

 The first image of the series is Sowing Seeds of Hope. In this image a woman is standing in wildflowers with a factory and parched desert behind her. Flowers are falling from her dress and taking root in the soil, transforming and renewing the landscape around her. It is left to the viewer to interpret from here, but it also encourages a discussion around sustainable fashion.

 The apparel industry accounts for 10% of human caused greenhouse gas emissions, 20% of global wastewater and it is a source of microplastic pollution. It has social impacts as well. Of the 75 million factory workers in the world, it's estimated that just 2% earn a living wage. Americans generate about 16 million tons of textile waste each year, and only a small percentage of that is exported or recycled.

 What are some ways we can make fashion more sustainable? Are there lifestyle changes each of us can make to reduce the amount of textile waste? Are you working in the fashion industry and want to make a difference? I am open to collaboration with social and environmentally conscious people and companies, so drop me a message with your ideas if you'd like to collaborate.

Credits:

Sowing Seeds of Hope: Melanie Myhre

Model, hair and makeup : Randa Grubb

Gear: Sony A7III, 24-70mm 2.8 GM, Molight AD600 with Phottix folding beauty dish.