Artist Concept Design Statement

A Habitat / A Home is a series of artworks that explore River Cane Wetland Park as ‘home’ from the perspective of several native more-than-human species. As you wander through the park, you will be able to experience the landscape as imagined through the senses of insects, plants, amphibians, birds, beavers, rocks. The work has been created in collaboration with local naturalists, scientists and knowledge-keepers in order to present facts as woven together with imagination. In a series of workshops, the community is invited to contribute their ideas about what makes a place into a shared home. Their words are incorporated throughout the artworks, holding the human and more-than-human perspectives as equal within this mutual habitat.

The following concept designs are preliminary and subject to change. They will continue to evolve in response to community feedback, and not all concepts presented here will be included in the final artwork.

Bat View

Metal inverted tree hollow, with an equilateral prism installed in a welded frame. When you look through the prism, the landscape is inverted and the viewer is able to experience an upside-down roosting habitat for bats. Possibly located near the southern entrance to the boardwalk.

Bird Boardwalk

Ceramic & metal bird heads/beaks. Some will be at human height, where people can put their heads in and look out at the marsh through the birds' eyes, and a couple will be much taller, alongside metal wings acting as shade structures. Located at apex of boardwalk.

Caddisfly Case

A welded metal tubular form that can be interacted with, created to resemble a caddisfly larval case. Possibly located near the nature play area.

Cane Break Basket

Metal sculpture of a switch cane plant arcing from its location in the marsh over the boardwalk and into a basket weave. Will be working with members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee to design the weave pattern. Located at north entrance to boardwalk.

Food Forest

A long cement table winding through the food forest, with ceramic tiles. Some of the tiles will incorporate ceramic plateware, vases, implements, and act as a place for people to learn more about the food forest and enjoy the produce. Located in the northern food forest, close to the playground.

Learning Classroom Habitat

A series of different types of species habitats installed on a metal, concrete and terra cotta framework (with some wood installed in such a way as to be replaceable if needed, but it will be covered and kept relatively dry). Located in the outdoor learning classroom area.

Poetry Markers

Partially folded metal book-like forms on stakes, cemented into the ground. The text will be cut-out stencil font, allowing the landscape itself to be read as language. One side will be in English, the other Spanish. Located throughout the park. Potentially a few of the open line markers also scattered about, to complement the poetry markers with literal language .. here, instead, the lines are cutouts (possibly with a few joining words here and there) and the intent is to consider the landscape's language on its own terms. 

Spotted Salamander Leaves

Metal and plexiglass leaves, large enough for kids to play under. The plexiglass inserts will be colored, so as to cast spots onto the ground and whomever is playing underneath, causing them to resemble different salamander species. Located along one of the southern trails.